Bald Guys On The Bench
Bald Guys On The Bench
From Playoff Hopes To Coaching Blunders: A Candid NFL Week 12 Recap
Recorded November 24th, 2025
The scoreboard didn’t tell the full story of Week 12—coaches did. We dive straight into the moments that swung games, from gutsy fourth-down calls that backfired to field goals left on the turf that changed playoff math. With Monday Night Football rolling in the background, we zoom out to what matters in November: identity, game flow, and knowing when to pocket points. If you’ve yelled “take the points” at your TV, this one’s for you.
College chaos wasn’t far behind. We unpack Tennessee Tech’s baffling FCS playoff seeding after a conference title and top-10 ranking, and trace how politics, money, and geography can warp merit. Then it’s program fit and recruiting gravity—why certain coaches flip classes overnight and how NIL turned roster building into a year-round chess match. Rivalry week looms, with Ohio State–Michigan getting the weather twist that could change everything.
On Sundays, the contrasts were stark. Houston’s pass rush smothered Buffalo, Dallas lit up the stat sheet while battling their building’s infamous sun glare, and Cleveland’s defense put the league on notice with a ten-sack avalanche. We make the DPOY case for Myles Garrett, give a sober assessment of the Steelers’ direction and Tomlin’s timeline, and run a Chargers self-audit that balances Herbert’s heroics against injuries and missed adjustments. Add in the Lions’ offensive edge with Jahmyr Gibbs surging into fantasy RB1 territory and Jaymo’s game-breaking juice, and the NFC picture gets tighter than it looks.
We wrap with the Thanksgiving slate—Packers-Lions, Chiefs-Cowboys, Bengals-Ravens—and why short-week discipline and clock decisions matter more than ever. If you want candid takes, smart context, and some laughs along the way, pull up a seat on the bench with us. Subscribe, share with a friend who argues fourth-down math, and drop your boldest Thanksgiving upset pick in a review.
Welcome to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench Podcast with your hosts Graham Cohen and Scott Wasco.
Graham:What's up, everyone? Welcome back to the Bald Guys on the Bench. Scotty. Week 12 is almost in the books. How you doing, brother?
Scott:I'm good, bro. And I'm really good because you actually didn't trip over your words tonight when you we started this episode. So you know what? Cheers to you. Let's go. Let's grab it. Let's crack it. Let's talk some football. But before we do it, I have to, I gotta tell the listeners what they want to hear, dude.
Graham:You know, what do they want to hear?
Scott:It wasn't a slap your face moment on the show. Oh my god. But before the episode, when we're talking, watching Brock Purdy throw pick after pick after pick, you were like, dude, is the second half gonna be Sam Darnold time? And I was like, uh, and by Sam Darnold, do you mean Mac Jones? You're like, oh yeah, that guy, Mac Jones. That's what I meant. I had to. Let's go. Grab it, crack it. Let's go.
Graham:I'm cracking it, but I didn't say that shit.
Scott:Okay. Okay. All right. Anyhow, uh, we're sitting here Monday night, Thanksgiving week, 6.25 left in the Monday night game. Real barn burner here we got with the Niners and the Panthers. My condolences if you bet over 49. Uh but uh Graham, what's going on? It's Thanksgiving week. What's going on before we get into sports? How was your weekend? Uh your voice sounds a little banged up. I mean, you have a rough night last night. I mean, oh, there we go, Jennings. There's this reception. Let's go.
Graham:Yeah. Help out my fantasy team, baby. Let's go. Oh, wait, I'm already getting the dub.
Scott:Uh well, yeah, you're playing me. It wasn't that funny.
Graham:Is this a well, I I'm laughing extra hard because of what I was about to say. Is this gonna be a new record season for you having more than two? Is this gonna be three games now of not scoring 100 points?
Scott:I don't give a shit. I traded all my players away for the future. Don't care.
Graham:Wow. Tell me how you really feel. Um, look, the weekend was good. Uh pretty much just watched football, went out to dinner, and oh, okay. There you go, McCaffrey. But look, hot almost said hockey like I care about that right now. Let's fast forward that couple months down the road. College football, watched a couple good games. Uh Ohio State, you know what to do. Um, but but really, NFL Sunday got excited for the games, you know, tried to watch as much as I could. I mean, I did watch most of the Steeler game, and yes, folks, I did say most of it. That was only because uh my really good friend back from PA came into town, Mackenzie. She brought out her boyfriend. Uh it was his first time out to Vegas, and I agreed to pick them up. I didn't realize that when I had to pick them up, it was at one o'clock, which is the end time of you know the early game, so that was a pain in the ass. But praise the Lord! Yay! I got Sunday ticket on my phone, so just was watching in a car waiting for them, and then pretty much just spent the afternoon with them, did a late lunch, had a couple drinks and margaritas, dropped them off at their hotel, and then went back to the house, changed, and then met up with them. Uh, we went out for a couple drinks, and after that, we went out to the Neon City Festival, something that the downtown Las Vegas put on. It was a free event, uh, something that it's a three-day weekend event, and uh had a blast last night. So saw some DJs that I've been wanted to check off the list, was happy about it, had a great time with them, dropped him back off, called the night, and here we are today.
Scott:Let's go. Sounds like a good time.
Graham:It was, you know, I was with them. I mean, look, I have I've had a few friends come into town and we've had some good times, but for as close as I am with McKenzie and you know, now her boyfriend, it's just like this was the first time I said to him, like, I've been in Vegas for a year and a half, and look, I've done Vegas so many times that it's not like the the thrill, the luster is gone, but having them in town and then doing this, you know, little concert festival thing that they did, I was like, you know what? This might be the best night that I've had in Vegas since I moved here. So it was uh it was it was a fun time all around. I was happy about it, and they had a good time, so hell yeah.
Scott:All good. That's fun.
Graham:Yeah. What about you? What about you? How was your weekend?
Scott:Before I get into my weekend, your friend that came into town, McKenzie. Yeah, uh, I met her. God, I wish I knew what year that was. Uh 17. It was 17. Okay. Yeah. I'll never forget. It's Easter Sunday, you know, in the morning. We're getting our shit together. We're gonna barbecue, some tri-tip. It was me, Krista, and the kids, and then Bear and Brittany and their kids, and then I get a phone call from you, and you're like, what are you doing? I'm like, it's Easter, dude. We're just hanging out, drinking beers, not doing much. And you're like, Well, we're coming back early from Coachella. You got space for me? I'm like, yeah. I'm like, who is it? You're like, me and my girl McKenzie. I'm like, all right. Off to what was the grocery store that you Ubered to? Alberton's? Yeah. Yeah, Alberton's. No, Ralph's. Ralph's. Ralph's back to Albertson's McCaffrey Tutty. Let's go. Uh back to Albertson's, get another tri-tip, throw it on, you guys show up. I just remember drinking mimosas all day in the backyard by the pool, just hanging out and having a good old Easter, you know?
Announcer:Yep.
Scott:I I'm almost positive Bear and Bear was there. They had him and Brittany and their kids had to be, because why would we need another tri-tip if if it was if they weren't?
