The Blame Game (plus Kliff and Whitt Jr. fired)

The boys are back! After a festive hiatus Josh, Lee and James get together to discuss the final three Commanders games of the season and all the news out of Ashburn, as well as assigning blame for the 5 win season. The news of the co-ordinator firings dropped after the initial recording so Josh and James jumped back on to react in emergency pod style at the start:

- Josh and James react to the firings of Joe Whitt Jr. and Kliff Kingsbury 

- ⁠Brief discussion of the Eagles, Cowboys and Eagles games including how maddening it was to win the finale

- ⁠The blame game - Peters, Quinn, injuries or what combination thereof?

- ⁠Kliff on way out? (as it turns out, yes!)

- Favourite moment of the season to season to finish on a lighter note

- Outlook for the pod during the playoffs and the offseason!

@HailOnThreePod

Transcript

0:00

Good morning, dear listener. Uh, as you'll see, this podcast is in two parts because we recorded the original part of very much the bulk of the show prior to the firing of Joet Jr. And Cliff Kingsbury, defensive and offensive coordinators respectively. Um, so you'll hear me and James at the start with about 10 minutes talking about those decisions, those firings and the implications of those. Uh, before we go into the main show, in the main show, we do talk about Cliff, um, to some extent. Where he might land if he does leave. Uh, obviously we didn't realize he was gonna be fired on the very day we recorded, but that's still very relevant, we believe so I've left that in. Um, so yeah, here is me and James and then after that, me, James and Lee for the rest of the pod. Enjoy You are fired.

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 0:46

james, I didn't think I'd be speaking to you again today after our podcast recorded earlier today. Um, we're opening the show with this mini segment because there was some breaking news after we did a, a lengthy return to action podcast earlier in the day with Lee. Um, and I'm gonna let you break the news, I think,'cause you were the one that broke it to us in the WhatsApp group.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 1:08

Um, I'm coming to you live. my bedroom in my pajamas. dedication there for the, for the pod. Um, yeah, cliff Kingsbury is Um, and actually. Wasn't until about another 20 minutes after, until I realized Joe Witt was also done. Um, didn't really get a rap sheet shout out, which I have notifications for. So, um, I

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 1:34

Shocking.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 1:35

him hidden further down as part of an Adam Shef tweet, um,

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 1:38

I.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 1:38

But

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 1:39

Yep.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 1:39

we spoke enough about Joe Witt. Good riddance to that guy. I don't think we need to really cover too much on that. I'm glad to see the back of him. But yeah, cliff has done, um. We spoke about it a bit earlier on, about it looking fairly likely, um, this could happen. I was surprised it happened right now, um, off the back of a conversation supposedly. Um, but it must have been more to it. Um, they're claiming mutual. let's see on that. But yeah, initial reaction, um, I can't really say I. I feel, I feel a bit bad for him. Um, but I doubt he's feeling too bad because he's earning a lot of money and he's had one year left on his deal and he is gonna get another good job somewhere else. So, um, I always liked him. Um, I think he'd done a, he obviously done an amazing job in the first year and Admiral job this year of all the kind of obstacles thrown his way. But, um, I mean. My initial acting is more on kind of Quinn and the ionist puts on him because you've sacked all your coordinators, there's no other move to make you then simply have to succeed. so yeah, big, big pressure and asked to succeed. And, um, also the offensive line coach gone, um, Bobby Johnson, I believe.

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 3:01

And that I thought that, um, Johnson going as well was quite telling as to why they might have parted ways with Kingsbury. Um, Nikki Valla tweeted that Kingsbury met with Coach Dan Quinn today to discuss the future of the offense. And after those conversations, they agreed to mutually part ways as source said. So that happening and then the offensive line coach going signals to me that Quinn wants a complete, uh, reset offensively in terms of philosophy. Um. What King's beer is running. Um, I think unfairly labeled, kind of like gimmicky ecology sometimes is, is is a bit harsh on him, um, especially considering the success he's had. Um, but it is a very high tempo thing. It's a very, um. Shotgun based system. Um, it's not a true kind of Shanahan West coast style offense, which I think is probably the route that Quinn wants to go now. Um, but yeah, like you say, I was, I was a bit surprised it happened. Now I thought it might happen later on when I. When Kingsbury kind of maybe took the lead and, and took another job somewhere else, and that was the way that it, that it went down. But it's gone down today that, yeah. Full reset of the coordinators. So who would've fought NFC championship game less than this calendar year ago and both coordinators gone. I mean, Joe Whitt. Yeah. Good. Rid and slightly say Kingsbury. Do feel a bit sorry for.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 4:15

not only that, we've just had a conversation earlier on about Peters and Quinn who'd have fought any of this, uh, a year on, yeah. I mean, I will say they, if they're gonna do it, I'm glad they've done it early, give themselves the best chances, the best candidates, so they're ready. Do they have someone in mind? They also have an idea of what they want, um, something different to what

