Postseason Pressure (Hour 2)

I'm Larry Mullins, host of the podcast, Your Weirdest Fears, the show that explores the odd things that make your heart stop. I am so scared of the Grinch. He is bad vibes. We talk to everyone from therapists to exterminators to lizard man. I was 25 when I actually got my tongue split.

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So get started and download the free Odyssey app today. It is Zach Gelb's show Coast to Coast on CBS Sports Radio. Coming up, 20 minutes from now, the original 88 Pro Football Hall of Famer, Drew Pearson, is going to be stopping by. I'm looking at the 14 teams that are in the playoffs this year, 7 the AFC, 7 the NFC, and just looking at their quarterbacks. Here's what I think is on the line, not only this weekend, but moving on into the future for this entirety of the postseason. Because we got to talk about the Chiefs and the Eagles still.

They don't play this weekend because they're on buys. So I start things off with Patrick Mahomes. For this postseason, this is a return to the throne for Patrick Mahomes.

And that's what's on the line. We all think Mahomes is the best quarterback in football. I think the general feeling is that Mahomes is the best quarterback in football and no one would really debate that. But after winning that Super Bowl, you heard from Kansas City, like most champions, dynasty, dynasty, dynasty. But with that being said, there's not always that belief where a team says dynasty and this is going to be a regular feeling.

And then you could go, I don't know about that. For Kansas City, because of their quarterback, I think a lot of people would have thought after winning that first one, they would have had another Super Bowl by now. Now, it's only a two year sample size. They got to another Super Bowl, lost to the Bucks. And then last year, Mahomes played maybe the worst game I've ever seen him play, where once he got stopped and hesitated right before the end of the first half, he was horrible up against the Bengals in the second half of that AFC title game. So for Mahomes, it's continuing that dynasty belief, because usually a dynasty is three championships in four years, three in five. Somewhere along those lines, you have one, then two years without one.

If you then miss out on one this year, then it's three straight years without a championship. So that's what I think is on the line for Patrick Mahomes. For the Bills and Josh Allen, it's just on the verge of being a legend. Like, don't get me wrong, we watched Allen play right now and it's legendary stuff, but it's more than just the way that he'd be perceived around the league.

Just go inside that Buffalo community. You saw Jim Kelly, who's a Hall of Fame quarterback, and the Buffalo Bills go to four straight Super Bowls and lose all of them. Buffalo has never won a Super Bowl. And Josh Allen, if you are the guy, even though we all think he's on that career trajectory of definitely being a Hall of Famer, he's one of the better quarterbacks in the game right now, the postseason run that he had last year is maybe some of the best football I've ever seen from a quarterback that did not result in a Super Bowl. Like, just in recent memory, the only other one that comes to mind is Brady's 505-yard performance up against the Eagles, where they lost that Super Bowl the second time around, where Brady with the Pats went up against the Eagles in the Super Bowl. But what Allen did last year, in just two postseason games, some quarterbacks never do that in an entire Super Bowl run. So for Josh Allen, I don't think anyone questions if he could do it, but it's about finally getting that cherry on top of the sundae and capping off the job. And if he does that, like right now, if you just know the Buffalo community, like Josh Allen never has to buy a drink again. But then it just goes to a different level because it would start maybe the greatest party that we've ever seen in the history of sports with the way that the passion is of the Buffalo Bills fans. For the Bengals, their quarterback, Joe Burrow.

Hickey, I'm going to throw this idea by you. Joe Burrow, first year comes in the league, plays well, unfortunately gets hurt. Second year, first true year as a full starter for the entirety of the games.

He takes the Bengals, who, by the way, had some really great teams under Marvin Lewis. I think they got to seven postseason performances, seven games they were never able to win one or something like that. They were in the postseason so many times and they were never able to go win a playoff game, just a playoff game.

Burrow goes there, changes the entire belief, the entire field, the entire culture. And when no one was thinking the Bengals would do it last year in terms of just get to the playoffs, let alone get to a Super Bowl. Burrow not only got to a Super Bowl, he almost won the entire damn thing. And this year there was a lot of people saying, Bengals are going to take a step back, Bengals are going to take a step back.

