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Learn what Amazon Q Business can do for you at AWS.com slash learn more. Today's guests, Packers quarterback Jordan Love, Fox Sports college football insider Bruce Feldman, Prime Video TNF analysts Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth. And now, it's Rich Eisen.
That's right. Welcome to this edition of The Rich Eisen Show, live on the Roku Sports Channel. This Rich Eisen Show terrestrial radio affiliate in that regard, starting on 1-625, the first Monday of 2025. This show will be airing coast to coast on terrestrial radio through the Infinity Sports Network.
And guess what? We'll also be on a new Sirius XM channel as well. We're going to give you all that information as we get closer to the date. We're looking forward to that. We say hello to everybody who's out there streaming us on Odyssey or TuneIn. We appreciate that. We always appreciate anybody who's listening to us all three hours through our podcast network. That also includes overreaction Monday, What the Football. Later on today, no contest wrestling with O'Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson.
Jim Jackson's show every single week. We greatly appreciate that. And whenever you want to call us, 844-204-rich, number to dial.
We greatly appreciate just chit-chatting with you. We've got three guests, four guests today. First up at the end of this hour, the man of the hour in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Jordan Love will be zooming into this program in advance of the Week 16 finale of Monday Night Football between the Packers and the New Orleans Saints. And as for the Week 16 kickoff that goes down tomorrow night in SoFi Stadium with an AFC West battle between the Broncos and the Chargers.
And the Broncos now a game ahead of the Chargers. Two of the gentlemen that will be sitting on the set for prime video right here that you could see through the Roku portal. Andrew Whitworth and Ryan Fitzpatrick will join us in hour three for multiple segments together. They have a podcast of their own to discuss. Lots to talk about with these gents. Bruce Feldman in studio in the middle of this program to get you set for the college football insanity that begins on Friday in the state of Indiana when Indiana takes on Notre Dame. Oh, my goodness. In front of all the Notre Dame Golden Doming faithful.
That's going to be kicking off for college football playoff games this weekend. Bruce Feldman will be joining us. Good to see you over there.
Christopher Brockman. How are you, sir? I'm wonderful. Good to see you, Jason Feller. How are you? What's up, Rich? Yes. D.J.
Mikey D is not here today. Good to see you. T.J. Jefferson candles lit, I believe. Over there.
It smells great. Fantastic. Right. So everybody who's been attuned to the to the sports news knows exactly how we're starting this program. Because we were there in Detroit. We were there in Detroit doing our show from the great city of Detroit, Michigan, for the National Football League draft. And we were hearing rumors. We had our guests coming through our set. Telling us, look out for the Falcons tonight on draft night, look out for them eighth overall, going ahead and shocking everybody by taking Michael Pennix Jr., even though they just signed Kirk Cousins to a four year deal worth one hundred eighty million dollars with one hundred million guarantees.
Look out for them. We're like, OK, really? And then it happened.
And then Friday, that's all we talked about. I mean, with all due respect to Caleb Williams being one. And Jayden Daniels being two and Drake May being three. And the fact that we saw three for three in quarterbacks to start. And then with Pennix, we saw four out of the first eight to start. And with J.J. McCarthy, five out of the first ten to start. And then Bo Nix going to twelve, six out of the first twelve to start a 50 percent hit rate through the first dozen picks. After one hundred percent hit rate through the first three picks. We were all focused on Michael Pennix Jr. because the whole idea of drafting a twenty four year old quarterback eighth overall, when you just went ahead and signed Kirk Cousins to a.
A contract like that. To welcome in the questions of, well, when are you going to start the kid or if you don't start him and you Jordan love him? Speaking of our first hour guest. From Green Bay. You know, it's not like he's McCarthy's age who is twenty one. You're going to let him sit and marinate for a couple of years and suddenly he's a twenty seven year old first time starter in the NFL.
You're going to do that or why are you welcoming in the controversy? Because in the mind's eye of many, it was a when not if Kirk Cousins started to struggle. There will be people calling for Michael Pennix to start because it's not like, you know, the Rogers love situation where Rogers in Green Bay had a trophy in the case and a decade and a half of connection with the fan base. Where they're like in Aaron, we trust. Cousins just showed up.
Why are you doing this? And the Falcons were like, well, we just went through that whole business of post Matt Ryan trying to figure out who it is. And so we went and got our veteran now and we've got our quarterback for the future for the future. And, you know, I understand everybody why we didn't choose anybody and eighth overall to actually help Kirk Cousins win right now.
That's an understandable question. But no, no, no, we're we're playing four dimensional chess here in the chess here in Atlanta. We're looking at the future. That's what we're looking at. And we got the now settled and we got the future settled with our future head coach, Henry Morris, who knows how to handle the personalities in the locker room. Everybody don't worry about it.
It's a win win for everyone. Except for a lot of people wondering, well, how is that a win for Pennix just sitting around doing nothing until Cousins is done with the game? And sure enough, it sure didn't seem like Pennix was going to get his time. Certainly when Kirk Cousins is. Throwing for five hundred nine yards and four touchdowns in a week, five win in overtime against the Bucks, and then three games later throws for four touchdowns and no interceptions against the Bucks. And you look at Cousins as numbers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the arguably best team in the NFC South and certainly the one that Atlanta would have to overcome. To win the division in Raheem Morris's and Kirk Cousins first year to win.