Graham:Maybe you just put a second one on because I said, you know, Chris had found out after talking to me that I was coming with Mackenzie, maybe. I don't know.
Scott:Yeah.
Graham:They could have been there, but I just I'm almost positive they were. You know how my memory is. It's here some days and it's here someday.
Scott:Exactly. Yeah. But anyhow, weekend was good, dude. I was off Saturday, Sunday. Uh watched some college football. Uh, most importantly, you know, watched my boy that we've talked about many a times on the show, Bobby Wilder. Head coach now at Tennessee Tech. Uh, they were playing their 10 and one, dude, going into Saturday. They're only, and this is FCS football, their only loss of the year was against Kentucky. Remember, we talked about it on the show. Yeah. 10 and one, number five going in the country in FCS going into the Kentucky game. They lost by, you know, you're playing an SEC team. Come on, what are you supposed to do? Right. And lose, drop to six. Okay. Anyhow, they're playing Saturday, win the game. They win the conference, and supposed to get a first round bye. Win the game. First time my boy Wilder's won, or the Tennessee Tex won the conference since 1975.
Announcer:Wow.
Scott:And this is my boy's second year there. Okay. They had to co they were co-champions last year. Whatever. So everybody, the announcers, oh, if we win, we're gonna get the first round bye. FCS playoffs, 24 teams get in. Okay. No. Eight teams get a bye. Okay. You're thinking the sixth ranked team in the country winning their conference is gonna get a bye.
Graham:You're setting this up for failure, it sounds like.
Scott:Well, you know, we haven't had that moment in a while, dude. And by that moment I mean a kick rocks moment. And this is a kick rocks moment, not only because Bobby Wilder's my boy, but because it's sports. And how in the hell does this make sense? Okay. Selection Sunday for the FCS playoffs come is yesterday at noon. Comes out.
unknown:They're the 13th seed. What thirteen seed. They're number six in the fing country. Eight teams get a bye, and they're the thirteen seed and have to play this weekend.
Scott:Can you explain to me how that makes any kind of sense? Because last time I checked, number six is lower than number thirteen.
Graham:Yeah, I got you. You ready for it? Money, money, money, money, money. Money.
Scott:What's money got to do with anything?
Graham:Bias, hands in people's pockets, everything.
Scott:It's insane, and the worst part about it is the FTS National Championship game is in Nashville. Tennessee Tech is 15 minutes away from Nashville. It's like, dude, it doesn't even make sense. Like, I'm looking at something last night talking to my dad about it, dude, and it's like here it is. Tennessee Tech, 11 and 1. UC Davis finishes the season 8-3 and gets a bye. The only loss Tennessee Tech had was to a SEC school who the week before they played him beat the holy living shit out of Florida.
unknown:I I just it is what it is.
Graham:I I mean it's well well what I would say to that is I don't know, on a larger scale, isn't there a Notre Dame bias?
unknown:Yeah, because they're not in a goddamn conference.
Graham:I'm j still. When you have, you know, the right people in the right pockets or in the right ears saying the right things, if it's close, they'll lean the other way. Even though with the examples that you just gave, it just makes complete sense. I get it.
Scott:I mean I mean eight teams, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, eight teams get a buy? You're number six in the fucking country.
Graham:Hey. Is Coach worried?
Scott:Coach ain't worried.
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:You know, you know why? Why? And somebody somebody had it on Facebook today. It was, you know, I follow Tennessee Tech on Facebook, and my boys, my my boys a candidate for coach of the year, not only in their conference, but for the country in FCS. Oh wow. And somebody comments, this is amazing, he deserves it. He got on. Yeah. I've been saying it. Dude. He got on.
Graham:Hey. Do you like Pennsylvania?
Scott:Dude, I mean, what he did at Old Dominion for their football team, a startup program, and then now what he's done here in two years. The guy's a leader, dude. I love it.
Graham:Have you been to Happy Valley?
Scott:Yeah. He ain't going there.
Graham:Yeah, I know he's not.
Scott:Yeah. Speaking of Happy Valley, uh that coach we talked about that was at the old dominion game last week, uh, signed at Virginia Tech. You know, we've been talking about it. The rumors were flying.
Graham:Yeah, I'm pretty sure we talked about that last week. Yeah, but he didn't he didn't sign until I mean if if the writing's on the wall, is it signed?
Scott:Hey, it ain't done until it's done. I I couple things I want to say about that before we move on. Uh obviously he signed, had his press conference. We all know Virginia Tech has one of the best entrances to college football with Inner Sandman and Metallica, right? So he's he's in this press conference, his introductory press conference, and he goes, Man, I cannot wait to run out of that tunnel to the song Enter the Sandman. And one of the school officials' admins are like, hey coach, it's not Enter the Sandman, it's Enter Sandman. And he's like, My bad, we'll never make that mistake again. It was classic, dude. It was classic. But dude, he had like six or seven, six, seven uh commits to Penn State uh that were at the Tech Miami game this past Saturday.
unknown:He's gonna destroy the recruiting class that was incoming to Penn State this coming year. Okay.
Graham:You're not gonna get deeper analysis on that. I like I you get it. When you have a coach who's loved, been with the program, goes somewhere else, he's gonna take his guys. Like, I get it. Yeah, Penn State gets top guys that they're gonna follow. Look, they'll have Penn State will have a down year next year, the following year, start over and figure it out. I'm it's just like, look, you the comments you made last week, oh, he's gutting all the recruits and he's taking this guy and taking this guy. Yeah, like I get it, but what I was saying before is with NIL and the and the transport portal, it's not a big of a deal as it used to be. Speaking of not big of a deal, where were you throwing the ball, young? Yeah. To me, I there was you, you what receiver was even in the vicinity?
Scott:I'm wide open guy.
Graham:Where where was that?
Scott:Dude, um speaking what that was pretty good. Uh damn it, you made my miss my train of thought. I was getting ready to say something, asshole.
Graham:No one there.
Scott:Can you just throw the god dang ball of that first round draft pick? Oh, he's got it. Tutty!
Graham:Let's go!
Scott:Let's go! That was 30 yards, wasn't it?
Graham:Yeah, but he's not, but we need I need 50.
Scott:29. I need 52. Well, he's got 37 five now. Oh. And that's 14 points in the second half. Oh, wow. Let's go. Uh telling me there's a chance. Oh, yes, I am. What was I gonna say? We were going Penn State. I don't know. Oh, did you by by any chance see beating the bookies dream scenario?
Graham:No, I missed it. It was, you know, in the 800 others tweets that he had.
Scott:Dude, he said his dream scenario is Bama doesn't get in the college football playoffs.
Graham:Oh, that's right. You did talk about it.
Scott:Bama lets what's his name? Is De Boer or whatever? Oh, he missed the extra point. Oh no, he made it. Uh let's Debore walk. Debore goes to Penn State, Lane Kiffin goes to Bama. Where he was the OC for sabing it one point.
Graham:Hey, I ain't mad at it. Yeah. I mean, let's be honest. Was Debore the right fit for Alabama? Did he have uh credentials to go there to get the job? 100%. But sometimes it's all about fit.
