REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
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REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
Bears/Caleb Williams and Week 15 Recap. CFB Playoofs preview. w/ Champ in NM
A 10-4 surge resets Chicago’s ceiling as Caleb Williams finds stability, the run game bruises, and the defense steals possessions in the red zone. We size up the NFC North gauntlet, break down trench play, and circle the primetime showdown with Green Bay.
• Chicago’s offensive leap under Ben Johnson
• Caleb Williams’ consistency and timing
• Red zone defense and takeaways
• Darnell Wright’s growth and line upgrades
• Swift and Manungai as a balanced backfield
• NFC North matchups and playoff paths
• Week 15 takeaways and injury impact
• Week 16 game picks and traps
• Raiders’ slide and coaching stakes
• College slate picks and prep gaps
• Quick NBA pulse and standings
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And welcome everybody to another episode of Real Talk. Doc, you doing all right today?
SPEAKER_04:Yes, I am. We got a special guest, very knowledgeable. One of our favorites personally, you do the intro, brother. Let's go. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01:Huge huge. If you've listened to Shannon Sports for the past uh 21 years, he's on at least two, three times a week talking about his bears when they were doing bad. I always thought, why does this guy keep calling? He calls every single time and has this um this feeling that they're just gonna be better and then they still stuck. And then now here they are, they're actually doing better. The Bears are first place in the NFC uh North, champ in New Mexico joints. What's up, champ? How you doing, man?
SPEAKER_03:What's up, fellas? Uh I'm doing good, man. Thanks for having me on.
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely. All right.
SPEAKER_03:You're welcome.
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely, man. Okay, so we're just gonna hop right into it, champ. Uh, your Bears right now, 10 and 4. Um, I uh you always I just as a fan in general, I think Doc, you know, he can vouch for this too as well. You always think your team is just going to be uh much better than they were last year. They're gonna have their breakout year, their quarterback's gonna be better, defense will be better, you know, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. How are you feeling about this Bears team seeing where you guys were last year compared to the big jump uh that you guys are having this year?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, man. Uh obviously I'm feeling great. I mean, I'm kind of like in uncharted territory, right? I mean, I'm not used to this. Um I I have a good team to root for once once a decade of literally. I think we, you know, we were we were we had a good squad in 2018, we had a really good squad in 2010. But you look at the difference in between uh between those uh those most recent good teams, quote unquote, in comparison into this year, guys, it's uh uh we actually have a really good offense. You know, um we haven't had a top five unit on offense since 1977, Doc. I mean, yeah, my man, my man Doc was probably dressing in bell bottoms last time Bears had a had a had a had a top five unit in, right?
SPEAKER_04:Absolutely. Actually, I was with my afro inside burns. Yeah. But go ahead, yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Hey, real real talk, baby. Real talk, right? So, so it's it's one of them things. There's there's definitely a different feeling this year, man. Caleb Williams, uh, he's he's every game, guys, he has this wow throw, wow moment. And the the issue with him has been kind of it was big time last year, and even a lot this year is just inconsistency, hitting some of the easy throws. Uh, these past this this Cleveland defense he just faced is is a really solid defense, man, with Miles Garrett, a potential rookie of the year linebacker. So the way he was able to move the ball on that that unit in the freezing Colt Timps, I'm feeling really good about the Bears right now, fellas.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, well, Champ, I tell you, man, if I can weigh in, Marlene, nobody counted the Bears to do this kind of thing so quick under Ben Johnson's first year, champ. And you and I've talked about it off air early in the season relative to the uh the uh God's hand, if you will, relative to the maturation process of Caleb Williams, you know, because people in Chicago were talking about is this the guy, you know, going forward, even after his rookie year. So I'm I'm extremely happy for the SoCal kid. But it goes noted, man, as you referenced the wild throw. That was a hell of a throw to DJ Moore in the end zone. Warner, I don't know if you saw it, man. Throwing a dress to green across his body, the arm talent just above the linebacker high enough where he wouldn't intercept it. That's a wild throw. The arm talent is sick, champ. And you've and you said that, but it's the consistency this year that you see from he might have had some down moments this year, but the it's more ups than downs. So I'm happy for the kid, man. And then your defense, champ, real quick. It's it's Jalen Johnson and the linebackers, your edge rush, your sweat, you know, they're they're bringing it. And and and and your running back, Swift. So I think you're gonna end up with the it's winning the division and and with a little help, you might get the number one seed. You know, you'll take it from the beginning of the year to what you see right now, today.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, so it right. So we started off, we started off the year at 0-2. You know, we lost to the Vikings, and then we got blown out by the Lions. We got routed. Yeah, right? That's right. But but but kudos to Ben Johnson and changing the culture and and and all all the guys on defense being optimistic, like you mentioned, Doc, you mentioned Sweat, you missed mentioned Jalen Johnson. There's a couple other guys by the name of Nay Sean Wright and Kevin Byers who who have a ton of interception, right? You there have been, but don't break defense. Sure, you can run the you could you could run the ball, pass the ball 20 to 20, but we're pretty stingy in the red zone, and and we like to take the the ball away, right? So defense comes up huge, man. They're optimistic defense. You mentioned sweat. Uh don't forget about the seventh round kid out of out of out of Rutgers, the Kyle Mananga. This dude's a bowling ball. But then you got that you got the shiftiness and the veteran, veteran and and DeAndre Swift. So uh just just it it it's crazy, man. From from an 0-2 start to to a 10-team winning, uh 10-team uh winning football squad in hell, you you you you guys know the Wednesday after Labor Day. I picked my my team to go 9-8. And we're we've already passed that. So, man, I mean, really and truly uh we're we're to a point now to where I I can't be like, well, hey, I I I'm satisfied. We we kind of made it to pass my goal. Hell no. This team actually, guys, they they got all the the elements that a championship team has. That's an optimistic, really good defense. That's a hell of a running game, a big time upgrade in offensive line. And Caleb, let's be honest, Caleb's Caleb's on the play. He's he's a baller, man. He's everybody's calling him Iceman. What do you think about that, Marlon?