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 4:37

Hmm.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 4:38

was putting together. So they must have circled. A few names there that are available. but I will say as they better have someone very good lined up. Um, you can't just let this guy walk out the door without, uh, a plan. Um, I can't imagine some of the players be too happy. Probably Jane Daniels and his mum in particular. Um

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 5:02

Well, I, I did see that Jayden yesterday had, had said in the press conference that, you know, he fully supports Cliff. He was kind of being very, very complimentary to Cliff, which isn't not like surprising really. But he could have kept a bit quieter about things depending on how things might have shaken out. Um, there was, uh, like it's all rumors and early reports. Now obviously in smoke, so we don't really know what the truth of things is, but there is reports already that some players are frustrated by Cliff leaving and what have you. Um. Big picture, like you said this, this is it now for Dan Quinn. He's, he, he, he was seen to have put together and Peters and Quinn were seen to have put together this fantastic coaching staff last year. You know, Anthony Lynn running backs, all these kind of guys coming in that were gonna make a brilliant coaching staff. And there's this sort of hall of fame style roster of coaches and now they're all gone basically. And it's just on Quinn now to to, to get it right in terms of who he brings in. I think he could. Get it right. I still, I'm still not completely out on this scenario. Um, but I, but as of now, I guess, what is the most likely scenario a year from now? A new head coach? And it's difficult because if Quinn brings in a really good OC that does brilliantly. He's, he's now looking over his shoulder a bit, isn't he? If they don't like get the wins on the table.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 6:15

if nothing else, I mean, I kind of. I've taken a few hours and now we're talking about kind of respect the moves in a way. Like you remember all season we were talking, right? They need to, you know, heads have to roll here and, and they have, um, whether it's the right people's heads, or not remain remains to be seen, but they're not content with just running it back with everyone. Um. I kind of respect, uh, it's probably not an easy decision. Um, they'll say it's mutual of Cliff, but let's face it, I don't think he would've openly gone out there and said, I'm out. Um, when he doesn't have

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 6:53

No.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 6:53

offer lined up. Um,

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 6:58

He will be getting paid by three different teams next year if he gets an offer and signs a deal.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 7:03

someone needs to throw out that picture of him sitting in that massive, uh,

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 7:06

Yeah.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 7:07

uh, in front of his tv, probably too early to speculate on offensive, um, offensive coordinator Um, just an interesting thing I'll just saw, just forward before I come on here as, um, Brian Dayal, um, that's been thrown out there. interestingly, he sacked. Um, offensive line coach Bobby Johnson in New York. So have they sacked him ahead of a Brian Day Bowl hire,

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 7:34

Interesting. So there's a. Uh, who knows? I mean, I, like you said earlier, I think they're very likely to have a plan in place. I don't think that that could be impulsive on this one. Um, it looks impulsive because of the press conference yesterday, but then I think in retrospect, no, no. I mean, let, let's see. I mean, day Bowl and Quinn have a pass together. I, um,

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 7:57

would that have been?

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 7:59

it was. Oh, they definitely, they've, they've definitely been somewhere together. Fucking, I should have done the research really.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 8:08

Shared a room at Coach's camp, wherever it is. In the preseason.

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 8:13

they, they, they were, oh, they were the jets together.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 8:16

Christ.

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 8:17

Um, so again, back a while, but they also think they started their careers at a college together. Is that right? I'm sure I read this at some point. Um, yeah, William and Mary, so this is back in the nineties, but they both, uh, worked at the same, so they know each other very, very well. Um, I don't know about his style of offense. I mean, he seems to be quite gimmicky in New York, but that might be based on the kind of

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 8:41

He'd

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 8:41

players he has.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 8:42

Buffalo. Right? That's how he got the job in New

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 8:43

Yeah, yeah.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 8:44

With Josh Allen?