Scott:Yeah. So I mean oh, they call penalty on somebody lining up on the center. Oh, he hit the center. Whatever, they ain't fucking taking that penalty. Um, I think that would be great. What I think would be better. Lane Kiffin to the Giants. Gets to go coach his quarterback that he coached in college.
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:Oh, they're gonna go for two now. Yep. Watch this. Watch this. Second half odor is gonna come down to this.
Graham:But what's shocker?
Scott:Watch. Hey, thanks for hey, thanks, Browns. Let's punt on the 29-yard line. Oh, I was gonna I said that I said that to you. I know, it was hilarious. But anyhow, we'll get into that in a few minutes. Oh, yeah, exactly. Take a point off the board.
Graham:You missed the guy running across the field who was open.
Scott:He also in the first quarter missed, he could have crawled into the end zone. Instead, he throws a pick.
Graham:Yeah. Hey, it benefited you, but look at the drag route across number 82. Look at him. Wide open. Jeez. Oh, I'm gonna throw it to that guy. Wow. There was a duck ahead. I mean, it was a better throw.
Scott:It wasn't a duck, yeah, but it was a better throw. Stupid. Take the point. I mean, you're down seven. Uh yeah. Could have been down seven. Well, we'll get into these coaches' decisions here in a second. Uh, you know, the game always happens the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Michigan, Ohio State. Dude, Michigan's won four in a row. And this one's back in Michigan. And it was funny, Kristen was like, oh, Ohio State should beat Michigan, right? And I'm like, yeah, they should, but they were also 22 and a half point favorites last year. And Michigan beat them. Weather's supposed to be snowy. Game kicks off at noon in Michigan. If the weather's snowy, Ohio State doesn't have a big run game. It's all about the passing. And remember, they did lose two running backs that are currently starters in the NFL. The Browns dude and the Patriots dude.
Graham:Junkins is out?
Scott:Judgins. What?
Graham:What? I missed that.
Scott:Judkins Judgins plays for the Browns program, not Ohio State anymore.
Graham:I I for hold on. There's no I know that. I you said we're talking about Ohio State guys, and then you said the Browns, and I said Junkins. That's all I said.
Scott:Yeah, and I was talking about Ohio State does not have a big run game anymore.
Graham:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, no, yeah, and then I was gonna say, except that four string running back that decided to break a 50 yarder.
Scott:That crushed your bet.
Graham:That crushed my, you know, Rutgers plus 31 and a half with their fifth string running back out there with four or three minutes left in the game. 32 and a half. Well, I got it at 31 and a half.
Scott:Then you should have won.
unknown:Because they won by they lost by 32.
Scott:Oh, the 32 and a half, whatever it is. Yeah. But hey, this is the game in college football. I don't think I don't think Michigan takes the win streak to five. I'm being a realist.
Graham:But well, so then I don't know how state they win.
Scott:In this game, throw the throw everything out. So who knows?
Graham:Hey, you you need a good early Christmas gift in football. That could be it.
Scott:Dude, I was actually thinking about it and actually watched the highlights from 2022 when you and I were in when you and I were in Arizona. Yeah. At that at that bar when we went out for the Chargers Cardinals game. Dude, I was like, oh my gosh. Remembering at that bar. I wish I knew the name of it. One of Maddie's boys, but owned the bar and it was a Michigan graduate. And dude, who would have thought that many Michigan fans in Arizona? Remember getting there and it was like, oh, am I in Ann Arbor?
Graham:Well, I mean it's it the it that's also the same week as uh the golf tournament, too. So it's the same week as waste management.
unknown:What golf tournament? No, it's not. Waste management's always Super Bowl.
Graham:Are we talking about the Chargers? We were there for the Chargers part. Wow, you were out there.
Scott:I'm thinking of man when you said Man, you were you had a night, dude. I mean, goodness gracious, you called the play clock the shot clock earlier.
unknown:I cannot do that, dude.
Scott:Oh, what a night. Graham is on a big fat bender. My guy has burned too many brain cells last night. Uh, Sam Darnold, uh backup quarterback for the Niners. No, he's starting quarterback for the Seahawks there, fella. But anyhow, uh, let's jump right into week 12. Uh before we jump into week 12, something I have to ask because I heard this today. Obviously, we're gonna talk about week 12, but before we discuss it, after week 12, what is the most surprising team leading their division?
unknown:Bears, Colts, or Patriots? Right?
Scott:Ah I wouldn't say the Patriots. I would push them aside. I would Bears. Bears, Colts, right? But Bears 100%.
Graham:Colts I could see because it's just like right. Oh, I'm sorry. Is the quarterback position the most important part? Like sufficient? I mean, yeah, and then JT back, them getting Tyler Warren in the draft.
Scott:Um well McCaffrey breaking it. Oh, did he drop the ball? No, he was down. He was down. He was down, he better be down. But the the Bears has to be the Bears, right? Yeah, it's I mean, I mean, going into this game, the Panthers were only half game behind Tampa.
Graham:Yeah. Well, that division is also the only division in the NFL that every team is above 500.
unknown:Off the top of my head. No. The NFC South?
Graham:No, I'm talking about the NFC North. The NFC North with the Bears.
Scott:The Vikings are not over 500.
Graham:Well, see, I'm just gonna slap myself again.
Scott:Yeah. Speaking of slapping, uh JJ McCarthy and the Vikings, how was that negative one yards in the second half yesterday? Total yards in the second half. I had more yards than them.
Graham:I don't I said this last night when we were chatting. This is his first year of playing. I know. He didn't play a lick last year. Look, their head coach gets all of the praise for, you know, look, they took on Darnold last year. He stepped in with the injury, like, dude was only supposed to be a backup and did what he did. They let him walk because they didn't want to pay the money. They're like, hey, we got faith. And as the organization, if you see a coach, or should I say, if you see your coach, the head coach, have such confidence in JJ and him being there in all the meetings and seeing him in the practice, you're just like, all right, I feel good. Well, there is that saying where you still gotta go out there and show us you can do it. Yeah. And just because you can see it, just because you can read it and understand it, doesn't mean you can process everything and go out there and efficiently run the offense.
unknown:And he's not. He's not. Yeah. Unfortunately, he's not. But growing pains. Yeah.
Graham:I mean, I mean, if we want to talk about second, you're guys, even though technically it's his first, you did a 360 and by a 360, a 180 on, you know, one of his competitors in the same division. The shit you were talking about, Caleb Williams last year, and pretty much up until week three.
Scott:Dude, not last not last year going into the draft.
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:But once again, it shows what did the Bears do in the offseason? Uh, they signed a lot of offensive linemen.
Graham:Yeah.
unknown:They also got uh who's their head coach? Ben Johnson. You telling me that doesn't help?
Graham:The winning culture has to start somewhere.
Scott:Dude, I I mean I told you last week on the episode I switched 100% on Caleb. Number one, because of what he did with his teacher. But dude, he's making plays. I he's making plays. This the fumble he had yesterday against you guys, I don't know what in the hell he was doing when he's the balls all dangling around. Well, he was trying to get rid of it, but TJ had it hanging around like blah blah blah blah. TJ was like, hey, give me that, you son of a bitch. And uh the best part about that was obviously you were watching your Steelers, but his brother was doing the play-by-play, and TJ went surpassed his brother and Sacks on that play. That was pretty, that was pretty cool. That was pretty cool.