SPEAKER_01:Uh, he's he has a lot of uh he's very up and down. There's he as far as with his throws, some throws he makes, okay, it's a pretty good throw, but when he makes bad throws, he makes really, really, really bad throws. But he's young, he's growing, he's he's figuring it out. But in year two, for you to ask of any quarterback in year two for him to be in, and it could be the pairing with uh with Ben Johnson, but to see where he's at in year two, I think anybody would take it off, especially compared to where you've been at years before. So as you said before, you have the weapons on offense, the running backs are there, the defense is stepping up too. So it's it's a little good for you, and on top of that, too. I I can honestly say a little bit, I can honestly say that this tough division is the toughest division. Just going into the season, this is the toughest division of football. I mean, obviously you have the Grumbo and of course the Vikings, which we don't really know what team J. McCarthy, we don't know how that was going to scrape up. It's uh Justin Jefferson there, uh Aaron Jones and the crew. Um, but you know, obviously they're they're uh officially out of the playoffs. But you know, looking over at the Lions, the Lions are still there, they're trying to fight back. They have uh an explosive offense. Most of the time it hits, sometimes it doesn't. And then you got Green Bay, which as far as Jordan Love, which uh I don't want to say he's like Caleb, but Jordan Love has really great games and he has really bad games. Uh and then of course the unfortunate news was Micah Parsons, but um it's it's a very tough division. So speak a little bit on the division, and are you confident that you're gonna win the division and not let Green Bay come up and take that uh NFC North spot? Right on.
SPEAKER_03:So yeah, yeah, real quick, Doc, like it, you know, as uh as a Bears fan, going into the season, even without thinking the the success that we're having so far, you know, I was I was hope I was thinking we could definitely spit with split with Green Bay. Uh we did it last year with with a horrible coaching staff. You know, I was wanting to split with the division in general. Uh we still have an opportunity to do that. We went one-on-one versus Minnesota. Uh we we did we are lucky now, you know, so so to speak, versus Green Bay with them losing Michael Parsons. But two weeks ago, they just gave him all they had, you know, in their house and and and they barely took it on us. So so uh I think the Bears can can win this game. It's gonna be tough. This this Matt LaFleur is a hell of a coach. And and Jordan Love, say what you want about him, man. He he does does he throw up some 50-50 balls? Yes, off his back foot. It's weird. It works, right? I mean, a lot of times they're dying. Do you think they're hanging in the air forever, they're gonna get intercepted? It's a perfect pass. So I think we but it's it's gonna be a good game, but uh obviously I'm gonna be picking the Bears or in our house this time. And then right week 18, man, we got the Lions rematched. So uh the division is stout. I completely agree with you, Marlon. Uh it's one of the top divisions in the league, right there with the NFC West, you know, the Seahawks, the Rams, the Niners, that that division is stacked too. But uh definitely, man, NFC North with the with the pack, the Lions and the Bears, it's stout. What do you think, Doc?
SPEAKER_04:Well, I think before we move on to recap these massive games we just had, it starts with the trenches, the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball for you, champ. Um, of course I'm pulling for you. But two things real quick. I want your take on Donnell Wright, his 30 out of Tennessee, the right tackle. And Greedy Jarrett, the big nose tackle from Atlanta, you got in free agency that you stole from us. You know, I say that uh facetiously, but you know, those two gentlemen have been a godsend to the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. You know, touch that on or touch on that, your offensive line and your D-line and those additions.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, for sure, Doc. It's huge, right? And I think Darnell's having such a better year because of the additions that we that we added just to his left side, right? We added Tooney, Jonah Jackson, Dawman, uh all four of those guys that I that I just mentioned. I mean, that they're they're putting pancakes on the offensive, on the defensive lineman over there, man. So, and but yes, Darnell Wright, I mean, you you you you go you just look at the game that we played versus the Eagles, right? We picked Darnell Wright ahead of Jalen Carter. I I wasn't a big fan of the pick during that draft. But you fast forward to the to to the matchup that we just had on Black Friday. Uh Darnell Wright was putting Jalen Carter on his ass, guys. It was it was a sight to see. And Doc mentioned Grady Jarrett, you know, such a veteran role, man, and in getting these all these guys lined up on the D line. And hell, he had a couple really good plays this past weekend versus the Browns. So I love that leadership that that that uh Grady Jarrett brings, Doc. And we're we're supposed to be getting Tremaine Edmonds back uh versus Green Bay here in a few days. So yeah, man, it's in the trenches. You you called it, and I tell you what, man, give Ryan Poles credit with the additions that he made and drafting Darnell Wright, Doc. Absolutely. Good response.
SPEAKER_04:All right, Marlon, you're up, baby. Recap. Bring it. What you got, Marlon?
SPEAKER_01:One second, real quick. So I I thought we had a tough stretch in the last three games of Dallas, Houston, and Denver. But, champ, you got a tough stretch too as well. You got Packers, 49ers, and then the Lions. That's a pretty tough stretch. How are you feeling about these last three games uh to end the season?
SPEAKER_03:Say that again, Marlowe. I lost you for a second.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, yeah. You have a you have a tough stretch uh for these last three games. How are you feeling about the last three games uh to end the season against the Packers, Niners, and then the Lions?
SPEAKER_03:It's it's out, man. I mean, I'm glad that two of them are at home, you know. Both division games are at home. But you talk about the toughest remaining schedule in the league, literally. I mean, everybody's got a winning record that we're about to play. Two of them are in the playoffs currently, right now. Lions are outside looking in by barely, you know. So it's gonna be tough. Two divisional games, and then you talk about a 49er team. And how you you gotta give credit to the Niners, man. They lost Joey Bol uh Nick Bosa. Uh or Joey. Yeah, Green Law. Greenlaw, and and then how about uh was it Greenlaw? I guess that's who I was thinking of. Big time injuries, and they're still competing with everybody and winning games. So it's tough, man. I think before uh the Browns game, I was telling myself, we gotta at least go two and two right here. That was including the Browns game. So I I now that there's three remaining, I'd like to go two and one right here, going to the playoffs uh with with uh, you know, with some swag, so to speak, and and some momentum, some momentum going to the playoffs. So uh it's tough, guys. We're playing really good quarterbacks, we're playing really good coaches. You talk about Motor City Dan Campbell, you talk about Shanahan and Matt LaFleur. So give credit where credit due. How about Ben Johnson? Guy that's in the talks about uh coach of the year. So it's gonna be tough, man. It's gonna be fun to watch. I can't wait.