Oh, sounds great. You've swept him and you got the back pocket tie break to put on the table. Eight touchdowns, one interception against the one opponent in your division.
You know, you got to beat. So Kirk Cousins, that's his gig. That's his job. Now, you look at the fact now he's got outside of those numbers, 10 touchdowns and 15 interceptions against the rest of everybody else. After one of the worst stretches we've seen from a quarterback in quite some time and throughout that losing streak, the questions were, you're going to go to Pennix or not? And sure enough, one after another, after another, it's Kirk Cousins out there and that's understandable because he's the veteran, he's got the four year contract and you really going to turn to a rookie as it gets later and later and later in the season and the stakes get higher and higher and higher and the room for error gets smaller and smaller? Really, you're going to do that?
Well, the answer we got yesterday is yeah, we're going to do it. Yes, and the way that Pennix got born into this league is only made more wild by the way he's now born into this league as a starting quarterback. If you're saying I've never heard of anything like this, you'd be right because here's the list of rookie quarterbacks in the National Football League who make multiple starts and lead his team to the playoffs after his first start coming in Week 10 or later in a season for a team that when they started him was either at.500 or below the list of quarterbacks in such a circumstance is zero.
It's never happened. And Michael Pennix will have to be the first and his numbers this year coming into this scenario. He's three for five.
That's it. Three completions in five attempts. He played mop up against Denver, right? He played mop up first against Seattle. When it first started dawning on some people that things might be a little awry, that game came in Week 7.
Atlanta fell to four and three after Seattle came in and smacked Atlanta around in their house. Cousins threw interceptions on his final, two possessions in the game, and that's when Rahim Morris handed Pennix a mop. And he was one for one in that game, 14-yard pass to fellow rookie wide receiver Casey Washington out of Illinois. As of now, it's Casey Washington's only catch of the year. That's chemistry. Week 11 after they lost in New Orleans to fall to six and four, well, that's when they started sensing something might be up with Cousins, and they gave Pennix the last two series with a mop.
He went two for four for 24 yards in that game, a 20-yard reception to Ray Ray McLeod, who he might be throwing to, one would think, targeting in his first start, and then a four-yard reception by Cadderell Hodge, who's had only four other catches this year. So it's not like he's got work in with London and Pitts, right? Mooney, Mooney? This is the scenario from Michael Pennix, Jr. So let's go. And I get it. I get it, because I'll tell you what, man, the numbers by Cousins have been so bad. Go ahead.
How bad are they? First quarterback with one or fewer touchdowns and nine or more interceptions in a five-game span since Brett Favre, weeks 13 through 17 in 2005, one touchdown, 10 interceptions in that stretch. The Packers were 4-12 that year. And even only in that stretch, even with no playoff possibilities in the ether, Mike Sherman only went to his rookie quarterback during that stretch once. That rookie quarterback's name was Aaron Rodgers. Handed him a mop for the entire fourth quarter of a 48-3 loss in Baltimore. And it was a difficult day for Rodgers, to say the least.
By the way, the anniversary of this date, 19-year anniversary of this date is tomorrow. Wow. He went 8 of 15. His first series, he had a sack fumble on his first snap of the fourth quarter. Darius Thomas was the one who popped it loose.
Oh yeah, I've got some names for you here. He was intercepted on his second series by Chad Williams, sacked by Terrell Suggs to force a punt on his third series. And the aforementioned Chad Williams sacked him on his fourth and final series of the day, recovered by the aforementioned Adelius Thomas as well. And the reason why I bring this up is not to denigrate Rodgers clearly, is to point out, Rodgers turned out to be generationally brilliant. Hall of Fame career ensues, but it ain't easy when you first started.
It ain't easy when you first started. Sounds like you're giving us a PSA, Rich. Well, I am happy to call Aaron Rodgers one of the best of all time and he still has it for the Jets despite the record. And that is from a two-time vaxxed, four-time boosted Pfizer guy. Happy to call him that. He deserves those flowers.
But we digress, Chris. This is what's happening in Atlanta. Yeah, and it's two weeks too late. You could say that 100%, I totally understand why Raheem Morris was like, I got to go with the veteran.
Certainly right before he goes to Minnesota, you could at least use that. And it's been so dire, it was so bad in the win against Vegas, where the Falcons had season lows and pass attempts and passing yards and Cousins also doesn't play action very much. Like the next-gen stats, you want to look them up, I won't bore you with them.
I've got them here. The next-gen stats on play action and the number of times in which he doesn't do it, because I guess he's not as comfortable doing it, or the offensive coordinator, I don't know what it is, a bad mix there. And you've got a run game like you have and you don't play action and you also don't perform well when you're blitzed under pressure.
