Bald Guys On The Bench
Bald Guys On The Bench
When Calls Decide Careers And Field Goals Save Seasons
Recorded January 19th, 2026
A weekend this wild doesn’t need hype—just a rewind button. We watched the national championship while breaking down a divisional round that turned on turnovers, cold-weather game plans, and one overtime call that never saw a review. From the Broncos surge to the Bills’ heartbreak, we dig into why process matters more than conspiracies and how a single decision can alter careers, contracts, and legacies.
We zoom in on what wins in January: trench play, field position, and the discipline to take points when the thermometer says finesse is a trap. The Texans’ five giveaways erased a defense good enough to win twice. And in Chicago, a frozen classic reminded us that fourth-down swagger has limits when your receivers can’t feel their fingers.
Then it’s the rise of New England. Four wins to fourteen, a rookie quarterback molded by structure, and a defense that squeezes space until opponents tap out. We unpack why the Patriots’ formula travels, what Denver can and can’t do with a backup, and how to bet the margins without getting cute. Finally, we tackle the coach carousel: McDermott out in Buffalo, candidates who can maximize Josh Allen’s remaining elite window, and why play-calling experience will be the most expensive currency of the offseason.
Hit play for sharp takes on replay policy, situational strategy, and the real NFC pecking order between Seattle and LA. If you’re into playoffs strategy, officiating fixes, and front-office chess, you’ll feel right at home. Enjoy the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what was the single worst decision of the weekend?
#baldguysonthebench #graboneandcrackone #nflplayoffs #cfp #nationalchampionship #maimihurricanes #indianahoosiers
Welcome to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench Podcast with your hosts Graham Cohen and Scott Wasco.
Scott:What's up everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Bald Guys on the Bench. I'm here with my boy Graham. We're watching the national championship game. It's the third quarter. And unfortunately, it's week one of AC and AS. And if you're asking, after Chargers, after Steelers. So we got a crazy show lined up. I mean, a couple of games this week. We got controversies. We got, you know, like I said last week, the divisional round is what? Best weekend in the NFL. Facts. And you know? Oh, he dropped it.
Graham:Uh, Graham, what's up? Let's go. First off, we gotta grab one and crack one. Second of all, how'd you see that before me? I thought we timed up. You said he dropped it before I even saw that. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. But let's go. I have no idea.
Scott:Let's grab it. Let's crack it. So as we're, you know, getting this party started, like I said, third quarter. First half, she's 10 to nothing. I mean, Miami's defense, what else could they have done? Held Indiana their lowest point total of the year. And, you know, here we are. Six minutes left, third quarter, and Indiana just punted.
Graham:And let's go. So, Graham, how was the weekend? What'd you do? I mean, weekend was good. Look, let's not beat around the bush. There was only one thing going on. It's called the NFL playoffs, and your boy was glued to the TV all weekend. So that's it. That's all I got. What about you?
Scott:Uh, pretty much the same thing, but my daughter, obviously, we've talked about on the swim team. It was her senior night. You know, she's a senior for so you know, had that going on in our swim meet. And Kristen and I escorted her and did all that. And, you know, that was at five. The Bills donkeys game was a 4:30 start. And you know, then the whole crew, my family, Kristen's family, everybody came back to our house. We had 16 people here. It was fun. Uh, good time watching the end of the Broncos game. And you know, what can you say? That was my weekend and watching football day Sunday, and you know, that was that. It was perfect cold as pissed day yesterday here. Rain. So it was a perfect day that didn't make you feel like, oh man, you're a lazy bum. You know, watching football day. So that was that.
Graham:Hey, we gotta cherish that in a few weeks. We won't have that excuse.
Scott:Dude, I said it to Kristen last night after the game was over. I'm like, you do realize we only have three NFL football games left. And she was like, What? And I'm like, yeah, both conference championship games and the Super Bowl.
Graham:Oh. Let's go.
Scott:I mean, wow. Craziness. Let's just jump right into it, dude, because we're it's gonna be a long episode. We got a lot of shit to talk about. Playoffs kicked it off with you know, Saturday afternoon. Denver as the one seed in the AFC, hosting the Bills. And dude, it didn't disappoint at all. Donkeys score first, then Bills answer with a tutty, hold the Broncos, get the ball back. Josh Allen, what do you have? Like a 37-yard scramble.
Graham:Then homeboy lays it on the ground. Cook. It's like, wow. Gives the Broncos the momentum, you know, score a tutty.
Scott:And I I just the thing that to me, and I didn't see it, I still haven't seen it. I don't want to see it because I was going to get Chipotle. We had Saturday night's party cater from Chipotle. I'm walking out the door with Kellen and his girlfriend Addy to go get the food, and it's right after the Broncos scored a touchdown with what, 23 seconds left or whatever in the first half. The Bills get the ball, and all I hear as I'm walking out the door is from my dad. What the is he doing? I have no clue. I'm driving and I get a text from Billy, and he goes, Oh man, I love this version of Josh Allen. And I'm instantly thinking, oh man, he just turned it over. And then I see they scored and uh got that free three points. Dude. And I'm not hating on Josh Allen. I'm just saying if he has a halfway decent game, they win. Yeah, I mean, look, he and it sucks, dude, because he has to be Superman every week. Okay, the Bills go as Josh Allen goes.
Graham:Well, I mean, look at that receiving offense. Who?
Scott:I mean, if they had a true number one. Yeah.
Graham:I it's just I you know, there's a reason why he's the leagues, well, up until you know when the awards come out. You know, he's the best player on the field. Yeah. It's that obvious. One person can win you the game.
Scott:And I just look, and it's unfair everybody bashing him. I hate it. Just like I hate with Herbert. I mean, you got the 32nd ranked offensive line in the goddamn NFL. People are bashing Herbert. Look at what Josh Allen's done. Yeah. And their defense stepped up, bro, the last couple weeks.