SPEAKER_04:Well, Marlon and Champ, real quick, it just seems like the NFL is in a better place when Chicago, the second biggest market, is doing good. So I got you guys going two and one, brother. You know, I don't see you going three and oh down the stretch, but two and one. Don't nobody want to go to the postseason, go to Soldier Field Champ, cold weather. And you're built for that with the running game with Malak Malaga and and Swift. So good luck on you, brother. I appreciate it, Doc. Appreciate it.
SPEAKER_01:All right, so week 15 recap. Doc, your Falcons pulled it out on Thursday. Uh at this point, I know you guys you probably wish you guys would tank uh and and not win some of these games, but it is a division game, so you did take care of business. As I've been saying, week after week after week, this Bucks team is falling apart. They'll still, they at least could win the division just because the division isn't so great, but Carolina is right behind them. Uh Transparers took care of business at home. The Bengals we thought that if the Bengals were on the table, they would be in a uh position to win a division, or it's the North Division with two teams and the Steelers and the Ravens who don't want to win it. Um but they did absolutely Joe Burrow's not having a fun anymore. The trunk took care of business. Of course, um the Haunts did have Sergeant on that team, so he's probably gonna be back week one to definitely get prepared to do that, but we knocked him out of the playoffs. Uh, the Bills and the Patriots that may be accounted for a game of the year. Josh Allen is still a beast. Um Patriots had a great game, but um the Bills uh they had a good one. Darren's commanders, nobody cares. Um Eagles and the Raiders. Eagles are looking back like themselves, but then again, it's the West Raiders, uh, Jags and the Jets. Trevor Lawrence has a great game. Uh Texans 40 to 20 over the Cardinals, uh, Green Bay uh um and the Broncos. We did talk about Michael Parsons and that that ACL Terra were definitely gonna miss him, uh, and that defense is gonna have a huge kick. So that does unfortunately help everybody in the NFC, knowing that that defense isn't as strong. Uh Lions and Rams. Stafford had uh another solid game. Jared Goff had a great game too. Uh, Rams are just you know the best team right now in in football, if you want to say it. So um Saints and Patterns. I don't think anybody watched that one. Uh Niners took care of business too as well than Titans. And my guy Phillip Rivers comes back. He I wish it would have come and spoiled that win, would have had probably one of the biggest wins in his career. 44 years old going to Seattle, almost winning. Uh, and then the Cowboys and the Vikings, Cowboys had a chance to make their playoff hopes a lot greater. Uh it was it would have been maybe 15-20% if they would have beat the Vikings. Vikings took care of business, and then last night's game, Rodgers looked good, Steelers looked great. Uh, so they move forward. They are now the division winners. So, champ, I'll go ahead and uh start with you. Is there any game that stuck out uh to you? Any any hot topics, any games uh that you uh you know want to talk about good, bad, ugly?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, man. Uh just I you know, I like to mention it is unfortunate, man. You hate to see I already mentioned the Nick both. Uh uh there's been so many crazy top top tier S tier players that that's gone down the Achilles tears, torn ACL. So so I hated to see Michael Parsons get hurt, man. Yeah, yeah. You know, uh we've had Tyree Kill. The list goes on and on. I I'd rather play the Packers at full strength. So, you know, after my Bears game, I was I stay dialed in and I watched the the Green Bay and Bronco game. Uh uh what a hell of a game, man. Sean Payton, that dude, I mean, you know, Doc, you had to deal with him for several years in the NFC South, man. Yes, absolutely. Yeah, so you you know what that guy brings to the table. And and you talk about another second-year quarterback like like we've mentioned Caleb and Drake May and uh and and the rest of the crew, uh Bo Nicks, you know, under Sean Payton. This dude's having a really hell of a uh strong ear as well. So uh I was pay I was definitely paying attention to that. And uh uh all in all, you know, I'm loving last year's quarterback class. Uh Drake May, albeit he choked a big lead 21 to zero, copped it up to Josh Allen and the Bills. But but you know this kid, he could play some football, man. So uh Doc, I'm you know, I'm pulling for your Michael Penix, so I think he could come around. You get the right coach and stuff. So all in all, yesterday, man, guys, I was dialed into my Bears game, and right after that, I was dialed into the Broncos game. And and kudos to Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos.
SPEAKER_04:Well, that was a great game. And then I think the fact that uh I might piggyback on that, but I'll tell you, man, nothing beats uh Josh Allen and what he did to Drake May as you referenced Champ. You know, New England was up 21-0. I was happy for Drake May and Brabel and all that, but hell, the Superman and the legend they call Josh Allen came back. James Cook did the number in Fox Barrow. And I was surprising. Because if I was in Vegas, Champ, I think you'll agree. I would have laid the points with uh the Patriots winning that game, and they was up 21-nothing. The Punders are like, well, damn, they are for real. But Josh Allen, three touchdowns down, man. You know, I can't name a receiver that uh Josh Allen could depend on, other than Dalton King Kade and Kevin Knox, whatever his name is. Yeah. But uh Josh Allen did what he did. And of course, they let Cook cook. I think he had two or three touchdown runs, and it's one of those things where that was a huge AFC Ace game, Arlene and Champ. And you gotta give credit to the reigning MVP, and he put himself right back up there along with Stafford. And even out here, you know, uh, you gotta say the Rams and Stafford doing the number on Detroit. Detroit was up double digits at halftime, fellas. So let's not get it twisted. And you talk about comeback, Stafford did the number on him, you know, blew out Detroit in the second half. And now Detroit, I think, has five losses, may have six. I don't know, but it's one of those things where Dan Campbell, I think the voice is getting stale. You know, golf is not on Stafford's level. Those two games stick out to me, man. Got to give it up to uh Josh Allen, you gotta give it up to Staffords. And then, Champ, you mentioned um Bo Nicks. What is this guy gonna get the proper respect he deserves? You know, the guy can he does clutch things, man. They might not score 38 game, Marlin, but Bo Nix wins football game. 11 game winning streak. In this league, it's no joke. And I hate paint. From a personal standpoint, what he did to the Falcons and the Saints, but you gotta give him up there with a coach of the year type thing, along with Bo Knicks in his second year, man. 11 straight wins, fellas. You know? And it's what he's in his second year. And and and their defense was Certaine, uh, who's the reigning defensive player of the year, I think. I think it might have it might have been Garrett, but those things kick out, man. You know? And and and then the injuries champ, as you referenced, Michael Parsons. That's devastating, man. NFL is the entertainment, Marlin, and you want to see the best players go. Then you got number 15 Mahomes on a fluke thing. He wasn't really hit hard. And then all of a sudden he's out. And so you mentioned Tyreek Hill champ and some of the other cats, but the Mahomes thing hurts because now the Chiefs are out, and now he's hurt, and he might not come back till late next year. It's a year-long thing. 11 months, 10 months minimum. So those things stick out from the Tats weekend. Go ahead, Marlon.