What they did last year was miraculous, it's not going to continue. If Joe Burrow, this postseason, gets to the Super Bowl in back-to-back years and wins it, and that means most likely he would have to beat next weekend Josh Allen and the weekend after that probably Patrick Mahomes. And then think about it, that would be four straight against Mahomes and then it would be back-to-back AFC title games where he's taken down Patrick Mahomes and goes and gets a Super Bowl, I would then think we would look at Joe Burrow as the best quarterback in the sport, if he's able to do that. Now we all know how great Mahomes is, we all know how great Josh Allen is, but those are the three best quarterbacks right now, Mahomes, Allen, and Burrow. If Burrow, in the AFC, back-to-back years, gets to a Super Bowl and this time wins it, you could even argue if he just gets to the Super Bowl. I think a lot of people would start to view, or maybe say, is Joe Burrow the best quarterback in the sport?

Your thoughts on that. Interesting discussion, I personally would probably keep Mahomes ahead of him just because he has the MVP and Joe Burrow doesn't. The only tough part is the sample size, obviously for Joe Burrow it would be two full healthy years, two Super Bowls winning one, where obviously Mahomes has done it for a little bit longer. But I think it's a tough discussion, without a doubt.

If he wins in February, I think we are talking about it for sure. It's interesting that you throw out the MVP, which is fair that you throw out the MVP, and you're probably going to see, I would guess, Mahomes win his second MVP this year, but then it's kind of like we're getting in those early arguments once again, and this is premature, of Manning and Brady. Because Manning would put up better stats, but Brady had the rings. And you could have all the MVP awards in the world, and let's be real, if we're picking between Mahomes and we're picking between Burrow, you're getting a great quarterback, but here's the obvious statement, duh, I'd rather have the championships.

This is all predicated on the fact that the Bengals go and win a Super Bowl this year. But you look at what Burrow's done, the story just keeps on getting better and better. Remember, and I think we were working together, and you know, part time obviously, I remember doing the weekend overnights here, when Joe Burrow was on that LSU team his first year there, and no one talked about Joe Burrow. It was Nick Broset that running back, remember him? And that was the conversation of their offense, and then the next year, no one thought Joe Burrow would be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

No one even, like maybe a six-round draft pick for Joe Burrow? If I'm being kind, he wins the Heisman, number one overall pick, wins a national championship, undefeated, and then yes, the first year in the NFL gets hurt, but showed you promise. Remember that second game of his career is a Thursday night against the Browns, where they had him throw the ball like 60-something times, which was stupid. And then the next year in the Super Bowl, if he wins the Super Bowl this year, this story, this four-year run, when you go from LSU first three years of the league, that's for a guy that no one was talking about four or five years ago, is pretty damn good. I don't want to say as good as it gets, because if you just directly look at Brady, who a lot of people compare Burrow to Brady, no one thought Brady coming out of Michigan, then Bledsoe goes down, and then he wins three Super Bowls in four years, would have done that. But I see a lot of similarities between Burrow and Brady, and you know where I think of Tom Brady, and I'm the biggest Brady fan there is, and Burrow does a lot to do, that he may not be the most skilled quarterback, he may not be the guy that puts on the greatest show, but he just has it when it comes to galvanizing a locker room and winning. And you saw that last year, even though it didn't result in a championship with Joe Burrow.

Absolutely. He has that confidence, he has that swagger that you kind of, like I said, is Brady-like, where it's just that it's quiet. It's not a lot of loud talking, but it's the bravado. It's the way he carries himself. It's the way he even just smirks when he asks or answers questions.

It's a lot of fun to watch so far, but yeah, I think it's a fascinating discussion. I think, I said, if he wins a Super Bowl, he's ahead of Josh Allen, without a doubt, and now it's Patrick Holmes or Joe Burrow. The only thing about Brady Manning, I will say, is they'd have equal Super Bowls and Super Bowl appearances, whereas Brady was always ahead of Manning when it comes to that discussion, in terms of rings and championships with Burrow and Mahomes.

I was like, what are you talking about? Brady has seven. I thought you were saying that about Manning. Him and Mahomes would have two appearances, one each, whereas any time I was manning Brady, Brady was at the upper hand in terms of championships. But, then if this happens this year, and it goes the way that it would, it would be four straight victories up against Mahomes, and then it would also be two of those victories come playoff time. So, yeah, Mahomes is a video game. Mahomes right now is the best quarterback in the sport, but if Burrow is able to go win a Super Bowl this year or just get to another Super Bowl, I think you have to get to the Super Bowl to knock, win the Super Bowl to knock Mahomes off the perch, in some silly way that is, because if you say, oh, if he gets there, then he beat Mahomes again, then you could make the same argument, but I think you got to go get that title.

