Pine Pony Podcast
Friends arguing about sports
Pine Pony Podcast
CFB Semis.....NFL Playoffs and The Coaching Carousel
Welcome back to the Pine Pony Podcast! We kick off the new year reflecting on our holiday break and diving headfirst into all the exciting football action. From a thrilling skiing adventure to intense NFL playoff discussions, this episode has it all. We analyze key NFL coaching decisions, dissect Black Monday's firings, and debate Jerad Mayo's controversial exit from the Patriots. Stay tuned for our bold predictions on this week's playoff matchups and our thoughts on who has the most pressure to win. Plus, don't miss our takes on the college football playoffs, surprising results, and the upcoming exciting games. Join us as we break down everything you need to know about the Bills, Broncos, Ravens, Steelers, and more!
If you have a topic or want to respond to the pod, you can always reach us at
Email - pineponypodcast22@gmail.com
Threads / Instagram - @pineponypodcast
🚨 LOOKING TO BET ON THE UPCOMING NFL SEASON🚨
Head over to
signupexpert.com/pinepony
to join the top sportsbooks in your area!.
Welcome, welcome, welcome to another edition of the Pond Pony Podcast. That's right. We're back. We are back in this thing after a brief hiatus for the holidays. What's happening? Persian. Howdy. Howdy.
Pershin:New year, new pod, new me. Nah, I'm just, same old, same old, happy to be back. Hopefully you had a good Christmas, had a good New Year. My old decrepit ass did not even do anything for New Year's Eve. But, you know it, it comes with the with the territory, I guess. I don't know. Yeah. Yeah. How about yourself though?
Jason:For me on New Year's Eve, I ended up going skiing. I don't know.
Pershin:Oh, wow.
Jason:Yeah. Yeah. And it snowed on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. So that was dope.
Pershin:You had the classic skis or you had like a snowboard?
Jason:No, no, no, no, man. Skiing is where it's at. Snowboarding is for amateurs and people who think they look cool. But in reality, if you're not a professional snowboarder, you're, all you're doing is falling. I like to stay upright.
Pershin:Yeah. I definitely fell more attempting the snowboarding you know, attempting to turn around the trees and that than I did with the skis. That's true.
Jason:Man, by the end of my trip, we, we we skied for two days. We skied for one, like we started at 1230 and then you end at 430. And then. They like cleaned up the slopes a little bit and then they start again at 6 p. m. So we, we did that and we got to 6 p. m. as well. So we skied at night. Yeah, we skied at night too. The kids did too. The Isabella and Cooper. So it was cool. And then we, and then we skied the next day as it was like actually snowing. So Yeah, so, I know you know, watch some college football and all that jazz, watch the college football playoff. So, with current events you know, there, let's get into it, let's start the show.
The Pied Pony Podcast.
Jason:Yesterday was officially Black Monday, as it's known in the NFL. Got some questionable things, got some obvious firing so let's talk about some of those so Doug peterson's gone, but the gm for the jaguars was retained I was really surprised.
Pershin:I was really surprised because this is, this is already the second or third coach firing that this bulky guy has survived. And at some point you think the ownership would be like, okay, this is either the problem or part of the problem, you know? Right. Somehow this guy is, I, I don't know that I, Jaguar's owner's a guy named Khan. Oh, yeah, Shad Khan. Shad Khan. My guess is that Bulky has like dirt on Mr. Khan. Like he knows the skeletons in the closet or something.
Jason:I don't know, man. I mean, you know, Tony Khan, and they all own like Nick Khan, all those guys. They all own it. A E W W W E U T K. Oh, you know, they got skeletons,
Pershin:you know, they got that. That's that's that's that shady. There's yeah. Cons. I get it now. The whole family of cons, the whole
Jason:family of them. Moving on to another questionable decision made by a team. Brian Dable and Joe Shen are back in, in New York. They decide after basically giving up one of the best running backs in the league, because he's quote unquote, too old to pay 12 million, they have their jobs still after that disaster of a season. So
Pershin:here, here is the crazy thing is that the owner, he had a quote. He apparently told a journalist that he felt like they are that they should be coming and going as a package deal. Meaning that Joe Shen and, and Dayball are they're going to get fired together when they get fired. I thought that that was weird. Like why would an owner? necessarily have them two connected because it sounds like he, what he wanted was he wanted to make a change, but he wanted to give day ball another shot. And so this Joe Shen guy got lucky because day ball basically saved him. I think that's crazy. I don't know why an owner would be like, Oh, If I fire one of you, then I'm going to fire both of you. I don't know.
Jason:What makes that silly is that you have a top three pick. So you're going to get a QB this year. Why wouldn't you start a QB with a fresh GM, a fresh head coach. Now, if this head coach and general manager doesn't succeed next year, Now you've got to fire them, rehire another group. So now the quarterback has to learn two offenses.