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely, absolutely. So as we look forward to um this next weekend and week 16, uh, some of the biggest games, it's maybe the best Thursday night game that we have uh this year. Uh the Rams at Seahawks, so that should be a great one. Uh and then we're we're dipping in now to the Saturday game. So Eagles Commanders are gonna be that first game. Uh then Packers Bears, uh, Champier Bears uh will be Saturday night. So that's gonna be a great one. Uh some other good games. I think it's uh Titans means nothing. Uh Bills and Browns, Bills should easily take care of business. Chargers Cowboys, I don't see any reason why we should lose that game. Uh Dolphins Bengals means nothing. Jets Saints, nothing, Vikings, Giants, nothing. There's a lot of bad games. Uh most of these teams are eliminated. I was looking at the playoff picture right now. The in the AFC, the only two teams that are on the bubble are Colts and the Ravens. The only two teams in the NFC are three teams, Lions, Panthers, and Cowboys. So basically the playoffs are are dangerous tough. Um, it's just a matter of the the Ravens and the Steelers, in my opinion. If if if uh either the the Packers fall out, um, I don't see the Niners messing it up, but the Lions could sneak in. So uh a lot a lot of tough games, but but overall, champ, we'll go ahead and start with you with your game. That's probably the best game uh of the weekend. So you are you had said earlier that you guys are um at home against the Packers, so of course, no Michael Parsons, but how are you feeling about this game on Saturday night?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, man, I I'll say this. You know, I I think Ben Johnson's gonna have these guys ready uh as he always does. They're not gonna they're not gonna harp on on Parsons being out. I think they understand uh that this team is still top top tier team, man. I mean, you got a hell of a coach. You you even have a hell of a defense. Sure, you lose Michael Parsons, but they they've got good they got good guys in the trenches uh that that can still get to the quarterback. They got good uh corners. So Ben Johnson's gotta have these guys ready. Caleb Williams uh with the with his offensive line, tight ends, wide receivers, running back, the the pre-snap stuff has to be on point. You know, we can't shoot our we can't shoot ourselves in the foot. We're too late in the season, man, especially versus versus a uh a solid rival opponent, a divisional opponent like the Packers. So uh I I'm excited. I'm excited that we're that we're gonna be, you know, in our crib. And uh again, you know, just limit, limit the limit the penalties. And and Caleb Williams uh in this offensive line, I think they're gonna be able to do a really good job along with Kyle Manangae and DeAndre Swift. So man, what what guys? This game got flexed in, what, four weeks ago? So I think the NFL already seen Caleb Williams, you know, this dude's this dude's turning into really solid quarterback. You you know Green Bay is gonna be good. So I mean they they hit it perfect right there, flexing this into a Saturday night primetime game.
SPEAKER_01:And not only can't wait for it. And not only did that game get flexed, uh the original Sunday night football game this week uh was gonna be the Bengals and the Dolphins. That was gonna be the Sunday night football game this weekend. They flexed out of that, uh, and then they have Patriots and the Ravens. Um, so that's that's obviously a good one. Another good game, Steelers, Lions, Monday Night Football is 49ers uh and the Colts. Doc, what what sticks out to you for this coming up um week 16 uh week in the NFL?
SPEAKER_04:Well, I kind of make the difference with you, Marlon. This game is lit up with all kinds of divisional ramifications, man, starting with the Panthers at Tampa Bay in the NFC South. Both of them seem like they don't want to take it, but that's gonna be a bloodbath, man, down there. Baker Mayfield versus Bryce Young. You touched on the Packers and uh uh uh Chicago. What about the uh Steelers and the Ravens game uh Sunday night, man? That's brutal, man. That's that's brutal. That's Ray Lewis versus Patriots and Joey Porter.
SPEAKER_01:Patriots Ravens.
SPEAKER_04:I'm sorry?
SPEAKER_01:Patriots and the Ravens Sunday night.