Graham:But JJ was like, hey, I figured he'd eventually probably do it, but for this to be the play that he bring that he did passes me on, like what was that? What was that, dude?
Scott:I don't even know. They don't even have a clue. Badger will sell them a couple. But dude, let's jump, we're skipping all around. I mean, the week started off Thursday night, Texans playing the Bills. And we talked about it last week, dude. The Bills won that game against Tampa. I talked about it. You talked about it. Allen running around playing backyard football. That game the other night.
unknown:The Texans defensive line.
Scott:Oh, domination. And like I texted you, Anderson, could he be the most underrated pass rusher in the league?
Graham:A hundred percent. You don't see him a lot. Look.
Scott:If he played anywhere but in Houston, you know, the guy would be a household name.
Graham:I disagree. I think he'd be a household name. TJ Watt wasn't a household name.
Scott:He was.
Graham:And by DC, I mean slap myself, JJ Watt.
Scott:JJ, sorry. Uh I saw a stat on one sack he had against Josh Allen from start to finish. My guy ran 56 yards.
Graham:Yeah. Look, they got stud pass rushers on each side. The Bills lost their right tackle. You know, Houston's a tough team. They got a good defense. You have to be stingy with how you and effective with how you run the offense. I mean, for the most part, the Bills were doing a good job. Like, the Bills could have.
Scott:Until McDermott made the first stupid coach's decision of the week.
Graham:Take the points, folks.
unknown:Take the points. Not only for your bet, but to win the game.
Scott:Which you're down seven? You go for it on fourth. You don't get it. Quick three and out from the Texans. The Bills get the ball back. They kick a field goal. Now they're down four. Quick three and out. Bills get the ball back. What do they have to do on their last position? Score, Tuddy.
unknown:Instead of they're already in field goal position. Kick to win.
Scott:Did the Bills deserve to win that game? No. But one coach's decision, guess what? They win. It doesn't matter how you get there.
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:I mean, it's easy for you and I to say.
Graham:But I guarantee you, if you polled every other head coach to the NFL what to do in that scenario, the winning percentage would be take the field goal.
Scott:Oh, I'm sorry. Did you not watch Liam Cohen yesterday and the Jaguars? Did you not watch Schottenheimer with the Cowboys? The Jaguars. Dude, dude. The Jaguars, okay, hold on. Let me get this stat. The Jaguars elect to not take a six-point lead with a minute 40 left. They go for it on fourth and goal from the five-yard line. And then what happens? Arizona goes down the field, kicks the field goal, game goes to overtime. It's not being talked about because Jags won the game, but you could go up six and the team and there's a minute forty left in the game. Dude, and then the Cowboys. It's a tie game. The Eagles haven't scored a point in the second half. It's tied. You've outscored them 21-0 in the second half. You go for it on fourth. Don't get it.
unknown:Dude. I don't I don't know, man.
Graham:I don't know. You know, they coaches always got tape that they talk about for the next week. Oh, this is what we did. These are the mistakes. This is what we need to learn from. This is what we're going to move moving forward. Who's showing coaches the tape being like, look, dumbass? This is what you did. This is what you should have done. Look at what would have happened if you would have gone the other way.
Scott:Oh, McMillan was almost wide open.
Graham:If that was a better pass, that was open.
Scott:If Minnie Me would have lofted that a little bit.
Graham:Yeah. Can we just get those yards and then can I get a miracle garbage time touchdown from Brian Robinson, please? Ah. Please.
Scott:But anyhow, enough. Let's jump right into your game. My team was off. I watched a little bit of your game. Let's hear. You were I know you were skeptical.
Graham:How about this? Before we get into my game, I just have one question. And this with your team being off this week, was there time for was there reflection for you in your squad? Yeah, there was. Besides, let's get our people healthy.
Scott:Well, the thing, and it really made me open my eyes listening to the Charters podcast that comes out on Fridays, Charters Weekly thing, with Matt Money Smith and Jaleel Dye. Remember Jaleel O'Dye, our old safety? He was a stud. Uh everybody, myself included, was like, fire everybody, fire everybody. Well, for the last three weeks, four weeks, five weeks, Herbert has had to be the man.
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:Okay. All the pressure's on Herbert. If Herbert's not our quarterback, after Alt goes down, week three, we might have well, we won the first three games. After week four, we might be sitting here three and eight.
unknown:Okay, we're seven and four. Yeah. Okay. The guy can't do it all.
Announcer:Facts.
Scott:Was Herbert the reason we lost the game the other night? No. Or last week? No. Dude, the Jaguars ran all over us. And listening to the podcast and listening to Jill Jalilla Dye, who was a safety in the league forever, the crazy thing is they ran the same god dang run and play. Yeah. Same formation. Dude, we're seven and four. Okay. We we've lost probably the best combo of bookend tackles in the NFL. And Alton Slater. What are you gonna do? Yeah. You've lost, okay, your first round draft pick in Hampton, your free agent running back in Najee Harris, and then Haskins.
unknown:You're out there with Vidal, who has been great. But dude, uh, I don't know. The sky's not falling.
Scott:We're seven and four. It's the second year of Harbaugh and Ortiz. Mentor, that whole thing, when I heard Jalilla Dye talking about it, I was like, wow, we never made an adjustment. You know, it is what it is. But we got the Raiders coming up next week, and then it gets tough as shit.
unknown:Oh, did he intercept that? He did. McMillan's gonna be the weak link.
Scott:Uh I don't know, dude. Speaking of the Raiders, Chip Kelly fired, highest paid coordinator in the league. Bubba.
Graham:Hey. Maybe uh Ryan Day will bring him back. Give him some give him a job.
unknown:Who knows? Who knows? I don't know.
Scott:Like I've said on this show before, Charters fans got excited for what happened last year, right? We got excited. We made the playoffs. We got boat race by Houston. The same way the Bills did the other day from their pass rush. Then we got excited because we started off 3-0. Then we lose all. We lost Slater before the season started. It's always been about next year because we have so much cap space coming off.
unknown:Okay. Ortiz is hit hit on draft picks.
Scott:Lad, you know, we've got a ton. Our offensive line, that's what everybody bitches about in Chargers forums and this and that. We didn't help the offensive line enough in the offseason. Well, we signed Becton. He's been a dud. 100% dud. He won't be there next year. Two-year deal with a one-year opt-out. Bradley Bozeman, he must have some kind of naked pictures of Dean Spanos or something. Why that guy's still on the roster? I don't know. But I mean, everybody's bitching about we didn't trade the trade deadline for off. Nobody's trading you an offensive lineman. You know, what do you want to do? The weak link going into this this season was what? Wide receivers. Well, you add Keenan. Look what's going on. You pair Keenan with Ladd. Trey Harris has stepped up. You know, I don't know. But sorry. That was a long-winded answer. No, no. By you guys losing yesterday, by everything happening, we're the five seed right now. In the wild card. Do I think we're going to make the playoffs? We're seven and four. We have six games left. The Raiders upcoming, then the Eagles. We gotta play Denver again. We gotta play the Chiefs again. We gotta play the Cowboys, who all of a sudden are looking amazing on offense. Well, not all of a sudden. They've been playing amazing offense all year. But then, dude, the Texans come to town. Uh I'm scared to death. See what that pass rush did to Josh Allen? Holy shit.