His numbers are at the bottom of the league. You have no choice but to make this move to the rookie. I can't believe this is how they're handing it off to Pennax. In case you're wondering also, the last first round drafted quarterback to make a start at this latent season or later was, yes, Patrick Mahomes in his rookie year when they let him wet his beak in his first career start when the Chiefs had already wrapped everything up in the final week of his rookie season. And the Falcons now turn to a kid in Pennax Junior whose career in Washington was stellar.
In college, back-to-back seasons with 4,500 or more passing yards and 30 or more passing touchdowns in his final two seasons in Washington, the only other Power Five quarterback with multiple such college seasons over the last 15 years is, in fact, Patrick Mahomes. So they're hoping that they can catch that fire with somebody who's got that amount of experience and that much firepower with that experience and go to work and his first start will be at home against the New York Giants who have grown ass men on defense. I know Dexter Lawrence is out, but Brian Burns and Kavon Thibodeau, if healthy, you know, they've got some pride here, but they're a two-win team coming to their house and if Atlanta wins that game, and they should, right, they should, rookie QB or not, let's just give them that win. While Washington and Jayden Daniels, let's just say they lose this game at home against Philadelphia, right, which is possible.
Hear me out. If this happens, then the week 16 game that NBC flexed into, week 17 game that NBC flexed into before this news, Atlanta at Washington, D.C., would be for a playoff spot between the eighth overall pick in the draft getting his first career road start and the second overall pick in the draft getting his shot at joining the 10-win club. Come on, because the commanders would be nine and six going into that game and the Falcons would be eight and seven going into that game and if the Falcons win that game, they'd have the same record as the commanders and have the tie break on them.
Penix can pull this off in eight quarters, potentially. Big if, but what a big roll of the dice. And Raheem Morris, you know, to salute to the, you know, to Arthur Blank in the front office that said go ahead and draft him eighth overall and we spent months saying he's going to be useless to this team in his rookie season and look how relevant. We were thinking the eighth overall pick was Mr. Irrelevant.
Look who's Mr. Relevant now. Thick of a playoff race.
The eighth overall pick. That's great. Can't make it up. Yeah, the Bucks lose to the Cowboys on Sunday night. Suddenly the division's back in play. TJ playing spoiler. I mean, if the Cowboys do that and play spoiler, well then, squirrel for everybody, man. Delicious, seriously.
Are you going to try some? Yes, TJ, will you vouch to eat squirrel if the Cowboys play spoiler? I'm not the one who is confused by the spoiler.
I'm asking him if one of my favorites is squirrel. Let's leave that alone. We digress. I honestly can't make it up, man. Cannot make it up.
Unbelievable. Well, you know, Jordan Love's going to join us. I don't want to use real estate about somebody else's table like this, but man, what a development with Michael Penix Jr. and Atlanta. And as I said, kudos to that front office to give the coach the ability to say, this is what we're doing. And let's see it. Crazier things absolutely have happened in the NFL. What a way for Michael Penix Jr. to be born into the league and now born into the league as a starting quarterback. Let's take a break.
Jordan Love will join us shortly here on the Rich Eisen Show. Before we go, I want to let you know if you are your family's biggest supporter, let's say that you are. Make sure they're protected today with affordable online life insurance through Ethos. Up to $2 million of same day term life insurance coverage in as little as 10 minutes for as little as $2 a day. It's 100% online. There's no med exams, only a few online health questions. The mortgage, kids' education, other costs could all be covered through Ethos. Straightforward protection for the most, for the people who matter the most.
Get a free quote at tryethos.com. That's T-R-Y-E-T-H-O-S dot com. I've got my power rankings today. We've got big wit and fits magic in studio together in hour three. Bruce Feldman as well and you at 844-204-rich. And I've got a new Yankee to talk about next. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back. We'll be right back.
We'll be right back. Uh, guests later on this week, I believe one Dion primetime Sanders has been booked to join our program on Friday ahead of their ball game. I'm going to ask him, would he, has he, would he reach out to bill and say, let's schedule each other? Yeah. Oh, that would break the internet. I mean, that would, that would, that would be the highest rated game in college football.
Oh, that was from being on the field against the other. Don't you think? Or what if, what if their first ever meeting happens in a college football playoff? Come on, rich. Now we're talking as the winner of the big 12 in the ACC. Now we're done.
Now we're done. You know what I mean? And everybody's like, you know, Dion is not going to stay at Colorado. Why wouldn't he? You can make the call and that's the same way. When bill goes to the ACC, you can make the college football playoffs just as they are just as you could with the SCC and the big 10 and whatever. And then, you know, no disrespect and maybe easier, easier path to that basket out of those conferences. And the other ones, why, why, why do you need to go anywhere else?
You like staying where you are? And Dion is building a monster. Do you see the number? I like the number of like four star, five star joining.
He's got this person in the portal, that person in the portal. It's not a surprise, man. It's definitely not. I mean, I said this week. I mean, it was going to happen.
I know Colorado's bowl game in two Saturdays against BYU. Yeah. It's in, uh, in San Antonio, right? Yeah. Yeah. Alamo one win two years ago, dude.
Remember you told everybody packed their Louie's. Yeah. Everyone was just like, well, that's pretty controversial when he got there. That was a little harsh, I must admit. Rough start.