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 8:45

Yeah. Again, like it's probably similar to Kingsbury and a guy that you don't want as your head coach necessarily, but could do a good job as an oc.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 8:54

Let's see what comes up over the coming days. It gets too early to speculate on that, but yeah. Um, sad to see him go, but yeah. Let, let's not too downhearted about it. Let's, let's see what,

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 9:07

No.

james--he-_1_01-06-2026_214942 9:07

comes. At least they're making, moves.

josh_1_01-06-2026_214942 9:11

Yeah, making moves, being proactive. We will see what comes in the coming days and weeks. All right. Cheers. We're jumping back on mate, in your pajamas. Uh, and now on with the rest of the podcast.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 9:26

the old No Smoke without Fire comes to mind, doesn't it?

9:34

Rodriguez, the back, the fake he'll look for Senate, he'll throw in the back of the end. They're caught for the touchdown beats, the tight end bats, who earlier on this drive had an 11 yard catch and run. Picks up one right there. That is Josh Johnson's first touchdown pass. Then 2021. How would you describe the culture surrounding this football team? You know, the culture is actually damn good.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 10:20

Welcome to another edition of the Hair on Free podcast. Welcome to 2026, and as you heard in the intro, the boys are indeed back in town. I'm your host for the day, Josh, uh, coming to you from a snowy southeast London, and I'm joined by both James and Lee. Let's go to Lee Lee as it's snowing in Chicago. I.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 10:43

Hello Sports fans. Happy New Year. It's not. Snow in here, it is actually warmed up a little bit for this time of year and it, it's above freezing. So this was probably the only winter podcast where it might even be colder. Your side of the, of the pond.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 10:56

Yeah, I think it is. I mean, I'm, I dunno, James, as it's snowing west of London.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 11:00

I read a little flurry

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 11:01

Nice.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 11:02

but that was it.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 11:04

Um, it's been a while since we've been together, obviously. Our last podcast was, uh, a actually a winning recap show after we beat the new Hook Giants, uh, before Christmas. Uh, and we weren't able to get another pod in over the festive period. Lots of movements, lots of ibi being, enjoying ourselves, uh, illness, various things, as you can imagine. Um, so there has actually been three games. Since we last spoke and recorded and published a podcast, uh, we will touch on all those three games very briefly at the start of the show. But as you will have seen Dear Listener, the title of today's show is The Blame Game, uh, as Washington finished the season five and 12, and there is a lot. Of blame to go around. So we'll be talking about that in detail later in the show. But yeah, let's talk about those free games briefly because, um, Lee, I believe that you were, uh, about to fly to the UK when we last recorded, and then you had a nice day of sport, uh, Ipswich and Washington on the same day on that weekend before Christmas.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 12:05

The irony is that although it's our first time sitting down together in front of a microphone. For a few good few weeks. I think this is the most time we spent together in person over the last couple of weeks. So fun in the UK for the festive season. Uh, plenty of pubs, family and friends, celebrations. So it was, uh, great to see you gentlemen. But yeah, it was, wasn't it? It was a Saturday before Christmas and we played the Eagles that Saturday night. don't remember that much of these games because I've just tried to erase them from my memory, to be fair. Um, but that was the game that. Mariota went out, wasn't it? And Josh Johnson came in. We were in the game, weren't we? And it was like, we might actually even pull something off here.'cause the Eagles were in that kind of weird phase where they often are at the end of the season where nothing seems to be working on. Offense for them. The fans are getting a bit techy, but they're already in the playoffs. yeah, I think we all kind of collectively came together and said, well, there is really nothing to analyze anymore. After Josh Johnson is in the game, the 39-year-old quarterback, there's injuries all over the place. Everyone is massively depressed. We're clearly gonna pretty much lose out. Well, we thought we were gonna lose out, but overall, that was the first loss. And then we went into. Christmas day, and I think James, you might have seen the most of that game.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 13:31

Unfortunately. So, um, and I had had a fair amount bottles of Moretti, um, a few margaritas uh, yeah, I was getting wound up in that one.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 13:44