SPEAKER_04:Oh, oh, oh yeah. I meant the Patriots, yeah. The Patriots and the Ravens, you know, in Baltimore. You know, Lamar Jackson is fighting for his life, man. I think uh I think Lamar and Derrick Henry are gonna take care of business Sunday night at the crib, even though I love Drake May and Vrabel. That's why this past game with Buffalo is so important, because Drake May is still only in the second year, and I love Roquan Smith like you do, champ. And I love uh Hamilton, and I love the rookie Malachi Starks and that defense going against the second year, especially at home. And then you got the Chargers and the Cowboys. The Cowboys have been a deep uh uh uh uh they've been an enigma, if you will. And I say that because they're up and down tremendously. They won a two-game winning streak, been beating Philly and and the Chiefs, and then now they get blown out at home. And I think the Chargers are gonna do the thing in Texas. Your Chargers, Marvin. I think uh another underrated quarterback late in the year is your your guy, Justin Herbert, despite the injury. You know, he got beat up and he keeps sticking. I mean, it's keep ticking. There's a lot of great games this weekend, man. And and I I just think I think the Chargers are gonna do the business. I think Baltimore's gonna do their business. And the Steelers, that that, uh, that's that's gonna be interesting. Uh, I forget who they play, Marlon, the Pittsburgh. Uh I think Yeah, they that I I'm I'm I'm gonna go with uh I'm gonna go with Pittsburgh in that one, man. And I say that because of Tiny and Fire Mood. You got Darnell Washington, I know they're missing TJ Watt. But the Lions are missing something, and it it starts with golf, you know. I know Jamison Williams and and and and uh you know, but this the line of scrimmage that we talked about, Champ. Pittsburgh has uh big Cameron Hayward and they got the other cat over there too. And uh offensively, I just think that uh um Tomlins are gonna get it done, you know, against them. But uh obviously the headliner is you guys, uh Green Bay and then and uh and uh Chicago. And Doc O'Shell, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:And one more thing, too. I this this one just slipped my my mind right here. This is gonna be a massive one. The Jags at the Dolphins. I'm sorry, the Dolphins, the Jags at the Broncos. So that's gonna be a tough one. 10-4 and 12-2. Uh Broncos there uh red hot. You guys are talking about Bo Nixon getting the credit that he deserves as a Chargers fan. Uh, you know, it's of course I still take my quarterback over him any day, but they're they're playing good. The defense is great, they have a lot of weapons, they're not really missing J.K. Dobbins. Um, you know, both they're finding ways to win, and they're not waiting until the fourth quarter to win as well. So they're they're figuring out how to do it. Um, and it's this this will be their biggest test. I don't know that I believe in the Jags that much, but this this will be their biggest test thus far. Um, and then here's the thing, another I don't I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer uh with the schedule, but the this would have been a great game, them versus the Chiefs on Christmas Day. But now that you know that's you know going up against Gardner Minchu at this point. So um, but yeah, this this Broncos team, they're they're looking like they're going to uh sword and get that that first round uh bye, and everything could be locked up by week 18.
SPEAKER_04:But Jamal and Chap, you'll agree. Sunshine coming off five T he passes. He's on fire, man. You know, and that game's in Jacksonville, correct?
SPEAKER_01:No, it's in Denver. It's in Denver.
SPEAKER_04:Oh, okay, okay. Well then that defense for Jacksonville ain't no joke either, man. You got Trayvon Walker, you got um, you got Josh Allen out of Kentucky in his fifth year on the edge. I think that's gonna you take the under there and I I think Denver might still do it, but Sunshine's showing up late, man, and they gotta remember, Houston's on their ass, you know, CJ Stroud and those cats, you know, and that defense. So uh it'd be a hoof Sunshine, you know, Trevor, Trevor Lawrence to bring it on the road against Denver's defense. They're great defense, too, you know. And then of course you gotta get props on those division, Marlin. Uh Cortland Sutton is he he's borderline all pro right now. The catches that he's made all year, let alone his past summit. I think Cortland Sutton, uh, he is he's he's good, man. That's gonna be an excellent matchup. I'm glad you brought that up. And then, but to me, Carolina at camper for my NFC South, that's gonna be a bluff ass because somebody has to win and they're gonna go at it hard. I don't know how the hell the Saints, you know, beat Carolina, champ, but damn, and NFC South is chaos. But we gotta, we gotta, we gotta talk about the Raiders, man. They they've been shut out 31 to nothing twice. Champ, I want your take on that. And I know it's your division, Champ. You don't care about the Raiders. Red S does. That doesn't happen. Why does Pete Carroll still have a job? And all the early in the year they got shut out 31-0, and then you had this past 31-0. Exactly. That's 6'2 to 0. And they drafted the big running back six overall. Your take on the Raiders and the direction they need to go, champ. Your call.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, yeah. Pete Carroll. I listen, I thought I thought they were gonna be decent, Doc. I mean, I I hella, I thought they they find a way to win around eight games, you know, nine games, you know, right in that wheelhouse. I was thinking them to be right aro right around where the Bears are, you know, my preseason pick on the Raiders. And I mean, uh Geno Smith, this dude's gotta go. Uh you're missing the head coach. And what about Gene T, you know, Gene T, man? I mean, uh Kalman guy's outplaying this dude, you know. So it's just, I don't know what's up with the Raiders, man. You feel bad for the stud like Max Crosby. This dude's an absolute beast. His motor is nonstop, even though the team sucks. The guy still goes 100 miles an hour for four quarters until the final whistle blows. So I feel bad for guys like that, but they they gotta make some big time changes. And and who's part owner? Tom Brady. This dude obviously has to see this happening too. So I think we will see some big time changes, Doc. Uh, coaching matters, man. Uh, you know, I I guess I guess the time is just past. Pete Carroll by. I don't I I I can't believe they're this bad, but but they're horrible, Doc. I feel bad for your wife, man.
SPEAKER_04:Big time fan base, Raider Nation, nationwide, big time fan base up there with uh the Bears and the and Scalers and uh Cowboys and all that. And we were talking about the teams, Marlon, if you will, about the teams that are jockeying for position for the playoffs, but on the other end of the spectrum, you got uh the Raiders and then Cleveland. I want your two takes uh before we shut it down relative to Shador. Does he beat her next year? He's it's not fair to judge him on this past game against the Bears, but he did have four DD passes the previous week. Your your both of your take on the direction could need to find a coach? Shadur Sanders' future. This is on the other end of the spectrum. Go, fellas.
SPEAKER_01:I I think it's more so uh you need to you definitely need to have a great coach. Just look at what champ uh has with uh Caleb and and Vin Johnson. He's definitely gonna need a great coach to mold him, put that confidence in him so that he can reach the other level and be great. Um I I think he'll still be there, but also too, I think it's with with Deshaun coming back and then you got the I I don't I don't know that they're gonna name a starter so soon, so early on in training camp. They'll probably have them all rotate maybe with the first team, uh, but he'll definitely have uh uh a a leg up from what he did this year. But um I mean you're dealing with injuries to to Flacco, to to to three other guys essentially in front of you, and then you got the you got the spot. So, but you know, obviously you're gonna with the time you're paying him all that money, you're gonna at least try to roll him out there for the next year or two or whatever he has on his contract. So I think it's gonna be a battle, but you definitely don't forget what he's done this year, but definitely get rid of the coach, and then at that point bring somebody in that's going to be quarterback center that can help build whoever's behind center going forward in 2026.