You know, he's bounced back. It is what it is. Those who stay will get blenders. Sunglasses, not. Yes. He says, sorry.
Yeah. It's not a bank. They're not opening up a savings account.
Thank you for your new account. Well, some of them might be opening savings accounts back here on the Rich Eisen show radio network. Sitting at the Rich Eisen show desk, furnished by Grainger with supplies and solutions for every industry. Grainger has the right product for you.
Call click Grainger.com or just stop by. So returning to the subject matter that has caused a bit of conversation, not just here, but around the sports world. Juan Soto being a New York metropolitan. I said I will reserve ultimate judgment on how that affects the Yankees. Until I see what the Yankees do as a plan B, signing Max Fried to the richest contract for a left hander. I liked that.
Yeah, that's good. Then because you can't have then you can't have three lefty starters. You already have Redone and you got Nestor Cortez and now you've added Max Fried. They flipped Nestor Cortez to the Milwaukee Brewers for their closer and Devin Williams. So now certainly since the Yankees lost one of their relievers to the Mets who are going to turn Clay Holmes into the next Ron Darling, I guess. Devin Williams to Luke Weaver.
I dig that. And I'm like, let's see who else we're going to add to the lineup. And they went legacy. They traded for the son of Clay Bellinger, 2019 National League MVP. Clay, Clay Bellinger's kid, Cody outfielder in first baseman is how the Yankees are putting him there. Don't know where he's going to play in the outfield yet.
We'll see who else they add. Maybe do they I think they'll move judge to to right. Get him out of center.
Center is a young man's position. Don't want to have too many miles on Aaron Judge if you can afford that. Maybe you put Bellinger in center, you put him in left. I've heard they might put the Martian in center. Jason Dominguez, if that's the case, I sure hope he's taking one million fly balls in some warm weather climate right now. Needs to be practice.
Oh, my God. They could put Bellinger at first. That makes the most sense. Left handed hitter in in in right field.
I mean, in in that right field porch in Yankee Stadium, left handed hitter. I dig it. I like it.
Good move. You know, he's healthy. He'll at 30 home runs.
Easy. Let's see what happens with Cody Bellinger. And also there's there's a very important part of this, too, that I haven't mentioned here, but I will hear is that the Yankees with with with Clay Bellinger, you know, I'm thrilled that Clay decides to join the Yankees when they're in a Mets town.
That's exactly the time that you want. You want to find guys who want to be Yankees when it's a when it's a Mets town now. You still but heard about, you know, I mean, honestly, the fact that he's willing to take on this challenge right now.
Yeah. You know, and and and walk around this town surrounded by all those Mets fans. Outnumbering all the Yankee fans now, because well, we have a clue for not going to because of because, you know, the coming off of all those banners that they've raised since 1986, which are wait a minute. I've written this number down.
Zero. So thank you, Clay, for scoring, for being able to to understand the odds and the stakes and and how, you know, your accomplishments won't be talked about because it's a Mets town. I think Clay's got bigger issues on that. Cody Bellinger, everybody. I think he's got bigger issues in the locker room than if it's a Mets. That's true.
Yankees. I think there's something bigger. OK, we won't touch on because we're not that type of show.
So that's you. But you just did. Well, so so can do research. You just say even though you have no earthly idea exactly what that is right right now, if that if that's if that's old news, if it's buried news, you have absolutely no idea. So why not say it over and over again in the microphone then, DJ?
We don't know. Just say it. So there's that.
Kind of dig it. Oh, if he's healthy, he's going to hit bombs. I don't know who else is arriving potentially. I hope this takes Alonzo off the Yankees radar. The Yankees.
I can tell you this right now. He is not on the Yankee radar screen. They're not going to sign somebody for multiple longtime years to stick at first base.
That's what I heard. And Bellinger right now. And this is the reason why the Yankees got him for a pitcher who only threw for what started four games for the Yankees last year. And and also got cash from the Cubs is because. Cody Bellinger can walk out of his contract after next year. This could be another one year deal.
So this is like a rental. No, actually, what's more, what's more likely is that Bellinger plays one year for the team and then winds up going to the Mets and says it's a Mets town. Then it is we have the Yankees to take. We have a track record of Pete Alonzo. So I've been told the Yankees have zero interest in Pete Alonzo. Well, you got sources.
You got sources. You might you might take him back. Oh, you might get him back. Well, I love how you would like dismiss him to me.
But a few weeks ago you were talking about. I know Alonzo is a terrific ballplayer and he's yours. He's what's helped New York become a Mets fan with all of those championships that he's had. Well, it's not just about championships, which is it's the what is it?
What is it? What is it like? Tell me tell me what it's like living in a Mets town. Well, I mean, I live in Los Angeles, much like you.
So neither one of us can truly speak on what goes on in New York. I can talk about growing up in a in a Mets town. It was rough. It was really rough growing up in a Mets town, man. It was so tough when Reggie showed and won those championships and then core for one, no champ to beat the Mets in a subway series. Look, I can say since then it's been a Mets town.
I could speak more than in Long Island for a summer. And that was rough. I'm sure it was. That was very rough.