Pershin:Dumb ass should door to relearn another play, but I'm just playing. I I'm just fine. No, but seriously though, like I, I agree with you. I think that you're, you're starting fresh with a lot of new players, right? There's a lot of players that are, they're letting go. They're going to spend at least a little bit of money in free agency, but, but certainly. They want to get a new quarterback. You're hitting reset in a lot of ways anyways. You might as well just start all a brand new thing where you know, you're going to give the incoming coach at least one season to fuck up if they're going to fuck up or whatever. And that way you don't have your quarterback coming in learning a new playbook every fucking season, you know, that, that
Jason:hasn't worked for the bears. Yeah. So speaking of giving him one season Gerard Mayo has been let go and the weird thing is is Craft came out and said I I fucked up and like I put him in a shitty position and So do you? Like do you think he'll hire Vrabel? Like do you think that's the play there?
Pershin:Well, I think he wants to hire Breville. That's the crazy thing is that But
Jason:why didn't he hire him last year? Cause he already had Gerard Mayo in waiting, he already promised him something.
Pershin:Well, he, apparently he had promised Belichick years ago some kind of weird handshake agreement that if Belichick would stay, that he could basically appoint his heir apparent when he went. And so he said, you need to give Gerard Mayo a shot at being a head coach after I go. And so apparently, Apparently, Kraft made this agreement that Belichick could basically name the heir apparent. And the crazy thing is, is that, you know, he literally just gave him one season where everybody knew before the season started, they're not gonna do well.
Jason:And he even said the expectations were that they weren't going to do well.
Pershin:Yeah. Most people thought that the worst that the worst roster, as far as talent went, was the New England Patriots roster. Just no superstars anywhere. You've got a second year player. Christian Gonzalez that looked good for the three games. He was healthy last year. And that's about it. That's it You know that you've got an incoming quarterback. Hopefully he'll be good and actually looks like he's promising, you know but the thing is just Expectations were so low that you would have you would have thought he would have got two years in At the minimum. And I think that what happened was that he never really wanted Gerard Mayo to be head coach. And he just wanted to,
Jason:he
Pershin:just wanted to fulfill the deal that Gerard Mayo was supposed to be the heir apparent. No, I didn't. I haven't heard his quote.
Jason:Apparently Gronk was going off on like one of the post game shows on, on what was he on Fox. So he was going off talking about how. They, that's BS and Gerard Mayo should have got more than one season but then Fox went to, Fox went to commercial break.
Pershin:Yeah, I see. And that's, and that's, that's the part of the reason why Belichick said you need to give this guy a shot is because apparently all of the players who've ever worked with Gerard Mayo have all. Liked him and respected him. And so You know, the results weren't there this season and I get it. The NFL is not a patient, wait the fuck around sort of league that, you know, the wins and losses at the end of the day are going to be the thing that matters the most. But, that being said, When you take a look at all of those losses, most of them were actually just one score games. They weren't necessarily uncompetitive. You know what I mean? They weren't necessarily just getting, yeah, as bad as the record was, they were actually more competitive in their games than Tennessee, the giants, these other teams that were getting blown out regularly yet had the chance. It's just, it's just. It's, it's a little bit weird and it makes you think that he never really wanted Mayo to be the guy to begin with. That's my, that's my guess.
Jason:Oh yeah, for sure.
Pershin:He's like here I fulfilled my end of the bargain. You got one year, you didn't do well, that's it.
Jason:So, and another person who was set up for un, not successful, not in a successful situation. Antonio Pierce was let go today, Tuesday. It's like, what was the point of that?
Pershin:So this one, I agree with more so though, because Antonio Pierce had some like really, basically what I would call unacceptable, like blunders when it comes to clock management, these play calling decisions, some of the basic, like Head coach 101 responsibilities. You just can't fuck up. He fucked up Two or three different times where it may have cost them a game and it's just like bro No, like I don't think Antonio Pierce should have been the coach I know that you know, the players loved him last year. They all wanted him back I understood why he got a shot, but I think that he just really flopped I think he actually deserved to get fired. Whereas Mayo, maybe he does, he could've, could've got another season.
Jason:Well, and then, so now we've got the, the hiring, the, the interviewing carousel for the jets, we've had Ron Rivera, Rex Ryan, and others. I think it would be interesting to give Rex Ryan a shot again with old Aaron Rodgers.
Pershin:I was shocked when I heard his name come up. I was like, what yeah, pretty wild. I think that you know, craft firing Mayo so immediately after the final game there final game, which they, they won by the way, the beat, the beat the bills. Yeah, but they
Jason:messed up their like draft. Right. Yeah,
Pershin:maybe that pissed crap off but I, I think that what may have happened is that for a while now he has probably had frayable kind of in his mind as someone that he would like to bring back and as a head coach. And I think what happened is that the New York jets. basically announced that they were going to interview Vrabel. And I think, I think what happened is Kraft is like, Oh shit, I need to make moves right now and hit up Vrabel, be like, yo, we got an opening. Interview with us too. Let, you know, let me that's, that's my, my own personal sort of conspiracy that I, that I'm thinking. I don't have any inside information, obviously, but I, I, that makes sense to me. You know, that makes sense to me.