If he does get that title this year, I think there's definitely a conversation to be had. Now, Jaguars, just looking at their quarterback, if they find a way, and I'm not saying to go on a Super Bowl run, but if they win this weekend, it's just further validation that for years to come in an AFC South, that is not strong. Like the Colts, who knows what their future is, Tennessee, are they ever going to get a quarterback? The Texans wake me up when they keep a coach for more than a year, but this is just further validation that last year, yes, it's tough to judge because we all know Urban Meyer was just a disaster, but if Trevor Lawrence is getting there right now, it makes you feel like you have your guy, but if you go win a playoff game and take down Justin Herbert, it does give you further confidence that this regime of Doug Peterson and Trevor Lawrence together is your regime for not only next year, but for years and years and years to come.

When Trevor Lawrence was so transcendent coming out of college and Doug Peterson, he's already won a Super Bowl in this league as a head coach. The Chargers, I know Justin Herbert has never appeared in a postseason game, and this will be his first one this weekend, it's his third year in the league. If he's able to just win this weekend, Hickey, what do you think it does for his career? Or do you think he needs to do more this postseason than just win this weekend? Because I think if he wins this weekend and then goes to Kansas City and they lose, it's okay, Kansas City's just better. We all know Herbert's great, but I think there'll be other reasons why people would look to point the finger as why the Chargers did not beat the Kansas City Chiefs. But if you lose this weekend, I do think people say Herbert's great, but even though it's only one game, you know how this conversation is, he hasn't won a playoff game yet. And is this a guy that just puts up great stats or is this guy that could go win? I think Herbert could do both, put up great stats, and I do believe that Herbert could go win a Super Bowl. But it prevents that playoff narrative, that stupid playoff narrative that we do in such a condensed time, like even after one game, of even occurring yet if Herbert goes out there and just wins this weekend and keeps it close up against Kansas City the weekend after that. I think there's a battle in terms of, I don't know necessarily about playoff, a question about playoff success for Herbert. I think just getting there is a success for him this season.

But I do think it's kind of almost a straight one-on-one battle. Him and Trevor Lawrence, the winner of this game, I think you could elevate above the other. Could you say maybe the fourth best quarterback in the AFC?

I think that's an absolute conversation to have, without a doubt. I know a lot of people are going to say, what about the Ravens? What about Lamar? Lamar, the last two years, and he's been in the MSNBC.

If you listen to this show, you know how much of a fan I am of Lamar Jackson. But Lamar, the last two years, has been dealing with injuries. So I do feel like the winner of that game, Chargers and Jacksonville, yeah. When you rank however you want, 1-3, between Mahomes, between Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, it would then be kind of the feeling of, okay, that's the next guy. Now for the Ravens and the Dolphins, I'm going to just merge them together because it's not most likely Lamar Jackson this weekend. If somehow, some way, Tyler Huntley or Anthony Brown or Skylar Thompson find a way to win a playoff game, all that does is, and you may be able to be a backup quarterback in this league for the next 5-10 years forever anyway, but I think that just allows you to be a backup quarterback for pretty much however long you want in this league if you're able to go win a playoff game and play a role in a big play.

Like, I know it's different, but like a Tebow overtime quick pass that goes the distance in that Steelers-Broncos game for all those years to go with the late great Damarius Thomas. So that's how I kind of just look at the Ravens and Dolphins. I don't think there's actually much on the line for those quarterbacks, but you just got at least a place in the NFL as a too-deep quarterback for years to years to come. I have a quick question about the Ravens when it comes to, not Tyler Huntley, but just Lamar, really.

We know that the future is in question. Are the Ravens more likely to do something, either keep Lamar or trade Lamar if they get blown out? Let's say it's 31-3. We expect a blowout, right?

Bengals blowout the Ravens. Are the Ravens then looking at it, you think, as, wow, we really need Lamar. This team is not very good with Adam.

We got to lock him up. Or is it, you know what, we need a quarterback. Lamar is now 2 years in a row not here at the end of the year.

We got to get someone that can actually, you know, competently be on the field, not Tyler Huntley. So I think we look at this mainly because we look at it from the side of, does Lamar want to be back in Baltimore? I don't think we've had really the conversation yet, do the Ravens want Lamar back? Because I think most people would say yes.