I'm sure it was. Turzo and Iowa, you're here on the rich edge. What's up, Turzo? Hey, what's up, guys? I got a little bit of news for you. I'm sitting here packing up my office and all of my DND characters. I'm taking my talents to another firm. So, whoa, bittersweet.
But wow. Does this mean less time at Carl's or more? That's a good question. Well, well, well, Brockman, it kind of depends. If I manage my caseload quite well, I might be able to manage a little bit more time. But if I'm extra busy, might be less time. So it's how it's how I delegate my time. So stay tuned. Turzo, please tell me that Carl's has a dedicated booth for you to sit and do your work in and like the corner just in case. Well, dude, of course. It's the satellite office. We got plug ins for all computers and cell phones.
So you can work mobily and not even worry about anybody seeing you. Well, it sounds like you're working upwardly mobily. So congratulations, Turzo. Nice, brother.
Appreciate you guys. So, Rich, watching the NBA Cup last night, I love Giannis. Like he's just a awesome dude and an even better basketball player. Loved how he was just trying to get his teammate that extra bonus check so he could buy a house in Iowa.
Thought that was pretty neat. But something kind of came up with NBA and the All-Star game. And I kind of started to remember that the MVP is named after Kobe. And I just kind of feel that that trophy named after him is kind of a waste since we really don't care about the All-Star game anymore. Well, I mean, the All-Star game. So much more than that. I know.
Thanks for the call there, Turzo. Let's chop this up before we'll take a break to make sure we're on time for Jordan Love. So now the All-Star game is no longer East versus West, but it's it's going to be three different teams of All-Stars in a tournament that's played in one night with the Rising Stars being the ones to maybe knock everyone off. Correct? That's the way it's going to work?
Yeah. The Rising Stars are kind of the fourth team in this. And then it's all the All-Stars. And then, what is it, Chuck and a couple others are going to be picking the teams. So we're going back to the captain thing that they had tried a few years ago. Hasn't been East and West in a long time. You know, they've been doing the captains, LeBron and whoever, you know, the other top vote getters.
But I don't know. It's just kind of funny this generation kind of crapping all over the All-Star game when they're the ones that ruined it. When we were growing up in the 80s and 90s, the All-Star game, it meant something. It was a big event.
It was perfect. Everybody tried hard and the games were wildly fun and really competitive. And this generation of players has ruined the All-Star game because they don't play hard.
There is no defense. It's just like the N1 mixtape tour. It's not fun to watch. And they're the ones that ruined it. The dunk contest was the main event for a while, the weekend. Then it became the three-point shootout was the highlight of the weekend. Not the game itself, not the game. And so it's just kind of a bummer and kind of ironic that, you know, some of these players are saying, oh, we need to fix it.
Well, you're the ones that ruined it. And that's why it was always so fitting that, you know, Kobe Bryant's name is for the MVP, because he was a guy of the new guard at the time who personified the old guard way of playing these All-Star games. We remember when we waved Carmelone off the box calling for the ball in Madison Square Garden, like I'm going to do this one on one. And, you know, that was sort of the newfangled what's up with this generation type of thing. When he was like, I'm going to win this game.
I said, I care so much. Kobe and AI went out there to prove something. Right. And we'd love to have the new guard do that, but right now they're going to have to do that in some new format. Yeah. You know, they tried the Elam ending and all this, you know, other just kind of gimmicks to kind of fix it.
And it just never stuck. The unexpected can happen at any time. You need to think about things like life insurance in advance, and Ethos makes it easy as one, two, three. Just choose your coverage. Apply in minutes. Get covered in real time.
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Jordan Love when we come back from the Green Bay Packers on The Rich Eisen Show. When you think about businesses that are selling through the roof like aloe or skins. Sure, you think about a great product, a cool brand and brilliant marketing. But an often overlooked secret is actually the businesses behind the business making selling and for shoppers buying simple for millions of businesses. That business is Shopify. Nobody does selling better than Shopify with shop pay that boost conversions up to 50 percent, meaning way less carts are going abandoned and way more sales happening. So if you're into growing your business, your commerce platform better be ready to sell whatever your customers are scrolling or strolling on the Web, in your store, in their feed and everywhere in between. Businesses that sell more sell on Shopify. Upgrade your business and get the same checkout skins uses. Sign up for your one dollar per month trial period at Shopify dot com slash Westwood one all lowercase. Go to Shopify dot com slash Westwood one to upgrade your selling today.
Shopify dot com slash Westwood one. This year, Santa's bringing the power of Energizer into his workshop. Whoa. The Energizer Bunny's got so much power. He's powered up all the toys.
I think that means we're done for the year. I love this bunny. He's the hardest working helper the North Pole has ever seen. And he wants all your gifts to have the power of the number one longest lasting double A battery. So this holiday season, stock up on Santa's and the elves favorite battery, Energizer Ultimate Lithium. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show on the Roku Sports Channel playoff clinching scenarios.
I have them right here. The paperwork to prove it. Which one are we going with the first here? Mike Hoskins and Jordan Love will join us shortly.