Jason:Well, you know, what doesn't make sense to me is why I'm hearing John Gruden his name has been involved in.
Pershin:Isn't he cancelled? He
Jason:was, I thought he was, but I guess cause Trump's back in office, we can, we're uncanceling.
Pershin:No one cares anymore. Yeah, I did. Yeah. Cares anymore, whatever.
Jason:Oh, he has some questionable background. Who gives a shit? We're uncanceling.
Pershin:Who doesn't, who
Jason:doesn't, who doesn't, especially in nineties. Anyway, over the, over the holiday weekend. We had more of the college football playoff and Quite a weekend it was you know Let's let's go through the games real quick. So Texas Beat Arizona State Arizona State in my opinion should have won this game They took him to two overtimes. They had him at fourth and 13 and let the guy just wide open in the end zone to tie it up and And they ended up losing. How's about sad?
Pershin:How's about Mr. I'm the best running back in the league. Even though y'all don't y'all don't recognize coming out and having a fucking game. I'm like, damn, he
Jason:had a game. I
Pershin:was
Jason:game.
Pershin:I was like, wow, that's not a shit defense either. Like he was. He was really just what's the word? What he, he was just taking over that offense, putting the offense on his back and making play after play. You know, I, I made fun of him for making the comment about being better than Gente,
Jason:take it back
Pershin:about being better than Gente or whatever. I don't know that he's better than Gente, but I'll give him more respect than I previously gave him because
Jason:there you go. There you go. He, that's good.
Pershin:He is a tenacious very hard to tackle running back and you gotta love that kind of gumption.
Jason:Oh yeah, who doesn't love that kind of gumption? That's the kind of gumption you don't find these days. Especially not in the Rocket League ranked matches.
Pershin:Yeah, yeah, not with these fuckin Zillennial, whatever they call these, these kids these days, did.
Jason:Oh boy, oh boy. Moving on to the next game. Ohio State tattooed Oregon. Almost makes you wonder if Oregon even belonged. If Oregon even truly belonged anyway. As the pundits would say.
Pershin:Yeah, yeah makes you makes you wonder how they left out the buffaloes, but they left in the guys
Jason:How could they and then the next game penn state boise state boise state? That was an ass whooping No way nothing about it.
Pershin:Yeah, it's Gente, they actually bottled him up pretty well.
Jason:Yeah, they gente was shut down
Pershin:it was You know, if you shut down Gentee, then Boise State is, is left to their own devices. That's not good.
Jason:And then the other game, Notre Dame, the beat Georgia in this game got delayed because of, of bombings and bomb threats and cyber trucks, explosions, and all kinds of crazy stuff.
Pershin:Yeah. Yeah. Some big, huge Trump fan decided he was going to do a terror.
Jason:Do a terror. Yeah, but anyway, so Notre Dame beat the SEC. So, there is one SEC team left and this is their first year in the SEC. All of the teams that had the bye lost this week. Wild. Wild. All the teams that are in the Final Four, had it been last year, would not be in the Final Four this year. Would not even
Pershin:be in the tournament, yeah.
Jason:So if you ask me, the playoffs did exactly what we wanted them to do. Granted, it is a couple of blue blood teams, but it still, it gave people a shot. Arizona State was, Texas is playing with fire. Arizona State probably should have won that game. I don't know if either one of them are gonna beat Ohio State because Texas, the last two games, has let both teams come back in the second half. I don't even think Ohio State's gonna need to come back is what I'm saying.
Pershin:I was surprised at how flat, like, the bye teams came out. Like It kind of makes you wonder like it maybe is there something about Taking a break that might actually like hurt these kids in some way I don't know that it seems like if anything, they would just be healthier, but
Jason:To me, I think it's too it's too early to tell it's one. It's one time right one season the sample size
Pershin:is literally
Jason:if this past year all the Of If next year all the bye teams win then we're 50 50 shot
Pershin:Right. Yeah. No, I I agree. I agree. It's it's Yeah, I'm, I'm kind of making something out of nothing here, but I do think it's great that they lost insofar as this is kind of what we wanted was like a, you're going to have to like perform and win two or at least three, two or three, four, whatever it is, straight games in a row against tough competition. And you know, You, you're seeing teams who were on the outside looking in now, you know, have themselves in, in position here.
Jason:And I love, you know what I love about this? The playoffs system is, so the first week we had everybody on social media complaining about which team deserved to be in, which team didn't, oh, this, we shouldn't have had this. And then the second week comes and it kind of proves the first week different. Oh, but Oregon got blown out by Ohio state, but they were a bona fide team that should have been in. Right. Then it's, you know, Oh, wow. Notre Dame beat Georgia. How did they beat an sec team? It's like all the things that everybody was complaining about the week before is thrown out the window. And now we get into the final four and it's. They're
Pershin:not, they're not, they're not talking. But here's what drives me crazy is like, if you, if you turn on the radio, you know, whether it's the Fox radio or the ESPN, whatever. And you listen to the Colin shows and all these bozos that call in And it you know, it's like so many takes were of the variety of Yeah, see this is why so and so they really shouldn't have been in there You see they got it. They got exposed right the committee got exposed by Trying to put in People that we all knew they can't compete. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And what, what fucking pisses me off is like the next week when the top two teams lose, why are they not calling back to be like, Oh, oh, I see now I see now I see now I, I, these motherfuckers, they
Jason:do
Pershin:these motherfuckers. That's how they do. Oh, oh. Not calling in this week. Not calling in this week.