SPEAKER_04:Well, away from Miles Garrett, champ Europe, go champ.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, so I I mean I agree with with what Marlon said. I think, you know, whenever you do bring in the head coach, uh Shador, you know, he wasn't the first round, first overall time pick. So I think that I think it'd be good for him to have a healthy uh uh competition and training campus this upcoming offseason. Uh I think he's winning. I do. I I think the kid's you know really talented. Uh, you know, I think one of the reasons we we all know it's been well documented, one of the reasons he fell so low, you know, just just kind of the off-the-field antics, uh some of the stuff that he was doing in in his interviews is he's talented. Damn right. Doc just mentioned the four cutties that he threw the weekend before the Bear game. So he's got talent, but I think it is key for him to have a healthy competition and and I think he could win it and and just hey, dive into that playbook early in Austin, you know, with your new head coach and and revamp a little bit of that O-line, and you know that it's not the best O-line. So yeah, man, I think I think with the new head coach, good competition offseason, I think Shador can be the guy.
SPEAKER_04:Well, before we move on to college or whatever, man, I'll be remiss, Marlon, if I didn't bring up what's going on down there in Dallas, Texas. What the hell's going on, Marlon, with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, man? They got the all now, you get blown out at home again. Yo, what the people saying? We got a lot of fans, champ, that listen to a wide variety of teams. Marlon, Cowboy Nation is one of the largest in the world. Your take on Dallas where you live down in Texas. Go.
SPEAKER_01:And I'll be at the game on Sunday uh when my Chargers come in town, but I I think that I think I think that they were looking at it and just looking at, oh, it's the Vikings coming to town, Vikings, they're not making the playoffs, they don't have nothing to play for. Uh, it's it's McCarthy. I think they overlooked him. And I think they were looking, possibly looking to us and ready for a big showdown with us, because um it's I I I don't know. You you have everything on offense. Defense was getting a lot better. You you you beat the Chiefs, you beat the Eagles. I mean, what more can you ask? Well, you had a great stretch and you were in position to make a run. You needed the Eagles to slip up a little bit, but you were in a position to make a run. And I think that game in in Detroit, uh, where Pickens was just a no-co, and where before we're seeing you make all type of moves, cutbacks, you know, making people, you know, breaking ankles, everything. And then from there you do that to to what you did in in Detroit. And of course you had the CD incident, but now you have got the gang back together. Detroit came ready to play. They knew they weren't making playoffs. I guess they just wanted to come in. From what I heard, it was a ton of Vikings fans out there. So it's I I I don't know. I don't know. I I I really hope that they can well, I I don't want them to do any better this week, obviously, but you know, they they got one of the best offenses in the league. And I I just think that they overlooked uh they overlooked the Vikings uh on Sunday and just couldn't get it done.
SPEAKER_04:Well, give me the score and I charge a Cowboys game. And and and champ, you follow what the Bears packers before you move on to comment. Go.
SPEAKER_01:Um I'm I'm gonna say I think our offense, I think this is the game where because Herbert really hadn't had a great offensive game. And the Eagles, it was okay. Uh, he didn't really do too well against Kansas City. Um, I think this is a game where we can attack this defense who looks like they're on tilt a little bit. So I'm gonna say I think we'll we'll put up points in the 30s. I think Amarian Hampton is fully back and fully healthy. Uh Ladd McConkey's finally gonna have a good, solid game. Uh, I think we'll get it'll be 35. Um, I'm gonna say 35-24 uh Chargers in this one, and then we move on and get ready for the Texans, which will be the following uh Saturday uh afternoon, that first game on the following Saturday. So I say, yeah, 35-24 Chargers. Champ.
SPEAKER_04:Well, I love your defense.
SPEAKER_03:Go, Champ. You're up, baby. Packers bears. All right. So I'm gonna pick Bears 27, Packers 24. Las Vegas has the Packers as a point and a half favorite. So we're the dogs in this matchup at home. Uh, I have a ton of respect for Matt LaFleur. Uh uh for whatever reason. I'm I I don't know. I don't know how I feel about Jordan Love, man. This dude is a good quarterback. He he has these weird back foot lobbying throws, but it won seems to work for him. But I think the Bears are still pissed off. They got a bad taste in their mouth. Uh, and I think our offensive line, Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson, they're gonna have a really good play uh game plan. And I think it's gonna be a close one, man, 27 to 24 in Shytown. Bear down, baby.
SPEAKER_04:Underdogs at the crib, champ. They have to bother you. What are you gonna get respect? God damn.
SPEAKER_03:Go ahead, Marlon. We've been we you know, I I've I've just this year, Doc, I'm just as a fan, I'm I'm embracing it because I think majority of our games, we've been the dogs, you know, and we've and we've we've we've covered and went in one game or so.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:So I'm just hey, let it let it just keep happening. It is what it is, you know. So I I I'll take it, Doc. I really will.
SPEAKER_04:I'm pulling for both of you, man. Good luck.
SPEAKER_00:And champ, do you do you want to stick around for the college football talk? Are you are you that familiar with the college football?
SPEAKER_03:No, New Mexico State, University Yankees, that's about all I got.
SPEAKER_05:No, okay. Okay, perfect. You know what?
SPEAKER_03:Let me mention one thing and then and then I'll let you guys uh go on because I'm not super super familiar. But I'm not sure.
SPEAKER_01:Let me ask this question first. Let me I'm I I got a question first, and then we'll do college football. You'll drop and then we'll finish. How are you feeling? I heard speaking speaking of Caleb, I'm hearing the cubbies got a got a Caleb as well. So how how you feeling about the Cubbies um bringing back uh another Caleb? You like that?
SPEAKER_02:Who you talking about there, Marlowe?
SPEAKER_01:Oh, uh uh Caleb, uh what's his name?
SPEAKER_02:Uh The Thebor Oh yeah, Fieldmar?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:So y'all brought it up, yeah, Caleb Fieldmar, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, you like that?