But you know what I think answers that question? Has nothing to do with the game this weekend. Has nothing to do with him not being available, in my opinion, because I think he's shown enough and they've catered out of his organization enough where they would want him back, but yet again, they didn't get a deal done. I do really believe that when you look at the Ravens and the question of do they want him back, I do think a lot of it's going to be Hickey. How much do they think this is the injury for him not playing? And how much is it him not playing because of the contract and that he doesn't have it? Because if they think for a little bit, and I know that you heard what you heard from Jim Trotter with the PCL injury and talking about how serious this injury could be and how much of a nagging injury it could be, and how he wouldn't even be the Lamar Jackson you would expect on a field, but if some in the organization think that this is more Lamar delaying coming back because of the contract situation, that could make them expedite maybe a potential divorce from the Ravens side. I'd be shocked that's the case. I'll say that. I don't think there's anything even worth talking about when it comes to him sitting out willingly, contract-wise. I'm just saying. But you know inside organizations, especially when you're the ego of these people, some may think, oh, he's healthy enough to get back on the field. Some may. And that may not be fair, but that could maybe cause some friction inside the organization about paying this guy.

But you do bring up the point. It's like guy's been healthy the last two years. You're going to go commit a five-year deal. I think in the Ravens world, they want him back next year in the franchise tag.

Now if I'm a Mar, I'm saying bleep you guys. Pay me this offseason or trade me. All right, I'll go through these quickly in the NFC because we got to get to Drew Pearson coming up.

Eagles. I think this postseason is all about just validation for Jalen Hurts. He's been an MVP type of quarterback this year, probably would have won the award if he didn't get hurt in the final few weeks of the season. If he goes and gets this team to a Super Bowl, wins those two postseason games, I don't think there's a question right now if you're going to pay him, but it's just more validation for this guy in a national spotlight, where a lot of people didn't like that second-round draft pick by the Eagles. And look what he's done the last two years.

A lot of people questioned him going into this season. It's just more validation for Jalen Hurts. So the 49ers and Brock Purdy goes on a run. And I know the Niners have won 10-0, not all with Brock Purdy. This is OK. You're going to get a chance to compete for the job next year, maybe win the job and be the starting guy next year.

And if it's not in San Francisco, it will be somewhere else. For the Vikings, this is Kirk Cousins having a possibility to give a middle finger to a lot of people. And I know a few years ago he won against the Saints, then lost against the Niners. He's got to go win two playoff games back-to-back to be able to give that middle finger. For Brady, I think we all believe he's coming back next year. If he wins a championship this year after going 8-9, that could be the one last ride, the one last one he needs to go right off into the sunset. For the Cowboys, Dak, you've got to win this weekend.

You maybe have to do more than just win this weekend. If you don't, then once again it's going to be Dak's good, but is he great enough to go win you multiple playoff games? For the Giants and Seahawks, I think it's both very similar. You've got to be thrilled with the regular season that you saw from Geno Smith.

Out of nowhere it did happen. And the same for Daniel Jones. It's just more of a belief that they're able to win one playoff game and even if they don't just play well and not be the reason why you lose, that okay, that's a guy that you want to continue to dance with, both of them.

And then you figure out a long-term deal within reason for both those quarterbacks. This is Zach Gelb's show on CBS Sports Radio. Drew Pearson, the pro football-of-famer, joins us now. on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts from. Your Odyssey.

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Wildcard weekend is almost here and the wildcard round will conclude on Monday night with the Dallas Cowboys traveling over to Tampa Bay to go up against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, which, by the way, the Cowboys have never defeated Tom Brady in his career. And now joining us is the Pro Football Hall of Famer, the original 88. And that, of course, is our pal Drew Pearson. Drew, always great to hear from you. I appreciate the time. How you been?

Always appreciate you having me on. I've been great and looking forward to this playoff game coming up Monday night. Where's your confidence level in the Cowboys as they get ready to embark on another postseason journey? Well, not as high as I would like it, you know, because all the years that I played in the NFL, 11 years and made the playoff 10 of those 11 years when ever we had any playoff success, we were kind of had some momentum going into the playoffs. We are playing well.

When we didn't, then we kind of stumbled through the first round and maybe in most in some cases didn't make it through the first round. So I'm a little concerned the way they finished the season, especially off on the offensive side of the football in the passing game. But, you know, it's playoff time and maybe this will understanding with at stake here, one and done, and maybe that'll give them what need to boost that they need to get the emotional level going to meet the Tampa Bay Bucks.

You know this and I know this. There's a big difference in the NFL from being good to great. It seems like in the Cowboys had a good season.

They're 12 and five. But it seems like they're just stuck the last few years on that good kind of category and aren't close to get into great. Do you agree with that?