Jason:That's how they do the SEC, you know, they complain and they're like, oh this Alabama should have been in, this team should have been in, blah blah blah blah. And then they go play the bowl game. Alabama loses, South Carolina loses. I swear to God. You know, all these teams lose. And then they go, well, we didn't want to be there anyway. It's like, oh, well, which one is it?
Pershin:I honestly think that they, they have, like, the SEC has like some money set aside where they, they literally just like lobby. The media where they're just like, they're playing politics, just like you know, Republicans and Democrats where they're trying to win the messaging war. And I guess they just have so many resources that I, I just feel like they're always getting this positive messaging, whether it's appropriate or not, you know, and I'm not saying that they're, those are trash schools. Like, like, obviously there are good teams in the sec, but it's like. It doesn't matter the situation. It seems like they're getting positive messaging from so many people, including, you know, the, these media puns,
Jason:all the propaganda. Yeah. It's so with, with that being said, coming up this weekend, we got Texas versus Ohio state, Ohio state being the favorite five and a half at the cotton bowl, and then we've got Penn state. Notre Dame, Notre Dame being the favorite at one and a half at the Orange Bowl. Man, this is gonna be some good games, I think, man. This is gonna be two good matchups. I am, I'm not mad about any of these teams being there right now.
Pershin:Yeah, I, I was surprised that Notre, Notre Dame is the favorite. I know it's just a one point favorite, but I was expecting that Penn state would have been the favorite here. I guess that, you know, Notre Dame being able to beat Georgia just probably really changed their perception of Notre Dame right now, the one that. That definitely changed my mind was Ohio State just looked really good. I mean,
Jason:and they looked really good in both their games
Pershin:right now. I'm just feeling like Ohio State is the most likely to win right now because. They're just at their strongest at the right time of the season, you know?
Jason:Yeah, it is. It's it'll be fun to watch. We'll see. We'll see what happens. Yeah, we shall see. Well, now that that playoffs is in its. Semifinals we move on over to the NFL playoffs man. I cannot believe it. We're here. Oh The So let's go through AFC the one seed is the Chiefs with the by then we've got the two seed with the Bills playing your Broncos We got the three seed with the Ravens playing the Steelers and then we got the four seed Texans playing the Chargers And over on the NFC, got the Lions with the bye, the Eagles versus the Packers, the Bucks versus Commanders, and the Rams versus the Vikings.
Pershin:Yeah, it's I'm glad that the, the Broncos eked into the playoffs, because at least, at least they can say, Hey, we made it to the playoffs. And our highest paid player was a Pittsburgh Steeler and we still made it to the playoffs. So bodes well for the future. Our rookie quarterback looks good.
Jason:Yeah. Good enough. I mean, you cannot be mad by Bo Nix's play.
Pershin:So things are promising. But when I look at the playoff bracket, I'm like, oh God, like, so we, we would have to beat the Bills. Then most likely the Ravens. Then most likely. No, no,
Jason:no. No, no, no. You would go to the Chiefs if you beat the bills.
Pershin:Oh, is that what it
Jason:Yeah, I, yeah.'cause the Chiefs play the lowest remaining seed. I gotta,
Pershin:yeah, I gotta, I gotta reverse. So it would, we would have to go through the bills, then the chiefs, then most likely the Ravens, which is like. Nah, dawg, you ain't getting through that and the only teams that we've looked good against this entire season have been teams that have been not good with without winning records. I think we beat a couple of teams that were like 500 at the time, but basically all of our. Good games where we actually looked good was beating up on lesser opponents. And, you know, we haven't beat anyone good. So what the likelihood that we're going to be able to stand up to the bills, the chiefs and the Ravens, no way, man, I don't
Jason:see
Pershin:it happening. Well,
Jason:if that'd be it said, I got a couple of questions for you being that. It's a big topic of debate with the college football playoff and Amon Roth St. Brown brought it up because they were in question of whether or not if they were going to lose to the Vikings they would not be the one seed. And he's saying that we should, that they should re seed. Once the teams are in, because it's not fair that the Vikings being a, what a 14 win team or at the time the Lions in his eyes, the 14 win team would be a fifth seed. Like no matter what, it should be based off a record versus not because you won your division, which is similar conversation to college football. Just because you won your division doesn't mean you should be one of the top four.