Graham:Yeah, I mean, I don't know. It's it's the same with you know with with my Steelers. I see, you know, possibly two more wins for the rest of the year.
Speaker 5:Yeah.
Graham:Just potentially with with with you guys. And you know, I know we're just on audio right now and you guys can't see this, but I'm pulling up my white flag and I'm but and I'm waving it. This is the white flag. Um it's over. What's over? Tomlin? Uh hope. Hope for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Um I I just look. What Tomlin did for the organization, his I mean, uh just everything. Like there's it's hard to say anything bad about the guy. Players love him, coaches love him. What he's done for the organization. Of course.
Scott:How do you not love the guy?
Graham:And I hate saying, but look, everyone has a shelf life, right? Andy Reed. What does everyone say about Andy Reed?
unknown:Yeah.
Graham:Right? It wasn't like he was doing bad in Philadelphia. He went to four straight NFC championships and then got bounced. So you know, after watching the game, it I mean, I I've been seeing the writing on the wall, but now it's just like I thought we had a chance to win the game. A couple plays here, a couple plays there, you know, things could have been different. But even still, even if those couple of things would have changed, yeah, if we would have got the win, okay. But it still is coming back to it. I'm looking at our team, and to be honest, if you were someone that say, I don't know, how about this? If you were someone that was in a coma and you woke up today and knew nothing of what happened, but you saw our roster, what we're paying on defense for everyone, what we have on offense, and you know, you had a general idea of what potential could happen, at least from the offensive side. There's no way that that person waking up from a coma would believe what they're seeing now in real time is what's happening.
Scott:Dude, something I saw earlier today, I couldn't believe it. You've probably seen it, I'm sure you have. And we touched on it a little bit last week about Pickens. Dude, Pickens this year has more receiving yards than all of Pittsburgh's wide receivers combined. Pickens has a thousand forty-four yards. Your wide receiver court has a thousand nine.
unknown:Yeah. I got two things for you.
Graham:One, offensive coordinator who's calling the plays. Number one. Number two, and this is kind of like there's subsections to this, but how much of Pickens' frustrations was because of the offensive coordinator? How much, you know, it's just for Pittsburgh when he was there, it's not like they didn't recognize the talent. The talent is there. Like, we all get that, but everyone at Pittsburgh was just like, we don't want to deal with all with everything else. We don't want to deal with him being late to meetings. We don't want to deal with him being late to actual games.
Scott:The crazy thing is, I was when I was after last week, before this this week, listening to NBC Sports in the morning with Forio and Sims, they were literally talking about Pickens with the Steelers last year, and Florio was at a game. You know, Fourio's from Pittsburgh, yeah. At a game, and he's sitting there in the media center watching a game, and somebody that he's talking to, another media member, goes, I can tell you every play when they come out of the huddle if it's a run or a pass, just because of Pickens' body language.
unknown:There you go.
Graham:So why why so why would we we why would the team keep someone? You know what I mean?
Scott:It's because you add another person and DK.
Graham:I get that, but how do you how how do okay?
Scott:Who could have seen what Pickens is doing in Dallas coming? Nobody. Right here, I mean when you give when you give CD can you throw it to McMillan, please?
Graham:You have Dak who's pretty competent of throwing the ball.
Scott:Especially, especially, especially every other year from Dak. That's the main thing. Regardless of that. That's the thing.
Graham:You have a moderately good running back, you have a moderately good tight end, and you oh, I don't know, you have a top five receiver, a top three wide receiver in the league on one side, and then oh, hey, you got pickens on the other side, who as of right now is a top five wide receiver. Like, what do you expect is gonna happen?
unknown:And like beating the bookies head last night. That's not gonna happen.
Scott:I know that's why I'm like getting pissed. Beating the bookie tweeted out last night on that long ass run or catch and run from Pickens after C D drops it in the end zone, he goes, CeeDee Lamb can't hold Pickens Johnkstrap.
Graham:Oh, that's a catcher? He can't.
Scott:And he's showing that right now.
Graham:Sometimes you can be a great player on a team, and it's just not your fit.
Speaker 5:Yeah.
Graham:That's really what it comes down to. So back to Pittsburgh. Like, we had chances, there were some good plays. Look, uh, you know, the the first turnover by by Rudolph, uh, better play from the defender, I think. I mean, he threw it up to DK for a 50-50 ball. All right. The offense still looked pretty good, but there was a couple of key plays where we had penalties on third down that w obviously hurt us. Uh, you know, perfect example, that third down that I'm talking about, Rodgers is off the field looking at what's going on.
Scott:Is that what I sent you last night? Yeah.
Graham:Yeah. He's just like, he's like, guys, they're all illegal formation, illegal formation. And it's just like, how like, dude, if you're a quarterback in the NFL, starting second string, whatever, like if you can't recognize if your team's in the right formate, like, like, that's why there's people that can do it and there's people that can't. The people that are elite, there's only a few of them. It is what it is, and it's like, you know, someone brought up, or I was listening to like beat writers uh that have a morning show in Pittsburgh. They're basically saying, let me ask you a question. How do you have Jalen Warren and Washington not on the field for the final drive? How do you not have your best pass catching running back? Wow. How do you not have like the you see what I'm saying? It's just like certain things. You know, Debo, the whole thing you're saying with that, it's just like they were saying there's com denominators that you're watching. How many times after their losses were can they interview the stud defensive players of ours? And it's just like, well, you know, we just gotta do better in practice, we gotta do better with this, we gotta do it's like, how can you be that good? How can you be that good of individual players, but you yet you guys like is it you're saying the coaches are good, so you're telling me it's just their scheme? If the coaches are good and the players are good, why is the scheme wrong? Or why is the effectiveness wrong? Like, it's it's just at this point, it's like how you're talking about your team. What Pittsburgh, we're past the point of making barely making it the playoffs in a first-round bounce. Like, there's no point, and that's the writing on the wall right now. Our best case scenario of making the playoffs nice kick is about the same chance of that field goal that uh wide right. Wow. Oh my god.
Scott:Same as McMillan catching two more balls.
Graham:If he that's what I'm saying, I could have got my garbage, dude. If he gets his garbage touchdown, I swear to God, McMillan hate mill is coming your way. Um but the writing's there. It's time for a break. Pittsburgh has finally gone in the direction of like, all right, we're not gonna be the typical win on defense, ground to pound, all that stuff. Hey, bring offensive mind to coach in, bring someone that knows what they're doing on deep. Like I don't care who it is. It doesn't need to be a big name, it just needs to be a name that knows what they're doing, knows how to put the team together, and then go from there.
Scott:And who's that gonna be? Uh-uh. Uh I mean, it's hard to say, obviously.
unknown:Who knows?
Graham:Hey mentor, you want to come over? Dude, why is McCaffrey still in this game? I he got some betters, he's he got some homies he's trying to make some money for.