The radio audience is about to return. The Kansas City Chiefs, if they win and the Bills lose to the Patriots, they're the one seed. They're already in as the AFC West winners. The Steelers can clinch the AFC North with a win over the Ravens.
They're already in. The Ravens are not. The Ravens do have a playoff clinching scenario. If they win this game, they're in the playoffs. If Miami loses against San Francisco and the Colts lose to Tennessee, the Steelers play on Saturday against the Ravens. The Ravens would clinch even if they lose to the Steelers.
The Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football, if they win at the Chargers, they're in the playoffs, man. And then if the Chargers win, they would need some other assistance to make the playoffs. Miami would have to lose and Indianapolis would also have to lose. So that would get Baltimore and Los Angeles in if the Chargers win.
So both Harbaugh can get in with Dolphins and Colts losses right there. But John would get in just doesn't need a win in the NFC. The Philadelphia Eagles would clinch the NFC East by beating the commanders. The Washington commanders, if they beat the Eagles, they could get a playoff berth with other results. The Falcons would have to lose in addition to a Rams or Seahawks loss. And then the Green Bay Packers. All they got to do is win on Monday Night Football against the Saints. And they clinch a playoff berth with their 11th win of the season or other results could happen throughout the rest of the weekend.
And they would know going on the field it's already done. Those are your playoff clinching scenarios for week 16 in the National Football League. Joining us now right here on the Rich Eisen Show is none other than Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers, as promised. How are you doing, Jordan? Good to see you. We're good, Rich. How are you doing?
I'm doing great. And so is your team, obviously, as well. And I greatly appreciate you joining us in such a crucial part of your season. What's the general sense in that locker room right now?
What's it like walking around in there, Jordan Love? No, it's definitely great vibes in the locker room right now. You know, we're trying to obviously take it one week at a time, keep winning these games and obviously put ourselves in the position for the playoffs. But I like where we're at as a team right now, the vibes in the locker room.
Everybody's enjoying being here and putting in the work during the week. Let's talk about the win that you just came up with. It's so rare in this league to see a team win a coin toss and say, we're taking the ball.
We're not deferring. But you guys did win the toss, took the ball and then just smashed it down the field with Josh Jacobs. Was that something you talked about throughout the week, that if we get the toss, that's the way we're going to do it?
Jordan? Yeah, we've had multiple conversations like that. Matt is always great about asking guys on the team, you know, what do we want to do? And, you know, anytime you ask me, I always say, I want to take the ball. I love you to go out there and start offense and especially just start fast and go down there and put up points. You know, I think that's really the formula to be able to start the game fast. And something that we harped on all week is something that we didn't do very well in the Detroit game.
We'll start the game fast on offense and go put up points to help the defense. So what has Josh brought to the equation here, Jordan? And listen, I know you love Aaron Jones as much as I do. And he's doing great in his new spot as well. So what you're about to say, I don't want anybody to take, is you denigrating who you used to play with. But Josh Jacobs brings a dynamic that we just saw.
We're talking about it. What does he bring in your mind, Jordan? Yeah, Josh is, I mean, he's a phenomenal player. But I just think his mindset, you know, he's definitely one of those top dogs and one of the best running backs in the league. But just the way he runs the ball, he's a guy who wants the ball in his hands every play. And just has that mindset that he's not going to let anybody bring him down.
He's trying to run guys over, make guys miss. And I really think he can do it all. You know, he's a great catcher, too, out of the backfield. And just his ability to break tackles, make guys miss, and get those extra yards is, you know, somebody that we can just lean on to be able to hand the ball 30 times a game. And he's just going to, you know, be good after the game.
How does he express that mindset? You know, I mean, he just tells you he wants the ball. You know, he loves kind of having that pressure, having that chip on his shoulder, and just wants to be able to take that workload. And, you know, that's what you want on a team with a great running back.
You want that guy to be able to be asking for the ball, want the rock, and know that he's going to perform when he does get that ball. And you mentioned Matt before, as obviously that's your head coach, Matt Lafleur, and how he talks to the guys throughout the week to sort of, I guess, crowdsource in a way about what everyone wants to do. But I'd love to get your relationship with him. What's your week like with him that you just pull back the curtain a little bit about this HC, and the QB, and the Green Bay Packers, and what they do throughout the week together? Yeah, no, we, like you said, me and Matt, we have a great relationship. Matt is, I think that was one of his strengths is, you know, being able to pick the brains of the players and game plan based on certain things that we might see on film, certain things that, plays that we like and might need added, and tailor some of that stuff into what he already is seeing game plan wise. But throughout the week, you know, me and Matt, he is very detailed in his approach, and the plays we put in throughout the week, you know, he sits in the quarterback room with us and tells us exactly why we like these plays, exactly the looks we like them for.
If we don't get this look, you know, this isn't a perfect look for it, things like that. So he just, he helps you kind of get in his head of what he's thinking. And all this stuff helps me go out there on the field and just understand why he's calling certain plays, what the look is, and if we don't get a look, all right, this probably isn't going to be a great play, where should I go with the ball? Just that mindset helps me play. Yeah, the best coaches in the NFL help give the players the answers to the test before they take the test, that's for sure. And then the ones that truly separate themselves are the ones who basically say, if we get this look, if we get this example on the test, we're going to take out this play and it's going to work.