Pershin:Yeah, I completely agree with him. I think that Sunboy is right about this one. And it's ridiculous to say that like, because you won a division that happens to be a really weak division, you know, like let's say the, the Buccaneers this year, That you should be a top three seed or whatever. It's like, no, that doesn't make any sense to me. I, I understand the idea that the NFL wants to they want to emphasize the rivalries and the division. Winning the division should mean something. And so I, I think it makes sense that you get an automatic playoff bid if you win your division. But I completely agree with him that you should just simply re seeded after you know, which teams are in.
Jason:Cause like this, so this year, based on that, like just in the NFC, the lions would be the one, the Eagles would be the two. The Vikings would be the three, the Packers would be the four.
Pershin:Yeah.
Jason:Then the, then the commanders, then the Rams, then the Buccaneers.
Pershin:That's exactly how it should be. Yes. That like, if I had to say which are the strongest teams and if I had to rank them, it would look really close to that. You know what I mean?
Jason:Right.
Pershin:So I see. I, I think that that's a, that's a great way to, to do it.
Jason:Right, and then the AFC it would be because you're looking at cheat it would be the cheat the the chiefs would still be the one and then the bill bills would be the two but then the chargers would be the the under the ravens would be the three the ravens then the chargers then the stealers then the broncos
Pershin:and then the texas
Jason:texans would be the last The last
Pershin:yeah
Jason:team
Pershin:and you know, what's crazy about that is that's exactly how I would rank the afc right now
Jason:That's interesting
Pershin:Yeah,
Jason:that's really interesting that Because I mean like, you know, I never would have thought like I thought you know myself i'm like This is how the nfl has always been like who cares? But that's an interesting Way to put it but anyway, so Which quarterback that's in the playoffs, which quarterback in the playoffs on the AFC and the NFC has the most pressure to win?
Pershin:Oh man, I, I think of the AFC, it's definitely Josh Allen because the expectation is, Yeah, yeah, yeah. We keep doing well in the regular season, but then we end up we end up, you know falling before we get to the Superbowl, like when is our chance to win a Superbowl and, you know, he's front runner or at least neck and neck with Lamar Jackson right now for MVP and. Everyone's looking to him, like the Buffalo Bills fans are like, you are the one that's going to take us there. We're finally going to get it. We're finally going to get it. And he talks about the fact that his personal achievements don't mean squat compared to how many Superbowl championships that he could bring to the organization. And I know players always say shit like that and to what degree they really mean it, who knows. But I think the fact that he himself is always campaigning that idea. I think he knows, like, the pressure's on him. Like, people are like, All right, well, do that then. Let's, let's finally get there, you know? We, we keep having all of this regular season success. Come on, let's, let's, where's our chance at the Super Bowl?
Jason:Right, I would say him 1A, Lamar Jackson 1B.
Pershin:Yeah, yeah, I think Lamar would be the second, the second most you know, because it's, it's a similar situation where he's in the running for the MVP this season. He's played lights out and, you know. The team around him is really stacked as well. Honestly, I think it's going to feel like a pretty big disappointment for him if he doesn't make the super bowl. Like, I think that's exactly what the expectation is right now.
Jason:And you know, I think, and the NFC, I would say, no, there's no pressure on any quarterback. I mean, what Jalen hurts, maybe.
Pershin:Yeah, I think probably the expectation is the highest for Jalen Hurts, but I don't think it's quite the same as like with the Bills where the fan base is constantly expecting Super Bowl and then disappointed.
Jason:Like what, maybe Jared Goff is your next one up? Like, I mean, because no one's expecting anything from Sam Darnold.
Pershin:Yeah. You
Jason:know, like, but everyone's expecting Baker Mayfield to not win. Like, Jaden Daniels is a rookie, so it's like, oh, this is awesome. I think the
Pershin:fact that
Jason:Like if Jalen Hurts loses to the Packers, like, that's gonna look bad.
Pershin:Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I, I would say that it would be Dak, but of course, the Cowboys were, Dak's not in the, they're not in the playoffs. I would say. No, that's what I mean is that like, when you look at the NFC, who has expectations of pressure on them, it's a lot less than the, than the top guys in the AFC. I think part of that's just because so many of the NFC's best quarterbacks are actually young. They're the, they're the younger guys with, with less expectation because they are less experienced. But yeah, I mean, if you have to pick one, I would say hurts, but I don't think it's It's really that much pressure that's on Hertz.
Jason:All right. Which team is coaching style? Like who's coaching style? Do you like the best in this, in this playoffs? Like, like if a team could go to the Superbowl based on coaching style alone, who would that guy be?
Pershin:I love this question. That's an interesting way of framing it. And I definitely have an answer here. The Minnesota Vikings. I love the way that they keep things fresh, both offensively and defensively. And I don't even know if freshest the word I would use defensively. They're just so aggressive defensively that it's fun to watch. Like they blitz and they blitz. And they blitz and they blitz. I love it. I love it because even when they get Burke, it's like, Whoa, that was a big play. Like, Whoa, that was yeah, I mean, the, the Vikings are fun to watch on offense and on defense, and I think that they're good. I think that KOC's offense is a well run scheme. And the same thing with Brian Flores on the defense. The Vikings would be my pick.