Graham:Yeah. I mean, their back end was hurt, and obviously, look, football games at this level in the playoffs, it's a matchup game. You're looking for mismatches, and all of the plays that Denver scored on.
Scott:Oh, block punt, touchdown Indiana. Wow. Unbelievable.
Graham:Yeah, you're gonna have to start and stop. You're literally three, you're two seconds ahead of me. Wow. Let's go! Represent the Big Ten, baby. The look on the Miami fans is priceless. Although I'd have that same look if I was them too.
Scott:So um hey, you just said it. It's about injuries, it's about this, it's about that. Think about it. White goes out. What happens? Bo Nick goes right to his replacement, and what happens? Tutty.
Graham:I mean, the guy overplayed the ball. It's just look, we can't sit here and say the Buffalo Bills. How do I say this? There were turnovers. You can't win games. Oh my god, that still made it. Extra point. In the playoffs, you can't have five turnovers, four or five turnovers, and expect to win a game. You just can't do it, right? You also can't win playoff games when you let the opposing team score 30 or more points. Most of the times when the Bills have gotten bounced, they've given up 30 or more points. Not every game, most of them, though, right? So, and look, McDermott, supposedly defense a guy. We'll get into that later. I thought the Bills fought back when they needed to. Look, Deffer's defense is no walk in the park. Right? Oh, they're amazing. That pass rush? That's what I'm saying. So for them to do what they did was like, alright, and look, Cook still looked good, but in the game of life, in football, when things happen at certain times, it's like one plus two equals three. So it's just like, you know, Cook's fumble. Could that have been at a worse time when they're driving down the field at around like the 20-yard line going in? Crushing. We always talk about the refs miss call here, missed call there. Is now the time to jump into it? Look, should that game have gone to overtime? No. Did it? Yes.
Scott:Why shouldn't it have gone to overtime?
Graham:Well, look, people make field goals when they're supposed to make them. If that Josh Allen play didn't happen, I mean, no one expects that to happen. Was it reckless? Yeah. But, you know, it's the mess around and find out. I mean, you gotta do some. I mean, look, he was trying to get his team into field goal range so they could score, you know, some points to make up for it before the half. I get it why he was doing it. Was he reckless? Yes. And look, we're all gonna say what we want to say when we're sitting here on the couch watching them. Are you gonna remember technique when you're the one running for your life trying to get that first down? It's just like people, they're human. Mistakes happen and things happen. That was a hold. You're not gonna call that on the offensive lineman? Am I the only one that saw that? Wow.
Scott:Hey, if I've been in the league for seven years, uh MVP, I'm not running around with that ball.
Graham:I understand that, but if you're not running around, then you're just giving up on the play. He's not expecting no one thinks that's gonna happen. That's a 2% chance of happening. Like, I get what you're saying, but if he doesn't run around, they get stopped. Like, he thinks he has to make a play. When the weight of the world is on your shoulders and you're expected to do something, what do you think's gonna happen? Wow, what a hit. I it's just you know, so it's just it is what it is. Look, we're all gonna say this, that, and the other, but you know, they always say games don't come down to one play, one call. Uh I I I could say otherwise. Pretty sure it did in overtime. So, and the worst part is literally the next day, a play that was almost to that same degree. Almost, not almost. I didn't say yeah, almost, but for them, and by them I mean the refs, and it's an overtime, everything's upstairs. How do you not take the extra time to look at it?
Scott:That's the part that pisses me off more than anything. You could keep it as an interception, you could call it a reception. The fact that it's the divisional round in overtime, McDermott calls timeout, and it's not even questioned, bro. Not even questioned? I mean, if that's a reception, the Bills are on the 30.
Graham:Field goal, game over. Oh, what a scramble. Go there we go.
Scott:But that's the thing that irritates the shit out of me. And I know I always talk about it on the way to work. I always listen to Florio and Chris Sims, and they were literally saying the same thing that you and I are saying is why is it not reviewed? Take the time. This is a game-changing moment. And the thing that Florio kept talking about was, and I guarantee you you didn't watch the video, was a play with Aaron Rodgers against the Ravens week 14. The same exact thing happened. They called it an interception, and then what happened? Came back, overturned it, and it was a reception. The consistency, not there. Everybody wanted to talk about Devante last night. It was the same kind of thing. It was close, I get it, but it wasn't. It was close to the same thing. And I've been watching on Twitter and listening to all these guys that are ex-NFL players and cornerbacks talking about it. And, you know, a guy that played for the Chargers, Quentin Jammer, who also says a couple weeks ago that he played drunk. Uh Dan Orlovsky came out and said, you know, this is an NFL playoff game, got rolled an interception and ended Buffalo season. This is a catch every time. Quentin Jammer comes back at him and he goes, No, it's not, Dan. It happened to me in 2006, and the rules committee had to call me on Monday morning to explain before I murdered someone. Same thing happened. I went back, looked at the game. 2006, Chargers playing the Rams. It was the exact same thing. Am I saying it's a right call? Am I saying it's a wrong call? No, I'm just saying stop the game. Let's get it right. How good are these god dang cameras that the NFL's using? That's all I want. I don't care. You know, yeah, I wanted the Bills to win. I just want to stop the game. Let's pause. Let's get it right. I mean, god dang, we pause every other game for how long on shit? That's all I'm saying.
Graham:You know, they always say, Oh, there's no NFL script. Do you think the NFL wants to watch the Patriots at the Denver Broncos in that miserable matchup, especially now with well, yeah, before that, yeah, maybe, but I'm just saying storyline. Look, look, we've beaten the dead horse a million times over about the refs and how things need to change. And the NFL just has us buy a stranglehold. They're just saying, we know you're gonna watch anyway, so who gives a shit? Is really what it comes down to.