Yeah, that's a good call. There's no question about it. You know, they've been it's been gaudy, but not, you know, to the point where that gaudiness is getting past the playoffs and stuff like that. You know what we've got, you know, we're good in the regular season. There's no history of any playoff success, you know, any recent history of any playoff success, certainly with not with any of these guys in the lineup going taking the field on Monday night.

So, yeah, we talked about all this. The Cowboys got the best personnel. The Cowboys got this one of the best records, 12 wins and all that.

But still, at the same time, we haven't proven anything that doesn't prove anything. So this is another opportunity for them to get over that hump, get that monkey off their back and prove something that they can, you know, have some success in the playoffs with what they have, not just on the playing side. I'm talking about with the organization, the coaching and everything else. The Pro Football Hall of Famer Drew Pearson is here with us.

It's kind of remarkable to me, Drew Dax getting paid 40 million dollars, 40 plus million dollars a year. He missed five games because of an injury and still was tied for leading the league in interceptions. Like that's concerning to me what I've been seeing out of the quarterback.

Hey, concern to me, too. I was about to cut him a couple of times so far this year, you know, the way he's played and a lot of these interceptions, you know, sometimes it's a threefold, twofold reasons why they happen. You know, it could be receiver off his hands. It could be the receiver running the wrong route. You know, protection breaking down, ball getting tipped at the line of scrimmage.

You know, those kind of things that, you know, are forces of nature that you really can't control. But there have been situations where he could have control some of the balls that he threw. They could have been better passes and he has to step up. You know, Coach Landry used to tell us all the time, you want to make a name for yourself. Have a good game when you play in the New York area because that's the media capital of the world. And then have some good games in the playoffs. You know, take advantage of the opportunity when you get to the playoffs and have some success there.

That's when people start to remember you and start to recognize you a little differently. And that's the step that Dak has to take and if Dak's ready to take that step, Zach, hey, the team will follow, I bet. I heard Jerry Jones the other day do an interview on the fan in Dallas and he was asked about the job status of Mike McCarthy and basically said he's not coaching for his job this weekend, he's safe, he's okay. I don't buy that for a second. If they lose again on Wild Card Weekend, I think there'll be some major changes at the coaching position in Dallas.

How about yourself, Drew? Well, you know, I'm not so sure. I don't know, you know, at Mr. Jones' age, I don't know if he wants to go through that whole process again.

You know, the whole process of finding the best guy out there and all that. And I know there are going to be some available candidates, like everybody's talking about Sean Payton and all that, the next guy in waiting to be the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. But again, you know, McCarthy's won, what, 12 games last season, 12 this season, done a lot better than a lot of coaches in the NFL. So he might look at it in that regard and think that this might be his best chance to get to the playoffs, win a Super Bowl before, you know, before his time is up. Bringing in another coach with another system, new coaches and all that, here we go again, and I don't think Mr. Jones and the rest of the organization, speaking of the Jones family, is ready to take that on right now.

Interesting. The Pro Football Hall of Famer Drew Pearson is here with us. Defensively, what are you seeing out of the defense? Because they have a lot of talent, but I don't think they're playing their best football right now. The defense, what's saving the defense right now is turnovers. They're getting turnovers, okay, which gives us good field position, gets the other team off the field, gets our defense off the field and, you know, stuff like that. But they've got to be a little more solid, you know, playoff time. And where I think they need to be more solid is against the run. You stop the run in the playoffs, especially this game against Tampa, you stop the run, make it one-dimensional for Brady to win this game. Now, that might sound crazy because that's the great Tom Brady. You know, don't be asking, don't wish what you don't really want.

Wish for what you don't really want. But we should know this because we had pretty good success against them at the beginning of the year. They didn't, you know, put the ball in the end zone.

They kicked some field goals to beat us. But you make Tom Brady one-dimensional, you stop their running game, put that pressure on him from the defensive pass rush, then you might have something going on the defensive side of the football. Trying to depend on turnovers, interceptions, I wouldn't be so receptive to worrying about those because Brady does protect the football.

And if he does throw an interception, it's usually not his fault, the tip ball or a drop pass or something like that. So we've got to be solid on defense. And that means against the run, against the pass and do whatever it takes to keep them off the field and keep our offense on the field. Before we let you run the Pro Football Hall of Famer, Drew Pearson, you've been talking about this matchup.