Jason:Wow. I was expecting you to say Dan Campbell.
Pershin:Yeah, I understand the Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn thing. Certainly when it comes to their defense, they've been able to do enough to keep winning games, even though they're, they got third, fourth string guys in there. Like I got, I'll give, I'll give them a lot of credit, but my, my personal favorite coaching staff in the entire NFL is actually the Vikings. These days. Wow.
Jason:Can't even with you. I can't even with you. Which team is your dark horse? AFC like Cinderella story, the Broncos.
Pershin:It's the Broncos. Yeah.
Jason:No,
Pershin:I don't expect it. I think the, I think the top three teams in the AFC. Really heavy favorites. What I really believe it's going to be one of chiefs, Ravens or bills. I feel confident about that, but with the other four teams, the one most likely to have, uh, two or three upsets in a row, I think would be the Broncos just because on any given day. That like Sertan and Zach Allen and the, the, these guys on defense will just make plays and they will. Hey,
Jason:and I mean, you guys just whooped the chiefs.
Pershin:Yeah. They were wearing chiefs jerseys. I'll give them that.
Jason:But I, Hey man, Hey, I, what I saw in the record book says Denver Broncos. Whatever the score was to the Chiefs score and it was a win for the Broncos. That's
Pershin:right. That's right. I'm not
Jason:going to say who was on the field.
Pershin:Hey, listen, the Broncos were 10 point favorites. They won by 38 points. That means they're almost four times as good as you thought they were. Okay? So I do think that if, if there's any team that's just going to be able to win off of defense alone, it would, it would be the Broncos. So I, I do think my boys have the best shot at being the dark horse. And I would love to see that happen but I, I'm not feeling great about that.
Jason:Okay. Who, all right, let's go through who, who you got winning. Oh, well, who's your dark horse on the NFC?
Pershin:Yeah, you're going to love it. It's the Packers. I think that the Packers, how are
Jason:they even a dark horse though?
Pershin:Well, cause the, the,
Jason:the, it's gotta be the bucks or the commanders in my opinion.
Pershin:Well, I guess they're not really a dark horse the way that the AFC teams are. There's not quite the same divide, but I think the expectation is that the, the Eagles. The lions and the Vikings are like the favorites in the NFC. I think that most people are not, are not favoring the Packers as much as those teams.
Jason:Right. So,
Pershin:so that's why I would say that. And even though it doesn't look like Jair is going to be able to come back at all. I, I do think that they have. Enough firepower on defense to make some plays, cause some turnovers. And of course on offense the floor with love with Jacobs in, you know, just so many receiving options. I think that they could, they could just get hot and have a stretch where they have You know, they just put three weeks together a month together where they're just super hot. I could see that happening Great. That
Jason:would
Pershin:be
Jason:awesome.
Pershin:I could see that happening with them much more so than with like the buccaneers I don't think the buccaneers are a very complete team, you know, I don't I don't have that much faith in the rams
Jason:Yeah, all right. Well, I hear you All right moving on Last two questions I got for you before we peace out of this. Who you got winning this week. So Texans versus chargers. Who do you like?
Pershin:I like the chargers. I think the chargers are actually. Getting better as the season goes on. I think that that, that new coaching staff had, you know, some sort of growing pains to work out and they're actually looking better and better. They get to go against Texans who I think are the weakest team in the playoffs this year. So I expect the Chargers to win.
Jason:All right, I agree texas kind of been fumbling the bag on the back end of this schedule. So Yeah, raven stealers
Pershin:Ravens
Jason:Yeah, as much as I want to go with my guy mike tomlin
Pershin:Yeah,
Jason:man, they have been playing some bad football for like four weeks straight man. Yeah
Pershin:And I mean, a couple of those losses are like straight up blowouts too. Like,
Jason:it's the
Pershin:sort of stuff you don't see from Tomlin teams very often. It's just not looking good. I'm glad that he had himself another winning season. I love Tomlin, but I don't think this is the squad to make a run.
Jason:No, they need, they need QB help. And that's the problem with the Steelers is they're always good enough to be in the playoffs, but never good enough to get a quarterback.
Pershin:Yeah.
Jason:So that's why they gotta do, like, they're a similar team in the Packers, but the Packers plan for that. So they draft a quarterback earlier than they need to.
Pershin:Yeah. And, I think maybe things could be different had they actually landed one of those receivers they went after. They couldn't get Ridley to sign and then they almost traded for Iuke. He didn't want to go there for some reason. And all they got is Pickens, who's this immature, loose cannon of a player. Yeah, definitely don't get
Jason:Tyreek Hill.
Pershin:They, they. Really got nothing. I mean, they eventually did trade for Mike Williams. He looks like a shell of his former self. I'm sorry, but he looks slow, man. And just, they, they really have like diddly squat as a second option.
Jason:Yeah, I think it's really
Pershin:holding them back.
Jason:All right. Moving on. Bill's Broncos.