Scott:And not only that, dude, clearly pass interference when the Bills are going down the field, no flag is called. The referees let the game go. Like they let them play. And then after that interception, the first pass interference, like really. I I I mean, I'm just saying, there's no consistency, dude. It's you want people wonder why Major League Baseball is gonna start going to what the little thingamabobber and behind home plate. Dude, I understand it's fast. These guys are fast as shit, they're big as shit. People are gonna make errors. That's why what? You pause the game, you review it, you get it fucking right.
Graham:Or you confirm what you caught on the field. So, I mean, how many more years is it gonna take before the NFL follows MLB's lead? I'm not saying all the way, they still need to have refs on the field. Hey, they kind of already have with the little spotting of the ball. How long is that taking? But I'm just saying there's still I I still think there's things that need to be discussed at the owners' meetings. You know, there's certain plays that need to be reviewed that are not allowed to be reviewed. I I mean, it's just this whole thing of oh, well, we don't want to slow down the game and all that. Bullshit. You have to get calls right when there's so many things that matter. The Bills fired their head coach. It's the divisional round of the playoff.
Scott:Yeah, it's not week one of preseason when Jared Stidham is running out to play quarterback. Oh, wait. Too soon? Yeah. But we could talk about this the entire episode, not talk about anything else. All I want to say is get it right. I'm not gonna argue if it was a catch, if it was an interception, tomato, tomato. I just don't understand how you don't review it.
Graham:That's my thing. Well, you heard it here first. This is Monday, January 19th, 2026. I'm gonna say it right now. I guarantee this shit's gonna keep going on for another five years. We'll still be on the air, we'll be kicking it, and I'm just gonna timestamp this as a reminder and be like, hey, remember when I said five years ago it's gonna take five years for the NFL to finally get their head out of the ass and make the owners do this, that, and the other? Or I like who do you have to call? Like, I I I just like every year there's so many plays that literally change teams, coaches' lives, players' lives, teams that should have been there versus teams that shouldn't have been there. I I just how long can the owner, and by the owners, I mean Roger Goodell, how long can he let this happen? Like, I really don't know. We're not gonna boycott, that's the problem. Exactly.
Scott:That's why, guess what? What has how many owners are there? 32 times two, 64 thumbs, and doesn't give up. I mean, when I'm thinking about this today in this play and this call, all I can go back and think about is what? In my mind, first thing that pops up the Rams and the Saints. Oh, that pass interference. Oh, Tuddy, let's go. We're gonna have a good fourth quarter. I I don't know, man. As hype and as crazy as that was, everybody's you know, emotional and going back and forth. And as the Seahawks game is getting ready to kick off, the news comes out Bo Nick's out for the season, broken ankle. I mean, to the point where I texted Grammar Police and he's like, that's fake. You got tricked. And I'm like, bro, it's coming straight from Scheffler.
Graham:Uh Scheffler, not Sheff, not Scheffler, whatever.
Scott:Scotty Scheffler, Adams, whatever. I'm like, you want to bet a hundred bucks? Uh and on the second to last play, they're saying when he goes to kneel the ball. Dude, I mean, I kind of care, but I really don't, because it's the Broncos. I mean, it is what it is, but uh you're the one seed you're hosting the AFC championship game, and your starting quarterback goes out. And I don't know if you saw his wife posted a picture on Instagram today of him in the locker room after the press conference and all the players walking up to him, and you know, he's crushed. You know, crushed.
Graham:Of course.
Scott:It was it was she said she took the picture because she wanted to remember this moment. I mean, it was it was heart war. I felt bad for him, you know. I felt bad for him. Don't feel bad for a donkey fan. Because I've been in that stadium twice, and it was the worst shit I've ever seen in my life. But anyhow, I mean, it is what it is. But, you know, jump right into Seattle, dude, and the Niners. I mean, that game was over before it started. My boy Shane's dad just texted me on real because my knights are playing as flyers. Did we just tie it up? Who what happened? I don't know.
Graham:It's national championship game. Who gives a shit about any other sport right now? This is all that matters. Uh, I do. Game 47 out of 82. Who? I'm just saying.
Scott:All that matters. But Niners Seattle, you know, seven and a half point line. The Niners, the luck with the injuries kept going and going and going. Well, opening kickoff. I mean, everybody left my house before kickoff. I'm pretty sure my dad wasn't even out of my neighborhood and it was seven or nothing. Yeah. I don't know, dude. Uh what can you say? What can you say?
Graham:When you take the kickoff to the his house, what do you expect?
Scott:I and and the thing going into the game, the drama was Darnold. Oblique injury. Dude hadn't thrown a pass since Wednesday or Thursday, and he's questionable. You're like, oh god, division opponent? What's gonna happen? Well, what had happened was he didn't need to throw.
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:I mean, thanks for playing, Kenneth Walker. 160 yards and three three tutties.
Graham:So who who whose face is the egg on? I mean, last week we talked about wow, look what the 49ers did against Philadelphia last week. There was hope. I mean, look, did I think that the Niners were gonna go into Seattle and win? Absolutely not. Did I think they would cover a 10-point tease at plus 17 and a half? 100%.
Scott:Hey folks, we have a new theory here at Ball Guys on the Bench. Whatever Graham thinks, go opposite.
Graham:Yeah, but we've been saying that about you too.
Scott:So it used to be Billy, but you're taking the cake for this. I just well what happened was uh when you pull your starters with eight, nine minutes left in the third quarter.
Graham:I I just I mean, look, the Seahawks, they look pretty damn good. Really good. I'm quite curious to see what the Rams are about to do.
Scott:I mean, it's the rubber match.
Graham:Right?
Scott:Yeah.
Graham:Both teams have won a game with Devonta back now.
Scott:And I mean the first game the Rams won by what? One when Darnold threw three or four picks. Yeah.
Graham:Game two and overtime by three.
Scott:Hey, it's gonna be a matchup. I mean it's gonna be a matchup. Before we even talk about that one, though, we gotta jump into the Pats. Right? Pat's Texans. I mean, dude. I don't know.
Graham:All I can say is wow. Wow.