We've been talking about it with you. Buccaneers and Cowboys, Bucs are 8-9, have not had their best season. But like you talked about, they still have Brady and that's always a fear. How do you think this game plays out on Monday night to conclude Wild Card Weekend? Yeah, it's going to be an exciting game. There's a reason they put the Cowboys on Monday night. You know that, right? Those ratings are going to go through the roof.

Are you kidding me? People all around the world will be checking this game out like it's a Super Bowl or something. But it's going to be a tough physical football game. What we've got to do is go in there and meet the emotional level that they're going to run into and experience when they go in Tampa and play at their facility. Their fans are going to be going wild. Brady's going to be hyped up. The rest of the guys are going to be fired up because of that. And if we don't go in there and meet that emotional level, the intensity level, then we don't have a chance.

And if we can meet that, because the only reason I say that is because last year against San Francisco... They were not running. We went in there that first quarter. We weren't ready. We'd taken punches in the mouth and getting it delivered. We didn't wake up until late in the third quarter. Then, of course, that fourth quarter, we were pretty good, especially offensively, moving the ball. But we got to go in there and be ready to meet the level, understanding that it's going to be like that.

It's going to be a highly intensified atmosphere, and every fan in there is going to be for the buck. So if they can do that, then we'll be able to match what they do. I think we can put that ball in the end zone at least three times, kick two field goals, and hold them out of the end zone. To one touchdown and maybe a couple field goals, and we'll come out of there victorious. You've got to add that up for me. Sounds like that is about... 27-13 is what you're saying. Something like that.

Yeah, that's a good one. That's a good playoff score. Thank you for adding that up for me. Don't trust my math.

My math is sometimes horrible, but if we confirm it with you, that sounds good to me. Before we let you run Pro Football, Famer Drew Pearson, see, something you said at the end is why I kind of think McCarthy's job is on the line. Because he even admitted it, and we all saw it last year, they weren't ready to go in the playoffs. So if they keep on having these good regular seasons, which they've done the last two years, and then they just fall flat on their face in the postseason.

And this year, I know it's Brady, but you lose to a team that's 8-9. That's why I think McCarthy's seed is pretty warm entering this one. Yeah, and I understand that. A lot of people around here feel the same way. And it might turn out that way. It might go down like that. Jerry sees I don't need to waste another year.

Let's make a move now. But if McCarthy goes, it'll be perceived as his decision. That's how it will be released, that he decided that he can't take the team any further, he's done it. That's how they'll spin it, and that's how it'll end up coming out if McCarthy is gone. I don't think it'll be a situation where Jerry just says, I fired the guy. I think he has more respect for him, and I think it'll be a decision that he'll present it in a way that it's a mutual decision between both parties. So I think Jerry will handle it that way, if that's the way they decide to go.

And we always know with coaching, whenever they say it's mutual, it's never mutual. The Pro Football Hall of Famer, Drew Pearson. Drew, great to hear you. Thanks so much. Anytime. Appreciate you, man. Be safe. Hut, hut!

So get started and download the free Odyssey app today. I'm Larry Mullins, host of the podcast, Your Weirdest Fears, the show that explores the odd things that make your heart stop. I am so scared of the Grinch. He is bad vibes. We talk to everyone from therapists to exterminators to lizard man. I was 25 when I actually got my tongue split.

I have one tattoo that covers my entire body. Listen and subscribe on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts from. Your Odyssey.

Get in the game and download the free Odyssey app today. You're listening to The Zach Gelb Show. We'll get to a news briefing in just a second. 855-212-4CBS.

855-212-4227. Let me take one call here. Ross in New Jersey is next up on The Zach Gelb Show on CBS Sports Radio. Ross, what's shaking?

Hey Zach, what's going on, man? Thanks for taking the call. Yeah, appreciate it.

Go ahead. Yeah, so I actually called you a few weeks back. I think it was actually after the Dallas, Minnesota debacle. And I was asking you if at the time you still thought the Vikings were legit. I don't think people were putting them in the same combo as teams like the Eagles and the Chiefs and the Niners.

But I saw some people stooping them down to some levels as some of these 7 and 6 seats. I see with the NFL network putting out their pregame predictions, I see a lot more people picking a Giants upset than I expected. And you look at their seasons, obviously the Vikings have a much better record. But there's this whole notion around them this year that they're fraudulent obviously because of the minus three point differential. But if you look at point differentials across the entire playoffs, there's only two teams with a worse one. And one of them is the Giants. You know, you look at the records still and you look at the playoffs, it doesn't matter if you win by one point or 70 points. As long as you win, you get to the next round. We all know that. But can you get behind people saying, you know, do you think a Giants upset is as possible as people are making it up to speed?