And then it does. Do you got a good example of that from Matt LaFleur, Jordan? Oh, man, I mean, there are so many examples you can dive into. You know, I'm just trying to think of some plays we ran this week, but I mean, it's too many to count. I mean, we, like I said, when we put in the game plan, you know, he'll have a clip for almost every play that he likes and he's very detailed in his approach with it. But there's so many instances throughout a game where, you know, Matt will call play and you go out there and you're like, wow, this is, you know, this is the defense that he exactly dialed this playoff for. And it's like it almost unfolds right in front of your eyes. And then obviously you'll be able to go out there and see when something doesn't, isn't the look we've talked about.
But there's so many instances that Matt's done that. So it's no surprise and it's, you know, it definitely helps as a quarterback to see that stuff. And then just, you know, you have so many options, too, and wide receiver, it's difficult for some to figure out whose day it's going to be. How do you figure out whose day it's going to be, Jordan?
Man, that's a great question. You never really find out who day is going to be so after the game. But, you know, like you said, we have such a deep receiver room and so many playmakers in there that, like you said, it is definitely tough to get all these guys the ball.
But, you know, it is very fun when they're all making plays and they all have their different skill sets and different things that they bring to the table. But I truly believe, I mean, with this group, it does put a lot of pressure on defenses because you never know whose day it might be. You know, Jay Reed might go off. Rome might go off. Christian might go off. Wicks might go off.
So it is definitely, I think it puts a lot of pressure on the defense. Do you hear from fantasy football players? And like, hey, man, like what gives? Do you hear on this very subject? It seems like you do hear that sort of thing. Yeah, I hear from people all the time on social media about the fantasy points. This guy's not getting enough points, things like that. I try to block that stuff out and just not focus on it. All right.
Well, I mean, this week, if it's a Jayden Reed week, I wouldn't mind. Just saying, Jordan, you know. Noted. No pressure. No pressure. No pressure. Noted. Just saying. Noted. OK, very good.
Let's write that down. Jordan Love here on the Rich Eisen Show. You're now a few years removed from your apprenticeship with with Rogers being there.
You're now a quarterback who's played in the playoffs now with his second contract. Do you believe you'd be in the position you are today if you weren't waiting around as long as you did, Jordan? That's a good question.
Who knows? You know, I think it would my career probably would have panned out a lot differently. Who knows if I'd be in this exact same situation?
I would hope so. But I do believe for sure that having those three years to be able to sit, sit behind a legend Aaron Rodgers and just watch him work and learn and pick his brain definitely helped me so much. And just be able to, you know, learn on the side and grow my game until, you know, I was truly ready. But I do believe, you know, you know, say I was to play my rookie year, I think things would be a lot different. So I definitely am grateful and learn so much, so many valuable lessons, just to be able to watch Aaron in those three years.
Yeah, I mean, there are obviously you are who you are and you have your own style. There are times, though, I'm watching I'm like that that that looks like Aaron right there, that that's a play that I've seen Aaron make in in that uniform in that stadium in those circumstances. And, you know, not to turn you into a pundit here, Jordan, but that is a conversation that's being had about quarterbacks and when they're ready and what's the formula and what's this, what's that?
Now, you know, as Michael Pennix Jr. is getting his start all of a sudden this late in the game for Atlanta. How long do you think it takes in your mind for a quarterback to to fully mature and bake in in this National Football League? Your two cents on that would be what, Jordan? Yeah, no, I definitely I've always said that everyone's situation is different. You know, the team they have around them, the coaches they have around them, what quarterback they might be behind. So there's so many different things that go into it. I believe me, I think after year two, after being behind A-Rod for two years and being able to sit and learn, I think I was definitely ready and I think my game had improved so much just from from learning those two years. But I definitely tell people all the time, you know, if I was to start my rookie year, things would look a lot different. You know, just from the amount of things that's on your plate as a rookie quarterback, trying to learn all this new stuff that you don't really have time to grow. You know, you're just trying to learn so much stuff on the fly that it does make it a lot difficult.
So have those three years learn, see somebody do it in your shoes, doing the same position helped me a lot. And how different do you and again, I know you haven't clinched a playoff spot yet, but things are, you know, looking like that is going to be another playoff season for you right now. How much are you going to draw on your thinking from last year to this year? How different a playoff quarterback do you think you will be based on the experience you did get last year?
Jordan Love? Yeah, I think the experience is definitely very beneficial. But like I said before, you know, it is a new year. We have a new team. But I try and go out there every game and just be the best quarterback I can be, you know, best quarterback for this team. And I think it all starts with taking care of the ball. Some that I've had to focus on cleaning up the past couple of weeks and hope to keep improving on into the playoffs. But just taking care of the ball and obviously having these explosive plays and getting the ball and spreading it to these great playmakers we got. But being able to put up points and take care of the ball is the name of the game. So I definitely hope to be able to do that in playoffs. How do you do that and still continue to play free?