Scott:I mean, Stroud, four picks, Marks with a fumble. They had five turnovers, dude, and then we lost by 12. I mean, how good is that defense?
Graham:Oh, it's I mean, look, there's a reason why they were the number one defense in the league. I I just, you know, after hearing commentators and, you know, people that we listen to online that we, you know, take what they say for for for the law. How important is coaching very and and the old theory about coaching good coaches don't win close games. Bad coaches, what? Don't it's not even that. I wasn't even going in the head coach direction. I'm going in the offensive coordinator's direction. Started there two years ago, would have been Stroud's second year after his. I mean, look, his rookie season, oh he was deemed the second coming.
Scott:Yeah, and your boy fell for it in fantasy and traded the world for him.
Graham:Oh! Come on, turn your head around. Look, that offensive coordinator did absolutely nothing to help Stroud's game advance.
Scott:Hey, I'm just gonna say this. Schultz went out, their left tackle went out, and they didn't have a chance.
Graham:But okay, that's fine. What about during the season when they were available? Doesn't look like Stroud was a world beater like he was his first season.
Scott:No, he didn't, definitely. Nico wasn't playing.
Graham:I look, it was an uphill battle for them. Of course. I completely agree with you. I'm just saying that with that defense, if your offense is competent, they're winning that game. I mean, look, dude, there were drives they couldn't get it past the 50-yard line. Dude. Like they got turnovers and went three and out.
Scott:And not only that, they get the ball. What at halftime? What was the score? They were down what? Not a lot, but they get the ball coming out at halftime, and they're driving, driving, driving. Fumble. I'm like, oh my gosh.
Graham:It's like what could have happened happened. Yeah. Look, obviously the weather had a part to play in it. You can't say that it didn't. I mean, it's just look, it's not the best teams, it's the healthiest teams.
Scott:And the hottest teams.
Graham:Yeah. You can't go out there and expect to the next man up. Believe me, if there's another topic I've beaten the dead horse on, the next man up bullshit.
Scott:Yeah.
Graham:Okay.
Scott:That don't work. Yeah. Yeah. What were the bills?
Graham:The bills were on what?
Scott:Their third center Saturday night?
Graham:Yeah. Third. Your better running back, your number one wide receiver, your number one tight end, your number one offensive lineman. Like, what are you supposed to do? Like, you can't. Yeah, defense wins championships, but the offense has to move the ball. The defense was out on that field for so long. They're like, yo, bro, we're good, but we're starting to get gassed here.
Scott:Like, do something.
Graham:What's gonna happen?
Scott:Yeah, uh, I mean, I I just Drake May did what he had to do when he needed to do it. The pass to to my boy Booty. I know that's not how you pronounce it, but I like saying it. Uh, how good was that?
Graham:How good was that pass, dude? Diggs had a hell of a catch. Dude. When he absolutely needed to have that catch.
Scott:On that third down. And yeah. I don't know if you remember. Did you see the emotions after that catch?
Graham:Oh, yeah.
Scott:Dude, I mean, remember, he played for who? The Texans. Oof. Who did? Didn't Diggs go to the Texans? Oh no, that was Brandon Cook. Sorry. I'll smack myself. Whatever.
Graham:Uh he was with the Bills, where he came from. Yeah. And then before that, he was drafted by Minnesota. I guarantee it. I'll bet you $100.
Scott:I know he was drafted by Minnesota. Yeah. But but anyhow, did you see his emotions? Yeah. I I mean, look. All smack yourself and take mine back. He did play for the Texans. Oh, one year. Whatever. Smack it up. Flip it. Rub it down. Oh no. Smack it. Smack it. Smack it. Oh my god. Are they going for they're going for it on fourth and five, dude? Alright, what do we got here? Wow, fourth and five, 11 minutes.
Graham:138. You got to.
Scott:Wide ass open. He's out of bounds.
Graham:Nope, that's a catch. That's a catch. Hell of a catch, too. I thought their kicker had like the biggest leg. What a catch. That's a catch. 100%. What a play.
Scott:But yeah, did you smack yourself yet?
Graham:Yes.
Scott:Yeah, nice story. Nice story. I think you need to get another one because you the way you looked at me, you were like. Can I get another one? Can I get another one? You can ask. Can I get another smack there, Grammy? I mean. Hey, hey. So the Patriots are going into Denver. Okay, we'll talk about what we think the game's gonna be in a little while. But hold on.
Graham:Before we do, this is not the cart jumping before the horse here. Look, we know the awards go supposedly the awards are supposed to be determined just by the regular season. The playoffs shouldn't affect it. But as things keep going, and we talked about it off-air last night, and it's just it's one of those things. The turnaround that the Patriots, and we both have reasons to hate the Patriots. Granted, a lot of it is Tom Brady, and you know, look, new regime, it is what it is. The Patriots were four and thirteen the two previous years, and now this year are 14 and 3, and they're playing the AFC Championship, and most likely, I mean, knock on wood here, have a pretty good chance to go to the Super Bowl with the first year coach. I'm sorry, first year to the team. Do you give man props with that team of players? Absolutely giving props.
Scott:But you also got to give the front office props because they had a lot of cap room. Oh, well they drafted a left tackle early.
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:They made splashes, but they got the head coach correct.
Graham:100%.
Scott:Something we all heard yesterday that I wanted to remember to say tonight when we talked about this was the first practice at camp, you know what he did? Taught Drake May and the first team offense how to do what? What's the best play in football for your team? The victory formation. The first thing he taught him.
Graham:Is that any good? What do you want me to say to that? Hey.
Scott:There's nothing to say, dude. Like, that's how leaders, how motivators, how NFL coaches of the year perform.
Graham:I don't disagree.