The traditional Christmas date, margarita, is it

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 13:46

yeah, it was in our house. Um, no, I, I was getting wound. It, it was just more a combination of mind actually just winning this game, on Christmas day and, and depression of kind of. A team that's trotting out Josh Johnson. Again, it just felt like we were in a, a horrible time. Um, I can't remember how that game ended. I know there's some, we got some huge chunk plays. I think, uh, perhaps the longest passing touchdown, the seasons against us, um, to Terin or someone like that. Um, I think Merritt had a good game. Um. yeah, not much to say about that. I did, I did watch all of it though, for some reason.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 14:29

gonna say, if there was anything to point out from that game, it would be Croskey Merritt, who had our longest, uh, runoff, scrimmage from the season for a touchdown. Ironically, when Netflix, who attempted to try and big that game up

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 14:40

Uh, Let's actually, yes, let's talk about that. Uh.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 14:44

uh, we're with, we're talking with Clinton Porters, I believe at the time.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 14:49

Uh, yeah, but more frustratingly before that, when we were driving down the field, they had, um, who's the Dallas running back exercise, running back, big name him

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 15:01

Smith,

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 15:01

for ages. There was no commentary for age, but five minutes just talking over our whole drive, just about him and how he found it's a running back and stuff. And it was just, it was really, it was really bad

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 15:13

On, on, on the lead. I didn't watch any of the game. Um, I was busy obviously, and did not have, I did, I,

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 15:19

She was

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 15:19

I,

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 15:19

So

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 15:20

I didn't have it.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 15:21

Thank God for Kay

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 15:22

That's true. I didn't have it in me to try to try and convince the household I was in to put that on at six o'clock on Christmas day.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 15:28

panel as well, which is quite strange.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 15:31

I actually, I love the, I have an image of James just getting really annoyed on his Christmas day, which does bring a slight smile to my face because even in our group chat when we've thrown in the towel, there's no way James can watch a game without getting frustrated, which, um, makes me laugh a little bit.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 15:47

I couldn't,

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 15:48

it's, it's always painful if

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 15:50

I really fancied within that one. I know it would've made no sense. Um, but yeah, my, our extended family had gone home. My parents retired to the lounge, had the dining room to, uh, the TV to myself and drink a bit and watched the game. So is what I did.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 16:04

Nice. Just to mention Crosky Merit on that, that game because he did have, uh, another Rookie of the week performance. I think he's got the most this season, offensive rookie of the week. Um,'cause he went. 11 for 105 and two scores. So fair play to him. Um, but yeah, like you said, it was crazy actually in the lead up to that game, I saw more adverts on Netflix for that game than for Stranger Things, which I think is a bit more of a phenomenon that's worth, uh, watching. And Laura kept saying, oh, is is watching playing on Christmas Day? Because like, don't, don't worry about it, it's fine. You can have that one. Um, but yes, so we did lose two. The Cowboys 30 to 23 on Christmas Day. Uh, let's lead into the most recent game. Um, and I guess this technically means that this is a victory recap pod after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in week 18, 24 to 17. Um.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 16:54

Victory Tuesday,

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 16:56

choose that. A game that I wanted to lose desperately because I thought there was a chance leading into this game, doing all the tanon research that I'd done, that we could be as high as the second, but very unlikely, as high as the second. But we could be as high as the fifth pick, and the top five pick is very valuable. Uh, instead we went on and won the game. So there you go. Lee, your thoughts briefly on the Eagles game in week? A.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 17:16