Scott:Now Jennings is hurt. There you go.
unknown:I don't know.
Graham:No, he he got kicked in the dick.
unknown:Who do y'all have next week? I think the Bills. At home.
Scott:Oh Lord have mercy.
Graham:And that's a must-win for both teams.
Scott:That's a must-win. Is it in Pittsburgh?
Graham:It's in Pittsburgh.
Scott:Oh, that is a must-win for both.
Graham:Both.
Scott:Both. Wow.
Graham:Over under uh JJ and I need go calling that game.
Scott:I can't believe it didn't get flexed. Well, you gotta do it two weeks in advance, but still.
Graham:They don't. They're just it's it's it's time. Like, I've been saying, like, I'm just at the point where it's just like, I'm so much of a fan of football. Like, obviously, I'm watching regardless, but dude, I uh as I've said before, I'm not I've never been in this scenario where it's just like I'm just gonna have to keep watching, and I'm gonna have to know that my team's probably not gonna win.
Scott:Hey.
Graham:Like, I don't know what that's like. I know what it's like, though.
Scott:I know, I get it, and that's what's so crazy when I hear people talking about the Patriots, right? They won how many games combined last year and the year before? Eight? And they have ten right now. Like, talk about a fan base that's spoiled as shit over the last 20 plus years.
Graham:Well, them and the Packers. I mean, come on.
Scott:Yeah, but the Packers haven't won the Super Bowls.
Announcer:Yeah, but to go from Favre to Rogers.
Scott:Well, I'm not talking about the quarterbacks, I'm talking about winning.
Announcer:I'm just saying winning in general. Yeah.
Scott:I am to I'm talking about winning. Like the Patriots, then they have two shitty years, and all of a sudden, guess who's back? Back again.
Graham:All right, so let me ask you a question. If you've been watching, if you've been watching football seriously for 30 years, would you rather be a fan of a team that is over 500 for 85% of those years, make the playoffs, but only make the Super Bowl once and lose? Or be a fan of a team in 30 years there they only have say 20% of their of those years that they go over 500, but they go to a Super Bowl and they win one.
Scott:Well, I'm a fan of the Chargers, and we've had a great record and never won. Only been to the Super Bowl once.
unknown:I want to win.
Graham:So you would suffer through multiple years of losing to get one win.
Scott:Hundred percent.
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:100%. You're talking to somebody that was born in 1978 and has been a Mets fan since 1984, and have seen the Mets win one Super Bowl when I was eight years old in '86.
Graham:The what wait, what do the Mets win?
Scott:Oh, sorry, Super Bowl. World Series. Okay. World Series. But whatever. But you know what I'm saying? Uh uh. I don't know. And like, I'll never forget walking into the Cube, dude. We're playing the Chiefs, we're playing the Broncos, we're playing the Raiders, and their fans are like talking shit. They're like, oh, how many rings you got? Blah, blah, blah. All right, so I'm not supposed to be a fan of this team because we don't have a ring. And by the way, Raider fan that's talking shit to me. The last ring you won were in the 80s, and you weren't even fucking alive. You were still and your dad's, you know what?
Announcer:Yeah, okay.
Scott:You weren't even a thought. Okay, so kick rocks, bro. I mean, is what it is.
Graham:Dude, so speaking of not a thought, we didn't really expand on this, and I didn't see this until after the fact. There's all this controversy with betting and sports, right? With all the stuff that's going on. Yeah. How do you explain not kicking the field goal for the Raiders there? How is that not how is that not fixed? You're on the 30-yard line. That's a 37-yard field goal. You have to make that. That's in his raid.
Scott:Especially their kicker's awesome.
Graham:That's what I'm saying. Like, that's like he's not hurt. Like, that has to be investigated.
Scott:What's even weird, what's even better than that, did you by any chance see McVeigh's press conference?
Announcer:No, what do you say?
Scott:Dude, it was absolutely amazing. And then what Devontae Adams said to follow up after McVeigh's what stated what McVeigh said, McVeigh says, uh, I'm betting on the people that are in my locker room. And Devontae comes out and he goes, first off, he's not actually betting. That's dangerous waters these days. It was so awesome. The the building erupted. I mean, this is what's gonna suck because they're gonna get this first down, then they're gonna kneel it.
Graham:Oh, dude, the bet's over. It's done.
Scott:Yeah.
Graham:Put a shovel in it, it's buried.
Scott:But anyhow, Dallas Philly, real quick. We're 55 minutes into this episode. Dude, 21 to nothing at halftime. Cowboys come out. Dude, you know what's the craziest thing to me? You're up 21 points, okay? Against Dallas. 21 points. You know how many carries Saquon had in the second half when you're trying to milk the clock and you have a 21-point lead.
Graham:Uh under 10?
unknown:Four. Oh my god. Four. Well, that's under 10. Uh you know how many carries you had in the game? Ten. Oh wow.
Graham:Ten for 22 yards. They didn't use it that much. I you know, look, a couple things stood out to me in that game. One, you know, look, Dak throwing the pick in the end zone. Yeah, the turnovers, Dak throwing the pick in the end zone. But, you know, something that I missed into you last night, something that I noticed people, if they paid closer attention to little things, this is yet another game in which players from the Cowboys, especially CeeDee Lamb, had a chance to make a catch over the middle of the field, but yet, oh, I don't know, missed it because he got blinded. Because Jerry Jones was like, hey, I kind of want to have windows on that side of the field, so there's sun that comes in. And the designer was like, probably not a good idea. It's having the sun come in just this area of the field. But it's so blinding. There were two plays in that game that I saw where the players were like, I have no idea. They're trying to catch the ball on offense, or even the Cowboys making a defensive play. They couldn't do anything. And I'm just like, oh, hey, Jerry, let's count that up to number 237 of decisions. Uh maybe I should have thought that. I thought about that a little better. Um, look, we've been saying it. The Cowboys have an explosive offense. If they can get it together, they're as good as anyone else. It's all about their defense. Can they stop them?
Scott:And on a side note, you ready for this?
Graham:Yeah, let's hear it.
unknown:Are you ready? Oh, I'm ready. Thanksgiving Day. The tradition is what?
Scott:Cowboys and Lions play, right?
unknown:Yeah.
Scott:Uh you know who the Cowboys play this week?
Announcer:Eagle? No. Chiefs. Oh, that's right.
Scott:Cowboys beating the Chiefs.
Graham:What is Jennings fighting for? The game's over. Who's he getting an argument with?
Scott:What is his bitter Betty?
Graham:Oh, wait. Oh. Oh, McMillan. Oh, no, number seven. No, that's not McMillan. Yeah, sorry. It looked like it. More reg? Or who? Defensive player? I don't know. Wow. I don't know, but that's a fine. Hey, people can say whatever they want. They can say whatever shit. If you slap them across the face, Scott, you could say the nastiest things in the world to me. Or I could say, or vice versa. It ain't worth 15 racks. He's getting he's gonna get fined. I what hey, dude. 15 rex.
Scott:Jennings wipes his ass. Jennings wipes his ass with 15 grand.
Graham:He could only do if he ain't making that type of money, okay? 15 grand is still 15 grand. I'm just saying.