Scott:I mean, last week when they beat the Chargers, Drake May and Vrabel asked Hunter Henry if he wanted to take the snap for the last kneel down because obviously Hunter Henry was a charger. And Hunter Henry was like, no, my look, I'll fumble it. They were up. It wouldn't have mattered if that. I know, I know, but he doesn't want to fumble it. You know what I'm saying? I I mean that's what leaders are they going back out there? Oh my god, fourth and five. Take the points, dude. Come on. Fourth and five on what are they on? Like the five, six yard line? No, they're on like the 12-13. Oh. Come on. Stop them.
Graham:First down. Tutty.
Scott:Oh, you got the first down and a touchdown. Wow, what a play. Wow, what a play right there. Wow. Signet he got some big old balls on him.
Graham:Wow.
Scott:What I tell you should have taken the over in the second half.
Graham:You also said the alternate spread wasn't gonna hit either, and that's wow.
Scott:But anyhow, dude, hatch on the road playing the Broncos. But before we even get into next week's matchups, uh the Sunday night thriller. Ooh, boy. You know, zero degrees, you know, Rams playing at the Bears, Ben Johnson's got, you know, every Bears fan so fired up and excited. And my God, they've won so many games in dramatic fashion. You know, I mean, geez Louise.
Graham:Almost happened again last night. Should've happened again. I mean, kick field goals. Kick field goals.
Scott:But anyhow, I'm not I'm gonna stop beating that dead horse. But kick field goals. I don't get it. Take the points, dude. It's playoffs. Points are points. That's all. I mean, dude. Like I said to you last night, if you would have told me the Rams were gonna win in overtime in a game that tight, and Stafford doesn't throw a touchdown pass, I would have been like, shut up, Graham.
Graham:Yeah. I mean, look, the weather had a lot to do with the game planning. I mean, we were saying, look, Puka only had five receptions. Two of them were behind the line. Uh, their other stud wide receiver, Devonta, uh, where were you?
Scott:He had two.
Graham:Yeah, one in the first and one in the fourth.
Scott:And the biggest one was the one in the fourth.
Graham:The back and forth was great. I mean, look, the play for Chicago to get that touchdown at the end of the game was one we'll never forget. I mean, they'll be showing that forever. But the craziest part about that is I heard this earlier. Fact check me. I don't know, but I was told that was the longest touchdown in the playoffs from being that far behind the line of scrimmage.
Scott:Dude, he started the ball was snapped on like the 14 or 15 yard line. He threw it off his back foot from the 40. Yeah. What? I mean, what?
Graham:I and the defenders there. They're not expecting anything. The fact that Cole Komet even had a chance to catch the ball, and it just felt like right into his lap. Easy peasy.
Scott:I mean, I I just I don't know. I was shocked after the beginning of the game and how Ben Johnson is. Remember, he was the offensive coordinator for who? The Lions. And he learned from who? The gambler, right? Who goes for it all the time, up 24-7 to the Niners in the divisional round, goes for it, a field goal, advances them.
Graham:I was shocked that he didn't go for two. And the win. Yeah. I mean, he said they're two-play, you know, the plays they had available, you know, they weren't playing that well. They didn't want to take the chance. I I mean, look, there's a lot of things in that game that could have gone the other way in the sense of more game plan. I was surprised. I was surprised the Bears didn't run it more in certain occasions. The biggest one, I'm surprised. Look, who's the best player on the field for the Bears?
Scott:Uh duh. Fingernails.
Graham:Uh why did he only run the ball three times? Five. I looked at it.
Scott:Five.
Graham:Okay. Five.
Scott:But still. But I can tell you right now, those five rushing attempts, I guarantee you, only two or three of them were called. Yeah. The other ones. Dude, it's fourth and one. He's the best athlete on the field. The Rams, uh whatever, we can keep going back. It all comes down to what? Kick the fucking field goals. Kick the field goals. It should have been 19 to 17, but it wasn't.
Graham:One of those field goals would have been sketchy, but you know. But I get your point. Kick it.
Scott:But I mean, to his remember, he did go forward on the fourth down and got the touchdown. So, you know, if if if he gets the two touchdowns, we're calling him a genius and this and that, and then they get boat race next week in Seattle. But you live by the sword, you die by the sword. Yeah. I mean, we we got the better matchup, I think, by the Rams going to Seattle. Yeah. You know, a hundred percent.
Graham:But I don't know, man. Hey. Does the AFC have a chance in the Super Bowl? If the Patriots go. Really? Yeah.
Scott:If the Patriots go.
Graham:Get them.
Scott:Dude, the the Patriots are playing like a tackle. The Patriots of old. Physical. They're making plays when they have to make them. They're getting those turnovers. They believe in themselves. They got a head coach. That's a stud. I mean, I don't know.
Graham:I'm just more I'm just more surprised. I don't know if it's a I mean, obviously it's a jealousy thing I'm about to say, but like, how do you hit on so many players in both the draft and free agency?
Scott:It's funny.
Graham:They were talking, they were like, uh they had two shitty seasons. They Belichick, his last season, they won four games.
Scott:They get Mayo, four wins last year. And here we are in the AFC Championship game.
Graham:And look, I'm I'm not saying this to to jinx you, but the Chargers have a hundred million dollars to spend. I know. A lot. The base of what your team is already compared to what the Chargers were. I'm sorry, compared to what the Patriots were, and you have a hundred mil to spend. I tell you one thing, the expectations have to be way up here. Way up here.
Scott:But once again, like our GM said last week in the end of the year press conference, yeah, we got a lot of money. Can't be foolish. With it.
Graham:No, I'm not saying throw it around.
Scott:We have got to get a center. We have got. Did he catch that? Oh my god. Oh, it hit the ground. We have got to get a center. Yeah. I mean, but whatever. Well, that's off-season talk.
Graham:Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm just saying. I'm just saying.
Scott:But Keenan did come out today and say he'll take nothing to play one more year.
Graham:Yeah, because nothing. He'll play league. Of course he'll take league minimum and have a chance to go to the Super Bowl.