Yeah, I've been getting ready for this mini segment here because. W as we said going into December, we're not cheering on losses in week 12 or or whatever. And we were pretty confident of a top 10 pick and we basically were telling people, don't worry'cause we're gonna lose most of them anyway, but I can't bring myself to do it when it's that early, you know, around Thanksgiving, et cetera. But when you get into those last couple of weeks and the last week in particular. there is absolutely nothing to play for and you've had the early results go your way, I am all in on doing the sensible thing organizationally. there's a couple of caveats here. We were already down to Josh Johnson, right? So putting Sam Hartman in, which I would basically very much considered after seeing him in the preseason, why the hell not What was the alternative to try and lose that game? it was blatantly obvious. You could have just sat all your defensive guys. We pretty much put, if you actually look, um, offense and defense, we put our best players out that weren't available. So even though people are, are pushing back on this narrative that we had our backups out'cause of all the injuries. Well, there's some truth to that, but let's face it, we had a pretty, you know, full defensive line from what was available, didn't we? We put our best secondary out there. But what on earth was the likes of Terry McClure doing out there against that guy, Ringo or whoever he is, the third string for Philadelphia. Um. I think I tweeted during the game that I vividly remember Howie Roseman, uh, put in Nate Subfield into the game. I'm sure that call came down from the, the owner's box at the link that, that day when Ron Rivera was trying to win the division at six and nine at the time, and we got to the seventh win to win the division. So the Eagles literally tanked and they, they had pushback because we'd have lost that game, the Giants would've won the division, but, but they didn't care. They'd done the smart. a smart thing and I, I think following as much as that pays me to say it, Howie Rose's mentality is, is the smart thing. The Eagles actually got Devonte Smith with that draft pick, and we're sitting here now, move down to seven. So I was Adam Peters, I'd have had some backbone. I'd have said, no, McCluen isn't playing. Pull him, pull him, pull him. And, and if Dan Quinn doesn't like it, that's, that's his problem because it is a big deal to me. The fifth verse of the

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 19:42

Yep.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 19:43

push pushback on that. but I have no interest in winning that game. There's no cultural win there. There's no carryover, there's no loser mentality. The loser mentality was losing by 20 points for half the

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 19:56

Yep.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 19:56

so I did not need to see Dan Quinn giving out game balls saying This was really cool. We've been waiting for this. Or season

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 20:02

time moment.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 20:03

um, say no interest in it. The smart thing was to lose that game, and I will, you know, debate anyone who says otherwise on that.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 20:11

I agree just before you come in, James. Uh, especially given that the early window, it wasn't like the games were simultaneous, so the Giants beat the Cowboys and the Browns beat the Bengals, which would've, you know, meant if we'd have lost that, we'd have had the fifth pick'cause of strength of scheduling. It's the Giants and'cause the. The Browns would've won one more game than us, and those games had finished before we kicked off. So it's not like we, we had to make in-game difficult decisions. And it looks, looks worse than it is. You could, you could just have sat those guys, like you said, and I think it would've been the right thing to do because you look at draft value charts and we're gonna get into a lot of draft stuff now, obviously in, in later episodes, and that makes a huge difference, five to seven, uh, at the top of the draft. It, it makes a massive, uh, difference, one or two spots. So I'm in complete agreement with you, Lee. Um. Anyone on, on x and, and fan bases, maybe listeners that think you just, just try and win every game.'cause it's important. This game is forgotten already and it is forgotten as it was played basically as, as a load of nonsense. So James, your thoughts on that? I.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 21:07

Yeah, I think, um, obviously I'd. I'm always one that wants to win a game. But I think given, as you guys have said this is particularly important, that of it is that we knew the outcomes and what the best and worst case scenario was of winning and losing this game. Um, so for me, before this game started, I think I said to you guys, we we're gonna win this game because. Classic Dan Quinn's gonna want to act like this is a big win. but it's also a test to see if we're now a smart organization and they failed that test. I think it's quite naive from Adam Peters, and as you say, it would've been nice to see him take a bit of a, a stand on that. and to be honest, even Quinn, he knows there next year. So maybe if Peter hasn't got made decision, maybe he could start pulling a few starters. Um, he's more than capable of what's going right, going around and the bigger picture is. So a dumb win, uh, for a, a dumb, a dumb team. Um, I, I guess is it,'cause Quinn see you in two weeks, a couple of weeks ago, that he thought he better try and win this game. wouldn't surprise me. Um, yeah, similar se, similar sentiments to, to you guys.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 22:18

yeah, as we're here. Josh, can you just load in the Ben standard question from yesterday's? Um. Press conference'cause it's, he does actually mention this. This topic.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 22:29

timing. Let's play that now.