Pershin:Yeah. Bills. The bills are a more complete team. They are. When you look at what the bills offense has been able to do against the best defenses they've gone up against. And you realize that the Broncos are gonna have to put up 30 or 40 points just to stay with them. I don't, I don't see that happening.
Jason:I'm going with the Broncos. I think we, Oh, big, big, big dicks energy. Oh, big Bo Nicks energy. Oh shit. I love
Pershin:it.
Jason:I love it. John Payton and the boys steal a
Pershin:win, steal a win. Hey man, maybe, maybe they just created so much goodwill and confidence and momentum beating up on that chiefs practice squad the other day, they're coming in and throwing
Jason:his sling in the ball, man. He looks good. He looks good. He does.
Pershin:He does look good. He, he, he honestly. He looks great. Better than I even would have thought. I like, I thought that there was a, what's the word? There's, I thought there was like a certain window that he could fall in anywhere from a little bit disappointing to a little bit promising. He's actually been like all the way promising and I'm sure we'll, we'll have plenty of time to talk about stuff like that. In the off season when we do, you know, our look ahead to next year and yada, yada. But, but basically he, he's been able to show some things here in Denver that I don't think he even showed when he was at Oregon, which is, which is great.
Jason:Sean Payton. There you go. All right. Moving over to the NFC Rams versus Vikings. Who do you like?
Pershin:I like the vikings. I think that I do too Matthew Stafford is usually good for a pick or two anyway And then going against this blitz heavy defense like I I think they're gonna they're gonna turn him over at least twice
Jason:It is in la it is in la.
Pershin:Yeah,
Jason:which is which is this is what we're talking about That's what that's crazy that the minnesota vikings a 14 win team Yeah playing in la against a 10 win team
Pershin:It's silliness. It's silly
Jason:silliness. I like the vikings too commanders buccaneers Tough one. This is a tough game.
Pershin:This one is closer than you would think when you look at their record the I think that the commanders have actually shown signs of weakness In the past month and the buccaneers You Have actually showed that they're pretty resilient at least on offense I like i'm gonna go with the buccaneers. Actually, I think I think it'll be a close game.
Jason:I'm going with the commanders I think baker mayfield can't do it in the playoffs going with commanders
Pershin:Oh, man
Jason:surprisingly, this is a three point game for the bucks and then the The rams vikings is a one point game for the vikings
Pershin:Wait, so they, they have the Bucks as a three point favorite right now?
Jason:Yeah.
Pershin:Oh, wow. All right. Well then,
Jason:they agree with me. Eagles, Packers, Eagles are a four and a half point favorite.
Pershin:Yeah. I think it's going to be the Eagles. I knew you
Jason:were going to say that.
Pershin:I'm sorry. I got to go with the Eagles. I think that That's fine. That defense is just I'm holding true. Thank you. The defense is just too, it's just, that defense is just ridiculously good. And they just have not had much in the way of injuries. Like they, they get to come into the playoffs so healthy and well, they about to get an injured ego.
Jason:With all of that being said, who is your final two in the super bowl? If you could save right now. So we're going to do it each week and see if it changes. So this week, who, who would be your two based on who's in the playoffs? Chiefs and Eagles, Chiefs and Eagles. Wow. So a repeat.
Pershin:Yeah. I like as, as lackluster as so many of these chiefs games have been. I do think that they're going to turn it on for the playoffs. I think that a lot of these guys have been purposely preserved. You look at the way that they haven't given Kelsey, DeAndre Hopkins, a full snap share. They really just want to keep everyone healthy for the playoffs. And I think when you look at Mahomes, He has been much sloppier this year than he's ever been before. And I think part of it's just because he's like it's fucking regular season. I, I, I think they finally are going to actually give a damn and they're going to, they're going to show up with their A game for the playoffs.
Jason:Completely disagree. I think it's gonna be Broncos Packers. No, I'm just kidding. Just kidding. Man, that would be pretty
Pershin:fucking awesome, wouldn't it? Damn. That would be hilarious.
Jason:Two seven seeds. No, I think it's gonna be Bills versus the Lions. I, I think the Bills have the easier route. They play the Broncos. If they win that game, they play the winner of the Texans, Chargers, and less, or yeah, the winner of the, no, they play the Ravens. So nevermind. Still, I think, I think the Bill's still got the easier route being that they played the Broncos first and, and who knows, maybe the, maybe the Steelers pull off the upset, beat the Ravens, and then they'll still play the Texans or the Chargers But either way I think they're humming on offense they're gonna be a tough team to to be and they would have to play in Buffalo and I think that would be a tough challenge for the Ravens and the Lions I just I like Jameer Gibbs and the way golf and him have just Fantasy wise man the last four weeks dude. They have turned it on Yeah, like
Pershin:Yeah, 15 points last week When you think about how many fantasy points like running backs like Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley have had week in and week out all season. And then you realize that like in the last three or four weeks of the season, Jameer Gibbs has actually snuck up there and he actually has scored the most fantasy points this season. Yeah. It's like. It's like, damn, the guy is just a big play waiting to happen. And I love Montgomery, but you know, when he went down, you know, that's just that much more work for Gibbs. And he is really cashing in on that. I mean, I, I think he, he looks so good and he's held up so well to the extra usage. I think when Montgomery is healthy, they should not go back to the 50 50. I think that. Gibbs is just it's not that montgomery's bad, but man gibbs is just so Electric like he had he makes so many big plays that he breaks off because he's just that fast I think that usually I think they they would be crazy to Go back to the same 50 50 that they had
Jason:absolutely completely agree What is your most exciting game? Like what which game are you most excited to watch this weekend?