Scott:And I don't as much as I love Keenan, you know, we did an emergency podcast two years ago when he got traded. I don't know if that's a wise decision for my Chargers. And the more I think about it and look back to this season, he was the number one targeted wide receiver for the Chargers. He took targets away from Ladd. And that's the thing. Dude, Ladd, what he did as a rookie.
Graham:Yes and no. Ladd was the number one because they didn't have anything else.
Scott:I mean, you between not having uh do you know how many receivers have caught eight or more touchdowns in the last two seasons? There's like five of them. And Quentin Johnson's on that list.
Graham:Yeah, I understand that, but how many how many of those games was he hurt?
Scott:Yeah, I know. Dude, you're you're pushing to the car.
Graham:Like my my point is when he's the only meal in town, of course he's gonna eat. You know, that that's all I'm saying. I'm not saying it's not warranted. I'm just saying there was times where it's just like look, who knows what would have happened if your tackles weren't hurt. I mean, we I mean, the the A plus Whoa, catch this guy! What are you doing? You're just like walking around like security guards? Tackle him. Jesus.
Scott:I just I know what you're saying. Offensive coordinators are saying we gotta hire one, obviously. The Bills firing McDermott today, I think, screws up my number one choice of offensive coordinator, and that's Dabble. What he did for Allen as the OC in Buffalo was amazing. He's gonna be the Bills' next head coach.
Graham:You think so?
Scott:Yeah, 100%. Him or Brady? Joe Brady. They're off their current offensive coordinator. I want the Chargers to get either one or the other. Braider down.
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:We interviewed Arthur Smith yesterday, and I don't know how what to think about that. I mean, it is whatever. Rob's losing his shit about it. I mean, the guy's obviously a good coach. He did well in Tennessee. Uh he was the head coach in Atlanta, didn't do shit with the best running back in the game, Bichon. Went to your team, and can you hate on him? No, you got an old quarterback. Uh was he there last year? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He was there last year. He did a lot with a little.
Graham:Yeah. I mean, look, no real wide receivers, banged up offensive line.
Scott:And by banged up, I mean um, overhits. I knew I should have taken the over in the second half. But anyhow, dude, there's a lot of speculation, right? I mean, let's get into our picks and what we think about next week, and then we can go into the set coach and shit. Because, you know, Harbaugh finally signed on the dotted line. And but anyhow, next week, Pats, minus five and a half at Denver without Bonex. I know what you told me last night. Minus nine and a half, alternate spread, take the Patriots. Hey, hey, I understand. That was my first thought, too. But I'm just being devil's advocate here. Okay. And remember, everybody listening out there, the Broncos are number 32 in my fandom. I wouldn't root for the Broncos to be any team in the NFL. Any team. Any team.
Graham:Okay.
Scott:I'm waiting for the I'm waiting for the butt. They could be playing Russia and I'd pull for Russia. Okay. Wow. Well, maybe not. That'd be kind of weird. But I agree with you that I think the Patriots are going to win. But watching the Patriots the last two weeks don't give me a lot of confidence in that. Okay. The Chargers scored three points, dude, in that game. And the Chargers defense manhandled them. Okay. Had two turnovers in the first quarter, couldn't do anything with it. Okay. Our offensive line lost that game for us. We allowed one tutty. Yesterday, what'd the Texans do? Turn it over how many times? Five. And the Patriots only won by twelve.
Graham:Conditions. I I mean I just I know, I get it, but I just don't think it's gonna be a walk in the park. I'm not saying it's gonna be a walk in the park. All I'm saying is You said alternate spread minus nine and a half. That's a walk in the park. Nah, 14 is a walk in the park. Nine and a half, you're like, meh. Look, they're gonna crowd the box and they're gonna beg Stidum to beat him. Beg him.
Scott:I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just being devil's advocate. No, I I I agree. I think the Pats win. I think the Pats win. I hope the Pats win. I just don't think it's gonna be. I think it's gonna be uh, you know, close game going into the fourth, and then that stupid horse that runs across the field at mile high or whatever the hell they call it right now is gonna trip and fall, and he's gonna become glue.
Graham:And the Patriots are gonna win. So what you're saying is take the under. I don't know.
Scott:I'm just saying, let's go, Patriots. I just dude, my dad was so pissed Saturday night at Ava's little party after a swim meet when the Broncos won that game. Okay, that he was so bitter Betty that it wasn't reviewed because of our experience in Denver for the playoff game in the 13-14 season. Yeah, he left. He was like, I'm out. Pissed. Like, bitter betty. I I mean, I don't know. I I don't even know what to say. I mean, anyhow, enough about that shit. Nick Foles' little tweet he had yesterday was pretty funny, too.
Graham:Yeah, it was kind of funny.
Scott:That was savage, right? Dude, how good was that?
Graham:That was oh, don't worry, backup quarterbacks do good against the Patriots. Yeah, when you're Nick Foles, who's accomplished, stid him, who?
Scott:But you say he's accomplished. You said that last night, and I went back and looked up Nick Foles. What did he do before that? Are you kidding me? Before he was with the Eagles. Yeah. Tell me.
Graham:Well, I mean Tell me. No, I mean, tell me he started for them and then yeah, he started for them, took him to the playoffs. I mean, after the injury, yeah. Whose injury? Let me get my ears correct. Whose injury? I'm not looking. I don't know.
Scott:Remember that guy the Eagles traded up for? Carson Wentz?
Graham:Oh, yeah, Carson Wentz. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's right.
Scott:Having that MVP season and then gets hurt against the Rams?
Graham:Yeah. Yeah, but Foles also started for him the couple years before that they drafted him.
Scott:Not even important at this point. Rams at the Seahawks for the rubber match, dude. Lions two and a half.
Graham:You gotta go with the healthier team. Right? You have to go for the Rams?
Scott:Nah. I'm sticking to my guns. I've been saying it for seven, eight, nine, ten weeks. Seahawks are the best team in football. Best team in football. I mean, I love the way they play. They run hard. Charbonnet going down with that injury for the rest of the season hurts because now they don't have the two running backs. Yeah. But dude, their O-line, so good. Their defense, so good. They're well coached. It's gonna be in Seattle, home of the 12, the loudest stadium.