Or do you think, you know, what's with this whole notion? Yeah, so Ross, on Monday I would have leaned towards the Giants then after hearing how many people like the Giants in this one. And these two teams played a few weeks ago and you know that it came down to a 61-yard field goal.

Here's the bottom line with that game. If you keep that door open, it does sway to the Giants in the final five minutes. I think the Vikings need to come out and get off to a good start and go up like 14-0 and just don't leave a doubt.

Because as the game continues to get more and more in doubt, as the game does go on, that's when something funky can occur. I do think the Vikings are a better team. I think they have more talent. And on Monday I probably would have leaned Giants, started to hesitate on that yesterday. And now I'm leaning more towards the Minnesota Vikings. But let's not pretend like the Vikings are this great football team.

Let's not pretend like anyone thinks the Vikings, even in an NFC year where it's not that strong, are going to the Super Bowl. Because you just can't consistently trust that team. Their defense is not good.

They do have some turnover type of players and potential players when you look at a great player like Patrick Peterson and Zadariya Smith. And offensively, I love Justin Jefferson. I love Dalvin Cook. Adam Thielen's still solid.

I like KJ Osbourne. Alexander Madison's even a good two deep running back. But I don't trust Kirk week in and week out.

I don't. Kirk's really, really good. I don't think he's the guy that wins you three games to go to the Super Bowl. And you can't just overlook their four losses. And I know this year's better than what anyone would have expected, but they got blown out by the Cowboys. They got embarrassed by the Packers the second time around. They got blown out by the Eagles. And the Lions, everyone cried the disrespect card where the Lions were the favorite and they lost to them. So is it possible they lose this weekend?

Yes. Right now on a Wednesday, ask me who I'm picking. I'm taking the Vikings. But in a close game, I think this is going to be a close game and that does concern me. Because as I said, if you leave this game in doubt. And the Giants who are not this great, talented team, but they've been winning games this year.

Then maybe Isaiah Hodgins or or James comes up and make a big play. Let's get to a news brief. Time for your daily news brief.

We get you caught up on the rumors, reports and reconnaissance from the day in sports. Brad Holmes, the general manager of the Detroit Lions, says that Jared Goff is the QB for the Lions moving forward. I think it's a lot easier to get worse at quarterback than to get better at quarterback in this league. And so I think what Jared has done this year, he captained the ship of a, you know, top three offense. And I want to say he was top 10 statistically in most of the passing categories. So, and again, you know how we approach the draft, like we're never going to turn down a good football player. So it's a football player really love.

I mean, we're going to make sure every stone is unturned. But I do think that Jared has proven everybody that he is a starting quarterback for us. So it's difference being a starting quarterback and then being a quarterback that could go when you multiple playoff games and when it's Super Bowl. Now, Jared Goff has been in a Super Bowl before.

I don't view him as a great quarterback, but I think he had a very good season and better than what anyone could have thought. But in order to win this league, you're going to need someone that can compete with the Mahomes. You're going to need someone that can compete with the Josh Allen and the Joe Burrow. And in a big spot, I don't think Jared Goff does that. And Brad Holmes even said it, they're not going to leave any stone unturned.

They're going to do their due diligence. Is Goff capable of playing there the next two years? Yes. Do I think he's their long-term answer?

No. Dak Prescott says the Cowboys will bounce back after their ugly finale against the commanders. We've got the right guys in this locker room that understand that are mature men that understand that nobody played their best ball, simple as that. But to be accountable, starting with myself, be accountable for what you put out there, what you did. And then from that, understanding that's not who we are. And then moving on and knowing what we've got ahead of us. And it's one play at a time. The intensity, the focus, all that one play at a time, one game at a time. Yeah, those words mean nothing to me. I respect Dak. You've got to speak to the media. But I don't want to hear about what the Cowboys can be.

We've got to see it. Because potential means you haven't done it yet. And this team, come postseason time, fails to meet and match what their potential could be. Mike McDaniel announces that Tuatunga Vailoa will not play on Sunday up against the Bills in Buffalo. As of today, Tua has not been cleared by doctors to resume football activities on the field with his teammates. So because of that and because of the time that he's missed, I can rule him out for Sunday.