22:31

and obviously the front office is about looking ahead of the coaches, is about looking in the moment when you guys are in the position where you're eliminated from the playoffs or the season's going a certain way. Do you weigh in and say, Hey, maybe we need to get some younger guys into see what we have next year, or even have a discussion about, hey, if we win a game in the last week, it could affect draft status and the importance perhaps of that. Even if you say. We're not gonna worry about that. Do you weigh in on those matters? Yeah. I told him the tank and he just said, no, no. Um, you know, that game was important. Hell no. That game was important for us to win, so I'm really glad we won for, for a lot of different reasons. Um, but in terms of. Uh, just weighing in on personnel things. I, I think, you know, it goes back to what Q was saying. We talk all the time. We talk every single day, all day about, you know, how can we do better? You know, and I'll make suggestions and I'll say, oh, that's a good idea, or, no, this is why we, we won't do that. But I think that's an, a constant dialogue between us and there's no. You know, it's, it's, we have a great respect for each other. So if I ask a question, he, he knows where it's coming from and it's not coming from a bad place. It's either coming from trying to get information or just understanding. So, um, but yeah, we're always talking about that, you know, every single week, you know, regardless of our record, you know, always trying to, sometimes I have ideas that I think are good and they're not, and so, and he'll tell me why. And, and then sometimes they are, they are good. So I think that's a healthy relationship that we'll always have. And I hope that, you know, we'll, we'll continue to have.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 23:58

You had Ben there actually talking to Ben standing, my mate Ben, since he's not working for the athletic, I think he actually does kind of ask a little bit more aggressive questions, which, which I like. His question's always been good, to be fair, but, and now he's doing his own thing. I think he's gone a little bit more rogue. So you heard him there. Basically ask, um. To of put it out there, was there not more of a mentality to play the younger guys down the stretch? was there even a discussion that losing the game would be better? Basically, Peter's joked. Yeah. I told him to Tank and Quinn said, as you just heard, uh, Quinn said, no, I'm not doing it. And then Quinn jumps in and goes, hell no. And they're kind of joking about it. Uh, that just annoys me. Um, I just thought that was noteworthy because they're obviously. Just, that's Quinn's mentality. It's old school. Let's put our best players out there. Let's get these veteran wins for their cvs. Just don't like it. So.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 24:53

Yeah, totally agree. Um, just quickly on this, because I felt that both teams did the wrong thing in, in this game, um, I felt like the Eagles from their perspective should have tried to win the game. And not necessarily play starters, et cetera, but, but, but certainly play maybe a bit more aggressively or a few players that could have made a bit of a difference because, uh, in losing the game, they fell to the three seed, right, instead of the two seed. Um, so they now host San Francisco instead of potentially hosting Green Bay. Have I got that? Rightly?

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 25:22

Correct. They were trying to definitely win the game, but they thought they could beat Josh Johnson. I thought they could beat Josh Johnson probably with their, their backups. But yeah, their defensive secondary behind the elite secondary didn't, didn't look very good, did it? So for them, they were probably banking on Chicago probably win that game as well. Now, when the Bears were losing that game, the Bears had their starters in, by the way, they, they were down quite big and then they came back. So it was like a. Coin flip game, but the fourth quarter, I think Siri will take some heat if they get knocked out at the weekend, and in my opinion, they maybe should have had some starters like ready to go if with that scenario going on at Soldier Field at the same time. You know, have them warmed up and maybe just put a few in.'cause even when Smith was in at the start, they were looking miles better, weren't they? So I think that was a mistake, not only if the second seed, you guarantee a second home game with a win as well.'cause obviously the first seed will have a buy and have their home game and you won't play them as a second seed. So, I mean, the Bears now, if they beat the Packers, it guaranteed the division around at Soldier Field, which he eagles with a win would've got the second seed. So his definitely, uh, they had, um. Sorry, they had Brown get injured the last game of the season a couple years ago, so they're probably thinking about that. Uh, I can see the idea of resting some starters, but maybe you should have just had enough to win the game. Ready?

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 26:45

Yep. Agreed. And just one more thing just to wind James up a little bit. Um, I saw this stat pop up, uh, earlier on this week that Nick Siri is, uh, eight and two against Washington, uh, including the playoffs, which makes him, uh, in the modern era that the winningest coaching record against Washington team. So very successful head coach James against us. Your mate.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 27:09

Very successful coach. Um,

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 27:12

so

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 27:13

yeah, that's,

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 27:14

hold on

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 27:15

Alright.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 27:16

so both his is both his wins against, or both our wins against him? Against backup callbacks?

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 27:22

Probably, uh,

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 27:23

the end of the season, Hertz came out, didn't he?