Graham:I don't disagree.
Scott:But the wrinkle division opponent.
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:Playing and the crazy thing, I was thinking about God dang. Seattle gets the one seed, and in the playoffs, they gotta play two teams from their division.
Announcer:Yeah.
Scott:You know, uh it's crazy. I don't know. So what do you think? I mean, obviously, you you picked the Patriots minus nine and a half.
Graham:Uh dude, that's gonna hit. I'm telling you, it's gonna hit.
Scott:I hope it does, and I hope you take it. That's I I went to look at it last night when you texted me that, and then it's so early in the process. You gave an alternate line at you. Yeah, I was like, what the hell is that?
Graham:I mean, look, I'm gonna take the ramps and the points. I mean, I'm I I like a money line. I think it's gonna come down to the end. Who's gonna go for it? What happens? It's gonna come down to the end. I it wouldn't surprise me if it goes to overtime. I mean, they're just both that good teams. It's gonna come down to who wins.
Scott:They're both well coached. They're both well coached. I mean, sheesh. Did you see the funniest thing Chris Sims said this morning on the show? He goes, It was so cold in Chicago last night. He goes, even McVeigh covered up his pretty boy ass hair with a beanie. And I don't know if you heard his press conference. He was like, it was cold as shit. Yeah, maybe. Yeah, I mean, well coached, dude. They got a great offensive line, they got a quarterback that's awesome, they got stud tight ends. I mean, they're running two tight ends on every play. Puka, what can you say about him? Kyron, Blake Coram, Adams. I mean, their defense is solid. I don't know. I just like Seattle.
Graham:I mean, that's the real Super Bowl. I mean, let's be real.
Scott:I don't agree with that. I don't agree with everybody shaking off the AFC. It's the Super Bowl if the Broncos beat the Patriots.
Graham:Yeah. Yeah. I I don't, yeah. I just I mean, look, the Patriots will hold up. I'm not saying that they won't. I mean, they got look, they like they have a squad. I I don't know. It's just I not that I'm saying that they're so inferior. I just think Wow, what a catch on third. Wow.
Scott:What a catch on third down. Wow. Unreal. How many timeouts? I got three timeouts. Uh 248 left in the game. Indiana's up by three. Unreal. What a game. Hey. 10 to nothing at halftime? Yeah.
Graham:Wow.
Scott:Um, but yeah. I don't know. I I'm sticking with my guns here, dude. Like I bet on weeks and weeks ago, Seattle Patriots Super Bowl.
Graham:Yeah. I I mean you can't be wrong. I but it wouldn't surprise me either way. Oh. It's a big run right there. Big run right there. It wouldn't surprise me either way. It would surprise me if the Patriots don't win, obviously. But between the Rams and the Seahawks, I think it's a coin flip. It is. I'm hoping it's a good game.
Scott:It's gonna be. It's two and a half, dude, the line. I mean, yeah. Everybody thinks it's gonna be a good game. You would think.
Graham:You would think there's been some doozies this year.
Scott:I'll say that. Do you think? Hey, and everybody out there listening, I just want to say this. Did you know, according to Graham, that if Indiana wins tonight, that the Big Ten would have won the last three national championships?
Graham:I wish I could just put up on the screen a meme of that dead horse just getting beat. Like, you make it sound like I said that I screened it from the rooftops and said it 800 times in the episode.
Scott:I'm one time you didn't say it in the episode. You said it talking to me or something.
Graham:Yeah, I yeah, because you because you like, well, I said that in the podcast, and I'm like, bro, you make it sound like I'm supposed to remember everything that comes out of your mouth when we record. I don't know what I had for dinner last night. All right, like let's calm down. Like just saying. And a Big Ten guy not rooting for the Big Ten is suspect. Considering, oh, I don't know, check the tapes. How long have you been rooting for Indiana in this? I mean, granted, I know you were for I was Texas AM.
Scott:Yeah, Texas Tech. I've been I've been pulling for for Indiana the whole time until my way home tonight. Yeah. I don't know what switched. I don't know. Don't care. I mean, I don't have a dog in the fight. I don't care. I just wanted to see a good game. Agreed. And we and we're seeing it. Thank God. Because the first half looked like, oh man, this is about to be a blowout like against Oregon. But I don't know, man. We're an hour into it. Unfortunately, we only have three more games of the NFL left. But, you know, it is what it is. So something, hey, we talked about McDermott getting fired, right? Okay. Yeah. We didn't even talk about that shit yet. Let's keep going. The hell with that. Dude, McDermott getting fired. I saw this and I had to bring it up tonight. So he's still under contract for two more years. My guy's making 38 cents a second, $22 a minute, $1,300 an hour, 32 G's a day, 230 G's a week, and a million a month. And about to be the next head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Graham:Oh, please no. Please no. Please no. I would much rather have Flores. I would much rather have. Yeah. I'd I there's just so many things to think of. Like either of the coordinators in LA right now.
Scott:I'd rather have the thing about that though, the LA guys, the Rams offensive coordinator is not calling the plays. Okay, you got McVay. That's why he wants out. Mentor's gonna go to Cleveland. That's where he's from. If he's going anywhere, he's going to Cleveland. Cleveland or Baltimore. I just he ain't going anywhere else. Or he's coming home. I just I mean, Stefanski going to Atlanta. I low-key like that.
Graham:Hey, there's a reason why he was a two-time defensive player there. I mean, coach of the year. I mean, he's a good coach. That's a good move for them.
Scott:I like it. Oh, this b this is over now.
Graham:I mean, could you imagine if I I mean, is it was it premature? Would he have liked to have gone to Buffalo?
Scott:Dude, that's what I said. I was like, holy shit, are Harbaugh and Stefancy going, God dang it, I should have waited three more days. Who's Buffalo gonna get? Well, I already said a Dabble or Brady.