So no Tuatunga Vailoa this week. Here is Mike McDaniel on Tua's emotions after not clearing concussion protocol. I would say it's conflicting. He himself is learning that he needs to listen to the advice of doctors and medical professionals. He understands the severity of doing that. So there's a little bit of things that he can't control. So it's very frustrating, much as a lot of things in life in football are. But it's very frustrating for him to not be able to go through everything with his teammates. And really it was a huge goal of his to help get this team to the playoffs. And he wants to play the playoffs. There's nothing more fun than play football. And he really finds normal football fun. So very conflicting, I would say.

But understands that it's his best interest that the doctors and medical professionals are seeking and respects and regards that. You got an Advil, Hickey? Got a headache? Yeah. Did you just hear what came out of Mike McDaniel's mouth?

I'm so lost. Now, I don't want to make light of this in terms of, yeah, Tua wants to play, Tua shouldn't be playing. And that's frustrating because players always want to play. But that was a minute and like 10 seconds that all you had to say was he's clearly frustrated.

But we got to do what's in the best interest of the player and he understands that as well. Now, I don't want everyone to be like Belichick when you're Mr. Mumbles and you get nothing. But every time McDaniel does speak, I just feel like I'm lost.

I feel like it's the scene in Billy Madison when they're in the auditorium during the whole big competition. He just speaks in circles. He's tough to listen to in Mike McDaniel.

Not that this was interesting. The ring around the rosy play was the Chiefs up against the Raiders where the Chiefs embarrassed the Raiders. Rocco's offensive lineman, Quinn Miners, says he was upset with the Chiefs doing the ring around the rosy play. I said it before, I'm sick of losing to the Chiefs. That is like my number one goal that I'm looking at every day is I really want to beat them.

I'm going to say it because it's one on my chest. The fact that they did that little ring around the rosy play against the Raiders genuinely pissed me off. I'm just excited for that day and for that moment.

That's one of the things that I'm preparing for going into next year. Hickey, you're the leader of the Bronco bandwagon and it has just totally flipped over this year. When you're having that bad of a season and had that bad of a season, shouldn't you not be worried about Kansas City and a play that they ran against another team and just simply work on, I don't know, maybe you guys looking like a competent offense and maybe you guys being above.500? Yeah, you should not be worried about the Chiefs. That's for sure. Let's listen up to Jason and Travis Kelce react to those comments.

This was on their podcast, The New Heights Show. Not everyone loved it. Broncos offensive guard Quinn Miners, the Chiefs little ring around the rosy play versus the Raiders pissed me off. OK, why? I mean, because that's what I'm saying, it's kind of a f*** you play. It is, in a sense.

Every play is a f*** you play. What are we talking about? I guess he doesn't like it. He doesn't like it. Well, be better.

I don't know. It sounds like, I mean, he's a Broncos guy, not surprising. A Broncos guy is feeling a certain way about the Chiefs season. And I like Quinn Miners. I mean, this is a guy who was pass blocking a tree.

If you guys can find that production. You remember this guy? And he's over here upset about the ring around the rosy?

This guy's styling on a tree and now all of a sudden the ring around the posy is all bad? Not only is he. You would have thought that Travis Kelce would have been more upset about these comments, but clearly not. That was Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce both speaking, but Jason was the one that voiced most of the frustration with Quinn Miners. And Travis Kelce was like, oh well, it doesn't really matter because he's thinking the Broncos are irrelevant to him. They're like gum on his shoe.

And they should be. Zach Gelb shows CBS sports radio, a thought on each team that missed the postseason this year. Next the NFL playoffs live on Odyssey touchdown as time expires. Unbelievable turn of events, nonstop coverage from the biggest sports radio stations in the country podcasts dedicated to each NFL team and postseason games streaming live for free. The NFL playoffs live on Odyssey touchdown as time expires. Unbelievable turn of events, nonstop coverage from the biggest sports radio stations in the country podcasts dedicated to each NFL team and postseason games streaming live for free. Nonstop coverage from the biggest sports radio stations in the country podcasts dedicated to each NFL team and postseason games streaming live for free.

Thinks the handoff, looks right, throws right, hands on clock, touchdown. Your playoffs, your Odyssey. Get in the game and download the free Odyssey app today. The NFL playoffs live on Odyssey. Throws, caught, touchdown as time expires. Unbelievable turn of events. Nonstop coverage from the biggest sports radio stations in the country podcasts dedicated to each NFL team and postseason games streaming live for free. Thinks the handoff, looks right, throws right, hands on clock, touchdown. Your playoffs, your Odyssey. Get in the game and download the free Odyssey app today.