SPEAKER_02:Caleb Caleb Caleb? But he's have it, yeah. Marley had it, but go ahead, Chab. I like that. Hey, hey, man.
SPEAKER_03:I mean, listen, last year, uh they they Exceeded my expectations, you know. And and you know, me and my wife were able to make the Wrigley for the first time in a playoff game versus the pods. Um I think we just need a yeah, we're getting still bar back. We've been a little quiet, you know. Uh we're not re-signing Tucker, obviously. We're bringing back Shodam Imanaga. Uh we we got the studs and PCA and Danzby coming back. So, but but we we gotta make a splash, man. And it's gotta be it's gotta be on the on the pitching staff, you know. And and not only that, I was pulling for Swords to come back. I knew it probably wouldn't happen, and it's not. He's staying in Philly, so um, but but we do have to make a splash, guys. And and and to me, it's gotta be on the pitching side of things for sure. Because we we we we were pretty solid hitting team this year, but pitching ended up killing us.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, well Scooby's still out there, I think. He might be in one more year, but they would think the Dodge is gonna get him. But if you can get a Scuba in a big city like Chicago, it's it's over. It's over. You'll put it down the Dodgers. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:I I completely agree. I just don't think the Ricketts, the Ricketts family, you know, the owners of the Cubby. Uh I I don't see him doing that. Doc. I wish I wish there were, you know, like a Dodgers ownership. I mean, the Cubby is just like the Bears. This is a top, top uh what's the word I'm looking for, you know, as far as Chicago, you know? Yeah, market, yeah. Market, top market team. Doc and the Rickets are tight asses, man. I don't I don't know what the deal is there. So yeah, I mean, sign me up to bring in Scooby shit. That that'd be great for the Cubbies, but but I I don't know, man. I hope it happens, but I'll I'll even take just a solid, a solid R, man. We we definitely need some pitching in in Chicago for for the Cubbies. Absolutely. Perfect. Perfect.
SPEAKER_01:And then all right, champion, your college your college football take. What you got for us?
SPEAKER_03:J just real quick for for Dr. Falcon, Doc, Doc, you know, hey man, how about how about Texas Tech, Doc? You know, I was able to make uh the regular season tech tech BYU game with with some really good friends of ours. And uh I mean they routed him, Doc. And and you talk about a guy that didn't even wasn't a Heisman finalist, but but was literally the highest graded college football player in the nation and Jacob Rodriguez. He he is still the he still is the defensive college player of the year, but but but give me give me your your your tech, Doc, and in in Texas Tech with them bringing in all this NIL money and talking about being the top four team in the league. What what you take on tech, Doc?
SPEAKER_04:Well, they came out of nowhere this year. Nobody picked them to do some things like that, man. They got a couple of SEC defensive lineman transfers and a and the transfer porter, and you mentioned Rodriguez, who I think is like a uh like a uh you know uh a top lineback, top ten line, buckets award winners like a Roquan Smith, man. And the guy is he's everywhere. And and and I think the only thing that might hold you back is your little freshman quarterback offensively. Hell of a hell of a fan base, the Red Raiders, man. I love the mascot, the that guy riding on the white horse. It's one of those things where they're they're coming, man, consistently. But I love your defense and I love the story about they're not a little school, Marlin. They're a big time school, the Red Raiders. Uh Peter Mahomes went there, but the freshman quarterback in a big spot bothers me. But your defense, man, is the real deal. And I love the colors too. I love the black and red, man, when they oh that the red is a deal. I'm believed the fan base is underrated because you haven't been on the scene in decades. But yeah, I got you. You might make some damage, might push defensively, you know. Um, so we'll see when your young quarterback when he faces the big teams in the playoff, what he does. But it's a great story. Rodriguez is the real deal, man. You know, so yeah, there you go.
SPEAKER_05:Okay.
SPEAKER_03:Two squads I'll be rooting for this this uh year. Absolutely up cups are the Bears, and then here in a couple weeks with the Red Raiders. So appreciate it. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01:All right, championship. Appreciate every joining. All right, man.
SPEAKER_04:I'll let you go.
SPEAKER_01:All right, Doc. Rapid Fire. I got I got four questions for you. And it's just four simple questions, and and uh I'm gonna leave the best for last. So uh James James, James Madison in Oregon, who you got?
SPEAKER_04:Oh, Oregon's gonna mop the floor with James Madden Madison, who has no business being in the CFP. If you want to get the top 12 team, James Madison is not it. It's a good story. You know, I know the alumni there and James Madison are glad to be there, but Oregon's gonna put a belief 55. Come on, man. Part part the Atlanta's group.
SPEAKER_01:Part 1A. Would you take the uh would you would you take the 21 points uh with James Madison?
SPEAKER_04:No, I'll lay the 21 points. They're gonna blow the doors off of that's 35 point spread easily, man. This is Oregon. Big offensive line, big for more boys on the line of scrimmage. The quarterback Dante Boer, I think it should be a low first round pick. We got receivers and running back. That's gonna be a route like no other. Yeah. Okay. I'm laying the 21.
SPEAKER_01:All right, and old miss in two lane, and the spread on this one is 17 and a half. What do you got on this one?
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, they already beat. They already smoked him once, old miss. Even without laying Kiff, and there's enough SEC talent there to do the business, you know, uh, relative to that. That's another point. I'm laying the 17 in that. And those are the two games that are really, really questionable relative to the committee, man. You want competition football going against the NFL. So I'm looking at 17, Ole Miss favorite. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Yep. All right. And then the the the better uh of the two games, Texas AM and Miami, a lot of controversy about Miami getting in. Miami got in, and this one a little bit closer. Spread on this one is a three and a half uh going AM's way.