How do you do that, Jordan? Yeah, I mean, it's all focused, you know, every play just focusing on, like I said, you know, understanding what the defensive look they're presenting and trying to picture where I might be going with the ball. And then just hosting that, letting it play out, trusting my instincts, trusting my ability and being confident every throw. But at the same time weighing those decisions, you know, on the fly, is this a risky throw? Is it not a risky throw? Can I make it or do I have a better, better check down? Some that I might be able to get to that might be a better place.
So just just weighing those things on the fly. But like you said, you know, when plays break down, being smart when I scramble and those kind of off schedule plays as well. What's your message to, lastly, the Packer fans who have seen, you know, the losses that you've had to arguably the other best teams in the NFC and you having an opportunity to make some hay when it's all said and done against those teams and going into the playoffs and folks who might be concerned at all? What are your two cents to them as a message going into this Monday night game and then the rest of the season and possibly the postseason?
Jordan Love. Oh, my message would be just to keep rocking with us Packer fans. You know, they're an awesome fan base we have and, you know, they're with us through the ups and the downs for sure. But, you know, like I said before, I like where this team is at. I like the mindset we have and, you know, we're all ready to be able to finish the season on high note and make this playoff run. We know, you know, the most important time for football is in the playoffs. So that's when we hope to be playing our best ball.
But I like where we're at right now and we're ready to go. Jordan Love, thank you for the time. I greatly appreciate it. Always like talking to you and send my best to Jaden Reed.
And by that, I mean target him. Jordan, is this thing on? I'm sorry. Is this thing on? No. I got you. I got you. Okay. You heard that.
He's got me. I'm writing it down. Thank you. Thanks, Jordan Love. You will.
Thanks again. You got it. That is Jordan Love for the Green Bay Packers. Surgeon Packers, the potential team you don't want to face in the playoffs again, Packers. Right here on the Rich Eisen Show.
You really did that, though. My preseason Super Bowl pick. Man, I love Lafleur, dude. What do we want to do, guys? We want to hand the ball to Josh? What do you want to do?
You want the ball? What are we going to do here? We got these plays. We got this thing going on. Jacobs has been awesome. The coaches give the answers to the test and say, if this is the question on the test, here is the way we're going to attack the question.
And then they attack it and the answer pops up. I'm pretty sure Tomlin said something to that effect on Hard Knocks. I mean, Tomlin, that's why, I mean, Lafleur is in that category.
Yeah. Lafleur. And can I call Rich Eisen on this?
Please. Use Rich Eisen Show real estate to try to hype up your fantasy team. And the interesting thing is, who am I going against in the Rich Eisen Show fantasy league?
He's sitting right there. He's lucky I didn't bring up anything that he's thinking of starting golf over Jordan Love. I was very nervous you were going to. I wouldn't do that. I would have been very uncomfortable. I'm not going to do that. What I'm saying, man, that's not fair. You probably should have. No, come on. You probably should have jumped in there, man.
I mean, if I'm going to drag Jordan down to my level, I'm going to use it to try and get Jaden Reid some targets, especially since he's in the sleeper league too. It's a two for one, Chris. I know. I win, you win. I'm into it. He loses. It's a win, win and a lose. I mean, I'm down.
Hour two is over coming up. I'm down because, OK, the Packers are done because right now we don't have Jaden Reid in our starting line. I'm just saying, Chris. We don't. Why not? Don't love it. Because he's a little bit too.
Because it's exactly why I'm bringing you that up to join Love. It's not. There's no consistency there. It could be a Christian Watson game. It could be a Romeo Dobbs game.
It was a Romeo Dobbs game on Sunday night. Right. Yeah. We're going to Jaden Reid game in Brazil.
We're going to sit Reid. Right. We are? Yeah.
I don't know, man. Come on. No, not after this. No, we're going to sit Reid. We have too much talent. Well, I'm not sitting him. Our team's too good. Christian Watson's like, I'm a friend of the show.
How dare you? He's been on here. Well, I don't have him. I couldn't get him.
I'm just saying. We'll never get him again now after this. It could be a Wix game. It could be a Kraft game. We'll never get him again. We're going to play the Packer defense. Yes.
I mean, it's almost always a Josh Jacobs game, and he's your guy. Got him. So I didn't like hearing this. I'm about to make a name for myself here.
You know how long I've been waiting for this? But I mean, I think I asked a question that is, would you say a top five fantasy football question all year long is whose game is it going to be in Green Bay? He don't know. He isn't. No. Yeah.
He has no idea until it's time. It was open. Oh, that guy's open. Let me show you. I speak for all of us.
Please be rich. Oh, I'm going to. Oh, stop it. How dare you start Jordan Love? How dare you start Jordan Love? A number of times I've been told in my life that I'm one to root for.
How dare you in this case, you're not. My World with Jeff Jarrett takes wrestling fans behind the scenes along with King of the Mountain Conrad Thompson. I wanted to ask you about what you know, if anything, on the new WWE ID program, where they're apparently going to be working with some independent wrestlers. My encouragement to any independent wrestler out there, build your value and then understand your value and then you create your own leverage. There's no substitute for hard work and getting over. My World with Jeff Jarrett, wherever you listen.