Scott:15 grand to Jennings is like $10 to me and you.
Graham:The f he doesn't have that much money. I'd say it's like $150 to us. Still, I I'm just look. It's what can Dallas defense do? So here's the million dollars.
Scott:So you're not reacting to what I just said is gonna happen.
Graham:What?
Scott:I said they're gonna beat the Chiefs.
Graham:I didn't hear that part. And Yeah, because you Where's it at? Where's it at?
Scott:It's in Dallas. Oh yeah.
Graham:A shot bet?
Scott:Yeah.
Graham:Done. Hey, I'll ten point five this year. You picked fair enough. You did pick Dallas outright to win yesterday. I'll say that. I'll give you props. Little kudos to that. And and H Town? I can't remember right now. Oh, yeah. Houston. You did call that. I'll give you that.
Scott:Man, imagine if you parlayed those. Oh, dude. How are those money lines working out? Speaking of money line, could you imagine the live total for the Cowboys down 21 to nothing?
Graham:Yeah, plus 10,000.
Scott:But as we as we wrap up, we got to talk about something.
Graham:Well, I was just gonna say, was that the game of the week, or was it the other game that we haven't talked about?
Scott:Which one you're talking about?
Graham:Chiefs, Colts.
Scott:Yeah, you could see that coming from a mile away. Something I wanted to say.
Graham:It's so obvious it's not obvious.
Scott:Well, something I mean, we can just bypass it real quick because I want to get into something else. Okay, yeah, Chiefs, Colts, amazing game. You can see the you can see the Chiefs coming back, okay. Uh Lions Giants. Something you asked me last week on the show was next year, if I had the first overall pick in fan in a fantasy football league, who would I take? Uh well, after Lither. Yeah, yeah, it's Gibbs. Gibbs. Yeah. I mean, goodness gracious.
Graham:How do you not? Also, how do you not? Every time, especially when talking with you, you're always like, you know, Crab Legs, he just has that extra spark of energy that he just gives to a team. Like, are you kidding? And I'm like, bro, you can't pick him up for your fantasy team.
Scott:Did you see the touchdown he caught?
Graham:Oh my god.
Scott:My guy needs to be a wide receiver in the league.
Graham:He is the perfect example of like amazingness. It's wow. I don't want to say this, like he's just that dude. I mean, he's at that point of his career now where it's just like whether he's second, third, or fourth string, you just have to have him on your team. Because if something happens. Hey J-Mo, can you come in and just pull something out of your ass?
Scott:Dude, the guy is entertaining. It's the NFL is amazing when he's playing.
Graham:If it was anyone else, Detroit's boat racing, though.
unknown:Yeah. 100%. 100%.
Scott:But something we have to talk about. Have to talk about it. Browns Raiders. Shador getting his first start. First Browns quarterback making his first start to get a win in how many years?
Graham:30.
Scott:I mean, let's just, I mean, something we have to put in perspective. How many quarterbacks have the Browns had in the last 30 years making their first start? 30?
Graham:That's that's that's why it's a stat. I mean, you said it right there.
unknown:I mean, most impressive thing of the game, Miles Garrett. The Browns. Sideline. Browns had 10 sacks yesterday.
Scott:Yeah, I mean. Have you seen what Miles Garrett's done this year?
Graham:You know, for much as I complained about him the head to head with TJ last year when he won it, or sorry, two years ago, sorry. Like it's they're two different types of players. Like, if TJ had Miles' Garrett's body, let's be real. They're both great, they're both too different. But I mean, look, Miles Garrett is that guy.
Scott:I mean he's five sacks away from breaking the record.
Graham:Yeah. Oh, he's gonna play.
Scott:And he's only and he's only through 11 games.
Graham:Yeah. I mean, if he did it in 16, yeah, if he did it in 16 before the extra game, like he has 18 sacks through 11 games. Yeah.
Scott:Uh huh.
Graham:He gets to play Pittsburgh one more time.
Scott:I mean, TJ, TJ did it, what? In 17 games, the first 17 game season. Yeah. Strayhan did it because Brett, I send dick picks Favre, laid down for him. Yeah.
Graham:It's and plus TJ got, yeah. It's just I mean, poor Miles Garrett. No, I'm not saying poor Miles Garrett. Dude's getting $270 million. I know. He is. You ain't wrong. Or whatever contract is. Hey, like everyone says, when you sign on that dotted line, you're saying, I'ma deal with all this losing because I'm getting pu-pa-pa-pa.
Scott:He's been insane, dude.
Graham:Here's the thing. He is the equivalent to Joe Thomas. First ballot Hall of Famer, 10 time all pro. And people are just gonna look back on his career. Yeah, he was a beast, but no one's gonna be like what was his record during that?
Scott:Dude, dude, Miles Garrett has had 14 sacks in his last five games.
Graham:So he's not the defensive player of the year this year?
Scott:14 in his last five games.
Graham:Yeah, I know. I just making sure, you know. Wowzers. Hey. High five to someone that hit their parlay, and our friend made it in the survivor pool. Let's go.
Scott:Let's go. Survivor. Oh man.
Graham:Considering folks, our survivor picks, D3. I wake up at Detroit's down 17 or 10-0, whatever it was. I'm like, are you kidding me right now? Yeah.
Scott:I sent you a text and was like.
Graham:Baltimore was down at a point. Not down, but like.
Scott:Yeah, they were losing.
Graham:Dude, the Jets had them on a wire. I'm like, are you kidding me right now? The two biggest favorites are losing right now. Oh my god.
Scott:Yeah. Anyhow. Hey. We got some Thanksgiving games. Right? Who's first? Uh always the Lions, always the Cowboys. But then we got Joe Burrow making his return, playing the Ravens. That's a great game to come back to. Yeah, we got Packers Lions. Oh Lord, have mercy. Love that. Chiefs at Cowboys and Bengals at Ravens.
Graham:Dude. A lot of football being watched, I'll tell you that.
Scott:What do you think?
Graham:And what who's the Friday game? Because the the third.
Scott:Oh, Bears, Bears, Eagles. And here's my complaint on that. Friday, Black Friday game, okay? Uh, why do you start the game at 3 p.m.? Can you make it a night game? Like, it's the only NFL game that day. Like, West Coast people, it's noon. Like, do you want ratings or do you not? You know where everybody's at. On Black Friday, they're all shopping.
Graham:Dude, it's all online now. No one's going to the malls anymore. I mean, come on. Do you think the husbands are at the mall right now or on Black Fridays? Nah.
Scott:On the West Coast, they're playing golf, dude, because the weather's good and the women are out shopping it up. But you got Packers, Lions, Chiefs, Cowboys, Bengals, Ravens. Uh is it a must-win in that first game? Packers, Lions? Packers 7, 3, and 1, Lions 7 and 4.
Graham:Yeah, it's a must-win for both. I mean, they'll get I don't know what the standings are right now, but I mean they'll get two for sure.
Scott:Chiefs, Cowboys? You already know my pick. I got Cowboys.
Graham:Yeah, I'm taking the channel.