Pershin:The broncos I I outside of
Jason:the bronco. You can't say the bronco It's been a
Pershin:decade since they've been in the playoffs
Jason:No way. Oh my god. Look, I didn't know that
Pershin:Yeah, dude, it's been rough. The game i'm
Jason:It's hard not even to say the broncos bills because that's going to be an enticing game
Pershin:yeah, it's weird for me to think about because That's been the one that I've been thinking about, but you know, now that I sit back and I think about it I think the, the, what I'm most interested in honestly, is that commander's bucks game, because I think that those teams are really, really evenly matched and it's going to be interesting to see. If one of them wins and if one of them wins like convincingly That would probably change my opinion on them going forward. I think but really all of them. I know that's a lame answer, but I mean, all of, all of the teams that are in there are, have the chance to pull the upset over the team that, that they're going against. And I hope that we see some surprising results here that, and particularly with the Broncos.
Jason:Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, I for one cannot wait. We got lots of football this weekend. Or whatever, what is it this weekend or next weekend? Yeah, this weekend. Yeah saturday Sorry, i'm still i'm still on on holiday
Pershin:All right Real quick before we go. Let me get your opinion Do you think that the mvp? should be josh allen lamar jackson or even a third contender
Jason:I think there's a big argument that I think it should be Josh Allen, but there's an argument that Derrick Henry could be, it should be in the conversation over Lamar because Lamar without Derrick Henry, I don't like Derrick Henry was a beast this season. Yeah. And the Ravens probably would have struggled without him.
Pershin:Yeah, he has given them a much more threatening run game and made it that much harder to deal with Lamar from a defensive standpoint being that You know Derrick Henry's getting like 20 anywhere from 18 to 25 Carries against your ass and so you there's also
Jason:an argument for Saquon Yeah, I was actually. How many touchdowns were going to be, or were sniped by Jalen Hurts and the Tush push?
Pershin:Oh God, like 12, right?
Jason:10, 11. How many more would he, how many more would he have had? And then talk about breaking records.
Pershin:What's nuts is they even did it with Pickett. They did the Pickett push at the goal line. I was not expecting that.
Jason:Oh
Pershin:my
Jason:god, they did a Pickett push.
Pershin:Yeah, dude, they are just, they really are, are, they love that shit, man.
Jason:They love that move.
Pershin:Yeah, I thought that they would not attempt that with anyone other than Hertz, you know, Infamous for how strong he is, yadda yadda.
Jason:Yeah, all his legs.
Pershin:Pickett has little Trump hands, you know? So it's like, he's not, he's not a big, strong mountain He's not a big,
Jason:strong man.
Pershin:He's not a big, strong mountain man. He, like, lacks arm strength. There's one of the The issues he had coming out of college, why he slipped in the draft or whatever.
Jason:Oh my gosh.
Pershin:And there they are, like. Doing the picket push on the goal line. I was like, okay, whatever. And it worked. He scored. So
Jason:Well, how can you be mad
Pershin:about it? I I digress though. I I I was going to say that I was actually surprised You brought up henry before saquon but I I get it. I do get it. I do think that a lot of lamar jackson's Success, particularly this season where he has been more efficient than ever has to do with defenses having to contend with Derrick Henry where in seasons past it's been banged up Dobbins and you know, right the gust bus whatever
Jason:gust bus
Pershin:It's so it's it's just a different task altogether for these. Dcs that have to have to deal with Lamar. That being said, I agree with you. Ultimately my vote would be for Josh Allen because I don't think Josh Allen has the same sort of playmakers around him on offense, the way that Lamar Jackson is just sort of. He is just swimming in playmakers. Even Rashad Bateman has been really, really good this season.
Jason:Oh yeah.
Pershin:And
Jason:the
Pershin:Wednesday
Jason:flowers have a good clutch.
Pershin:Yeah. I mean, they're, they've got so many good players that they can't even get them enough snap. And you got guys like Mark Andrews, Isaiah, likely who are some of the best tight ends In the league, having to share snaps, you know, having a share time. But that's why I think that it should be Josh Allen because he's, he's dealing with like rookie Keon Coleman, you know, day three, Khalil Shakir, you know a lesser offensive line and James Cook is not ass or anything, but he's not quite as threatening as Derrick Henry and he's still making it work. He's putting the the team on his shoulders and And making more plays than ever while simultaneously having less turnover worthy plays than ever so that that would be my argument. All
Jason:right well Until next time We'll see you next week Adios, happy watching football
Pershin:Adios