Graham:Dude, here's the thing. You know, my buddy who's the you know from Buffalo diehard fan, been calling for the removal of their head coach now for years. And and look, I said it to you after the game. This was one game that he didn't actually lose for them with his board decisions. Like it's for once it wasn't on him. Long time coming. I get it. I think their GM should have been fired. He got promoted to VP. Unbelievable. So now they have a head coach and GM spot available.
Scott:Hey, hey, Bills, Bills, remember that guy, your GM that you just promoted? Remember he traded with the Chiefs when the Chiefs took who?
Graham:Yeah, Mahomes.
Scott:Yeah, let's promote him. Sounds like a great idea.
Graham:But he said in a post earlier today that I was reading that, you know, whoever they bring in, they he be and I was surprised just because I was like thinking about it, I was like, wow, how long has Alan been in the league? He said he Alan only has a few more years of being elite. Like, how many years do you think Alan has for him being where at the level that he is right now?
Scott:Well, the beating that he takes on a weekly basis. You know, I mean, that way it's hard to say. Uh uh I don't know. The guy is elite, the guy is a stud. He just doesn't have a I mean, he he's got the number one running back statistically wise this past year behind him. You know, they're driving down the field on a momentum drive, and he lays the ball on the ground. You know, Shakir has been their workhorse. 12 catches last week. I don't know what he had this week, but they don't have that number one. I mean, Kincaid, stud Knox is still there, but they don't pepper Kincaid like they used to. You know, his rookie year. But I I don't know. The guy the Dolphins hired today, the old Packers D coordinator.
Graham:Look, there are so many high-profile jobs available now. You're just like, whoa, what? I remember four weeks ago when we were doing this podcast, and it was just like, wow, I can't believe like I only thought there was going to be like four good coaching jobs available.
Scott:Bro, we were like we are at 10. We were like, there's not gonna be that many. Pete Carroll, we said, you know, McDaniels, maybe ten. I mean, TP sent me something tonight. I was like almost spit my drink out. He was like, dude, Vrabel's been there, this is his first year. And he's now the most tenured head coach in the AFC East.
Graham:Well, he's the same. No, him and they still the Jets retained their guy.
Scott:Yeah. We're talking days, 372 days. Still. Who would have thought that after this year?
Graham:Well, I mean. Yeah, I mean, McDermott's not getting fired if they go to the Super Bowl. I'll tell you that right now.
Scott:Yeah, no. That was a big stop right there. Um, all I gotta say is this. As a Charters fan, I've had so many crushing moments, you know, as a fan, none bigger than 2006 against the Patriots. Bears fans out there. If I would have told you week one of training camp that you were gonna lose to the Rams in the divisional round in overtime, every single one of you would have been like, let's go. Not saying it makes it easier, not saying, you know, but dude, look what he's done, you know, in a year. Look what that management has done. Personnel department and sign in, they had the worst offensive line last year, and they made the right splashes. They got him right. That I mean, Adunze didn't do a lot yesterday. Somehow, the new wide receiver I like, that Luther dude for the Bears. Yeah.
Announcer:Luther Burden, yeah.
Scott:What a pick, dude. I mean, they're saying DJ Moore can be on the way out. It could be traded.
Graham:Which I I don't I get it. With that. Free up some cap. They need an edge rusher, dude. They need pass rushers. Yeah.
Scott:I mean, they got Lovelyn awful drop pass last night. Stall to drive on third down, right in his hands, nobody around him. Like we said, conditions were a factor for both teams. Both teams drop balls. Not yeah, you know, it is what it is. But, you know, it is what it is, dude.
Graham:We are things happen. I mean, you you can have all the pieces in place, and things still happen. It's just, you know, yeah. That's all you can say. I mean, especially with the Bills. Like, that I sucks. Losing a game is one thing, but losing a game like that, you're just like, no one has it worse than the Saints. You can't lose a game like that. You know, that call that happened a few years ago against the Rams. Like, you can't. There's nothing that Roger Goodell can say after the fact because there's nothing he can do about it. Right? So I how the real thing is, is how do you prevent that from happening? And then on top of that, how do you take the steps to ensure that doesn't happen again? That like that's the real question.
Scott:Review the play.
Graham:Roger Goodell's gonna be out with the Super Bowl and it's gonna have all these questions and stuff. Why are I mean, does he just dodge the question when this stuff gets asked to him?
Scott:I'd love to know.
Graham:Like, why can't we say point blank? How do you let that not happen again? And you can't say, oh, you know, we need to train the refs better. That's not on the refs. That's on procedure. That's all procedural.
Scott:Dude, delay of game? What are you doing? They didn't reset the clock. I agree, Graham. Like I said earlier, the thing that pissed me off the most was review it.
Graham:Make it right. Make it right. Yeah.
Scott:Don't just send it. Yeah, don't know. But anyhow, we're an hour into this. We got a minute and 40 left in this game. Let's get off this. Let's watch the end together. And you know, I love everybody. Graham, get us out of here.
Graham:Scott, the tension is rising. Oh, they sack him and it's not. Is that a fumble? Get on the ball. His hand is going forward. What is going on? Oh, the excitement is in the air right now. Scott, wonderful time, had a blast. And hey, let's get out of here. So the best homie always says, I don't know what does he say. I'm so I'm I'm so ready to watch this game that the as the best homie always says, booba.
Scott:Good night, friends. Good night, Graham's brain. I remember when I couldn't say bye-bye. Let's go, Canes. Carson Beck. Oh, damn it. Oh man. Third and oh, he got killed. Carson Beck might be dead, and that's a targeting rough in the passer. Good night, everyone. Love you, Melissa Stark. It was good seeing you last night. But whatever. You're still on my shit list.
Graham:Bubba! Oh, they'll call that Rough in the Passer, but not the one in the first quarter? Hmm. Interesting.