Scott:Lions Lions are two and a half point favorites. Chiefs are three point favorites. And then you got Bengals-Ravens, the night game. Ravens seven-point favorites. And then you got Bears-Eagles. Eagles seven point favorites. Uh I'm just gonna go ahead and can't believe I'm gonna say this, but uh, I'll take the Bears, please. At plus seven.
Graham:I don't know.
Scott:That's not going out on a limb, dude.
Graham:Uh Eagles offense. Yeah, but after that performance, you'd think they'd come out guns blazing. Ugh. Not gun blazing. Rockets with a 15-point lead at Phoenix right now.
Scott:But Bill's four-point favorite on the road.
Graham:You know the funny thing is that's a game, especially no right tackle. They don't have not, I'm sorry, they don't have Kincaid, they don't what's going on with Keon Coleman? On paper, we should can't say we should, but like that should be a game we should win.
unknown:I don't disagree. I don't disagree.
Graham:The worst part is to my loyal Bills fans, like my my close buddy, my old roommate, if we lose to Pittsburgh, I'm sorry, if the Bills lose to Pittsburgh, I mean the writing's already been on the wall for him and how he feels about McDermott, but it's just like they can't. Dude, there's no way at the start of the season, no way you could have told me if we would have said, Oh, what are some out bold predictions for the season? If you'd have told me the Bills not to make the playoffs, I would have said you're a lunatic. What prescription drugs are you taking right now? And what have you done with my best friend? Dude, right now. The Bills couldn't miss the playoffs. Alright. Let me ask you right now, did the Bills make the playoffs? You're gonna see.
Scott:I gotta see the rest of their schedule.
Graham:It ain't good.
Scott:I mean, let's see. Let's see. Come on. Schedule Bills. Steelers, Bengals, Patriots, Browns, Eagles, Jets. Hmm. They're gonna beat the Browns, they're gonna beat the Jets. They're gonna beat the Bengals. So there's three wins. Eagles, Patriots, Steelers. I can see them going three and three. With six left.
unknown:So nine and eight? Yeah, that ain't enough. It is not enough.
Scott:I just it is what it is right now. It is what it is. Yeah. On a side note, as we're getting ready to get out of here, uh something I said last night in the group thread with you and Audrey watching the game. Are the Rams the best team in football? After week twelve.
Graham:How can you say they're not? They beat what we beat who we thought was one of the top two or three teams in the league the week before.
Scott:I mean, their only two losses were a blocked field goal against the Eagles in Philly.
Graham:Yeah. Yeah.
unknown:And an overtime game against the Niners.
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:I mean, and don't forget, last year in the divisional round, uh, the Rams could have beaten the Eagles.
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:In the snow.
Graham:Yeah. Hey, home field advantage is gonna matter. So we shall see.
Scott:I mean, Matt Stafford doesn't have a pick.
Graham:Yeah. We got a new front runner, boys. A new frontrunner.
Scott:Their defense is swarming. Their offense is insane with Devontae.
Graham:But hey, we have half the people in our San Diego fantasy group that doesn't think Matt Stafford's a Hall of Hall of Fame quarterback. Or at least a first ballot.
Scott:I'm one of them.
Graham:Wait, who doesn't think? Yeah. You know what?
Scott:It's debatable. I mean, I could I could throw the ball at a Megatron.
Graham:Wow.
Scott:You're saying I couldn't?
Graham:Uh what I'm saying is we can continue this conversation off air because what I'm about to say is Rivers Stafford.
unknown:Debatable. Debatable? I don't disagree.
Graham:I'm just I'm just saying.
Scott:Yeah. Uh dude, Baker Mayfield, though, injury, that sucks. Yeah, they're done.
Announcer:I mean, not that they weren't done before, but now it's just like science hill and delivered.
Scott:Oof. Dude, if the season ended right now, the Lions would not be in the playoffs. What? How crazy is that?
Graham:Thank God we got six more weeks, right? Yeah.
Scott:Yeah, right now Rams, Rams one, Eagles two, Bears three, Tampa four, Seahawks five, Packers six, Niners seven. Three teams from the NFC West. That's awesome. That's crazy. And the Niners are how many people on their defense are hurt?
Graham:Yeah, well, as we said at the start of the season, did we see their schedule? Yeah. Look, you can only play the teams that are in front of you.
Scott:I agree.
Graham:That's it.
Scott:I agree. And the Seahawks. Let's don't forget the Seahawks. I mean, they did only lose to the Rams last week by two. And Darnold turned out.
Announcer:With four picks.
Scott:Yeah. I hear you. I hear you. I mean, Seahawks have three losses. Who were their losses to? Um, they lost to the Rams, Tampa, and the Niners week one. You know what's the funniest thing about the Patriots? They're 10-2, have the best record in the AFC. Uh, you know they lost week one.
Graham:Yeah?
unknown:Do you know who they lost to? Don't look at it. Don't look it up.
Graham:Well, I know their second loss is to Pittsburgh.
Scott:Yeah. They started off the season one and two. Week one. Cynthia? No, that was last year when it killed us in Survivor.
unknown:I have no idea.
Scott:I have no idea. Raiders.
unknown:On that note. At home.
Scott:Yeah.
Graham:Yeah, because actually I think that that knocked a lot of people out of fantasy of their Survivor, I think.
Scott:It did. It did. But Graham, it's been fun. Uh, I know you're going to Arizona for Turkey Day, and a lot of people are traveling, going to hang out with family and stuff. Uh everybody be safe traveling, have fun, enjoy your family time, and eat that nasty turkey that everybody always says, oh, hold on. Everybody always, every time you're sitting at the Thanksgiving dinner table, what's the one thing everybody says about that turkey? Oh my god, it's so moist.
Graham:It's not my fault, Kristen can't make a moist turkey.
Scott:I mean, she ain't ever made a turkey in her life.
Graham:We always go to her parents, and you know, uh just because you're in-laws or your parents can't make a moist turkey does not mean you should hate on turkey in general, which blows my mind every time. So enjoy your ham. Boo-hoo-hoo, Thanksgiving for turkey.
Scott:Guy, you don't like seafood, okay?
Graham:What's your point? What is your point? That's not Thanksgiving.
Scott:Thanksgiving is turkey and amp. Graham, travel safe. Uh, your shot clock is up. Sam Darnold is saying I'm not on the Niners. And I have a great time in Arizona. I don't know when we're gonna be able to record next week, but it'll be fun. Figure it out. Yeah. Yeah. Uh have fun. All the listeners out there, happy Thanksgiving. Love you all. Travel safe. Graham, get us out of here.
Graham:Hey, I'll count all the Super Bowls that the Mets got me this year or over the last three years, and play that game. Scott, it's always a pleasure doing the podcast with the best homie. And as that guy says, Bye-bye.
Scott:Good night, friends. Something I forgot to mention. So long, Brandon Nemo. Sorry you're not a Met anymore. I'm heartbroken. It was time. But you know it's time for steak on Thanksgiving. Let's go. If the pilgrims and Indians had cows back in the day, nobody would ever be eating this dry ass turkey. Love you all.
Announcer:This episode of the Ball Guys of the Bench Podcast is brought to you by our friends at North Star Credit Union, Southern Auto, located in Southeast Virginia.