SPEAKER_04:I think uh AM quarterback Josh Reed is gonna do the thing because remember, Texas AM has a defense. I don't know what the hell happened against Texas. That's a robbery game. That's another topic for another day. I think AM is going to win that game. They'll cover the three, and I'm laying a three with that. Josh Reed is special, and he's gonna have a bounce back game. And I love the coach down there in AM Aggie Land. Carson Beck in a big spot is prone to mistakes. You saw that against uh uh, you know, Louisville and SMU, you know, and it's one of those things where I know Carson Beck being an ex-Georgia quarterback, you know, it's one of those things where he he throws interceptions in prolific fashion. And AM has a great D. They got a great D-line and linebacker. So yeah, I'm taking. Even though Miami has a great defense, a couple of number one picks on that edge rushers, but I'm I'm taking Texas Any in because the boy John Free can run and escape those edge rushers for Miami. Yeah, that's 27. I'm gonna give Miami 17. Yeah, tell you that favor.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. And I know how you feel historically about Alabama, but we we got Bama and Oklahoma. I think it's obviously uh gonna be the best game. We got this one on um uh Friday. Friday Friday, yeah, Friday seven, yeah. So so this one will be a good one. Alabama is uh laying one and a half on this one. What do you who do you like in this?
SPEAKER_04:Well, Bama fans are gonna be pissed off at me, but I think Oklahoma has their number. John McCarry went to Tuscaloosa. He went to Tuscaloosa and beat Bama for one of the losses. And I I I think the distraction with Kellen De Boer, the head coach, is too much, possible Michigan coach and all that. There's a reason why that is. And Kellen De Boer is not really a Southern boy, he's not really a Southern guy, and they're looking for any reason to get him out of there. They got three losses as it is. They had four last year. That's not Alabama football. To be fair, it's not easy following a legend like Nick Saban. But I think Jam Miller, the running back for Alabama, still hurt with that ankle. And I feel like uh, I say feel like um, you know, John McCarry in Oklahoma, in Norman Oklahoma, they their defense is underrated. You know, McCarrill was hurt for a couple of games with a wrist or a finger or a thumb, and that dumped down on his his All-American heisman status. But I think he's healthy now, and I think Oklahoma with that big offensive line, that big defensive line, they're gonna do a number on uh Alabama. You know, again. They beat him last year in Norman, and then they beat him in Tuscaloosa this year, and I predict they're gonna go 3-0 against De Boer and the Alabama squad. Yeah, there you go right there. And then you back score. I think it's gonna be 28-24 Oklahoma and Norman.
unknown:Okay.
SPEAKER_04:Go sooner.
SPEAKER_01:Now, now, how do you feel about this? Because I'm looking at the dates for some of these games, and you know, you had you have the games obviously this weekend. You're not playing a game for another close to two weeks at that point. So, how do you feel about teams like your Bulldogs, the the Red Raiders, Indiana, and and the Buckeyes? It w it's almost damn near a month that they would have played a game. How do you feel about their time to heal?
SPEAKER_04:Time to hill up. And I'm glad you asked that question. Kirby Smart has a knee knows how to deal with this. Yes, that's the way it was for the two Natties in 21 and 22. Long layoffs, and they concentrate on getting better within the team before they put the game plan together for whoever's opponent, because you don't know who you're gonna play. So they did both Ryan Day and Ohio State, uh Kirby Smart at uh uh Georgia, and then you got uh, you know, um I don't know the Texas tech uh coach, you know. Uh but it goes noted, man. I know exactly what you're saying, the long layout, but these coaches are big time coaches. Ryan Day won the natty last year after three weeks off after losing to Michigan and won the Natty. He beat Notre Dame first, of course. But I I I think these coaches know how to prepare the team and keep on a raise of sharp edge for physical practices with a little rest uh mixed in. I know Kirby Smart does, so uh he's not gonna bludgeon this team to death for four weeks, but he knows how to rest guys, give guys days off, rest here, get healthy, and uh take it from there. That's a good question on your part. Because it can get boring. It's not like the NFL. These guys are college kids and the exams are over, so they get bored. So you run stadiums for a few sprints, and you don't get physical to the point where you're bludgeon each other, but you just keep them razor sharp as is for the for the most part. And uh these are big, they know how to do it, these big kind coaches. Good question.
SPEAKER_00:Okay. All right. Sounds good. Well shoot, Doc. That's all I got for you, man. You got anything else for us?
SPEAKER_04:Well, we got the uh NBA going on tonight with the Spurs and the Knicks, and the Lakers had a big win the other night at Phoenix. Controversial, of course, but LeBron made his free throws, and I'm looking forward to the uh, you know, the the season in the second half. That's all I got, man. You know, it's mostly football this weekend.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, absolutely. And just looking at some standings right now, the Clippers, six and twenty. Four. Oof. Six and twenty. My goodness. That's that's that's that's tough. And then you look at obviously with Halliburton, he's out, but and the same six and twenty record for them too as well. So uh it's it's uh it's it's very early uh in the season, but when you have a start like that, you're not motivated. You're not you're not uh willing to you know power back and fight through. I mean, the play in you all you only really got to get up to the the 10th spot of when you're that far behind. It's still early. I mean, we're not even close to all-star weekend. Um but uh it's it it'll be a lot of movement. It's it's still very early in the NBA. So uh but before we know it, uh we'll have you know pla NFL playoffs here and you know Marsh Madness will be right around the corner and all that. So yeah, so we'll we'll definitely have time to do that.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, but that's a good point on your part, Marley. Very good point because injuries, major injuries to big time. Sports is about entertainment, and you hate to see the Parsons and and the Mahomes go down and Devontae Adams. We even mentioned Devontae Adams Amsterdam for the Rams. But you still got the Kyrie, the Kyrie Irving thing in Dallas. You know, when is he gonna be prepared and going back? Uh you got the uh Jason Tatum and the Celtics. They got hard because they're still performing. But uh losing Halliburton, the the Pacers to me, that's shocking, six and twenty. So these injuries are major in all the sports. The devastating being a fan of all the sports, and like you and I are, but you still have to compete, you know. And so, you know, uh, and I'm a Kanye Irvin critic for what he did in Brooklyn and all, but I don't want the guy hurt until like March. We'll see what Dallas does for us here. Uh, you know, Cooper Flag got 42 and he still lost the other night.
SPEAKER_05:Yep.
SPEAKER_04:So yeah, I'm dragging on. We got to end, but yeah, we'll talk about that later.
SPEAKER_01:Sounds good. All right. Well, appreciate everybody for joining. Like, subscribe, share with your friends, family, all that stuff. We'll catch you next time. Peace. Peace.