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 27:26

No,

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 27:27

yeah.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 27:27

year

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 27:27

Well, yeah. And didn't, didn't we beat them with Ron though when they were unbeaten? At some point? Maybe we've got three wins against them. them like when they were unbeaten on a Monday night

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 27:36

are, are you questioning Josh's figures there?

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 27:39

Heineke, remember he got hit. a flag. Layton's was dancing, maybe we're eight and free against him, but who knows?

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 27:47

a prick.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 27:48

is arick at least that, at least that win did knock them outta the sea. That's the one thing he can say

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 27:54

The

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 27:55

Yeah.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 27:55

is owe them one as well. If you recall.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 27:57

Yes,

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 28:00

Yeah, that's true. And we'll get into some, uh, some playoff stuff later in the week when we do a, a, a playoff podcast preview of all of the games because we're excited about World Cup Weekend. Uh, but let's crack on with the main portion of the show, Lee's idea, the Blame Game. Who should we blame the most? Always fun to blame people personally for things. Uh, who should we blame the most for this disaster of a season? Just five wins.

28:24

Hey, we wound up five and 11. Not very good. Um, but there was some worse than us. I guess that's one positive way to look at it. We weren't the worst team in the league.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 28:34

And there's obviously the obvious to go around that we can talk about, which is general management. Adam Peters, Dan Quinn. Coaching generally injuries. A combination of the above, obviously it will be a combination to some extent. Uh, and then we'll end on each of us, uh, having our thoughts on Dan Quinn and whether or not he should be on the hot seat, uh, after black Monday yesterday with a number of firings. People were talking, at least on commanders Twitter about the possibility. Um, so, uh, blame to go around. Uh, Lee, I'm gonna give you first go at this as it was your idea and a good one. What do you think? Uh, for this season where it should land mostly.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 29:14

Yeah, I've categorized it into like three different areas. So I had Peters, Dan Quinn, and the injuries as the main of segments for why. The season went so south, A lot goes into it. So we've obviously had two drafts now since, the new regime has come in. Me and James done a show in the summer and we said, let's not quite give Peters, you know, the, quite yet. Jayden Daniels has obviously been phenomenal and we need to see growth from the rest of that draft in 2024. Massive regression there. So that's been a bit of a disappointment. I would say all of them. Second round players haven't really yet.'cause we had, with that trade back with the Eagles, we had six picks in the top a hundred. Sandra still was, I believe, the most beaten cornerback in terms of touchdowns in the league. Uh, Johnny Newton very quiet, popped a little bit the knee on Christmas day, I guess, but not really done too much this season. In fact, was struggling to get snaps. high second round pick Ben in at a complete non-factor. Caught a few balls at the end of the season. to have about eight false starts on Sunday as well. So a lot of those players, um, that we picked after Jane and Daniels have not really performed. And that was probably our biggest opportunity to, to really get some young starters on the team. Having six picks in the top a hundred. He came in with five, but then done the, the trade. Um. So that I would say is a concern. I think Peter's is a little bit, um, out of favor maybe. Is that, is that fair to say? I just feel like his, his draftings being questioned a little bit more. Now this year, obviously got injured. I think people have a lot of confidence in him. He found Berlin the later rounds, and Crosky Merritt, who hasn't always been the bell cow, I guess. Um, but he's still got really good numbers so. Some, some good potential there. So we will just see. I, I just wanna see steady improvement from Adam Peters. Really. I do feel that Quinn has a lot of say in terms of the personnel as well and kind of telling him what player to, to go after in terms of schemes. So hopefully some lessons have been learned. I will say, in terms of the trades and the free agency that is made is kind of got a maybe a 50 50, um, hit rate. So the big trade for Lamore, we can say is a complete bus at this point. But the tons one, as he said yesterday, he'd do it again. And I, I think that was the smart, the smart play.'cause left tackles can play, can play late a lot. So Adam, Pete is, I don't think, has constructed the roster brilliantly. Uh, so I do have him as definitely part of it. And he's a new GM and he is working with an experienced coach. So just hopefully, hopefully we'll have a lot of learning there. As I've talked a fair bit about Peters, maybe we'll just. Go over, jump over to James for Dan Quinn.'cause otherwise I don't wanna just repeat all of our stuff if we're on the same page. But yeah. James, what do you think about Quinn and how much this season is down to him? I'm looking forward to

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 32:26

I do want a couple of lines not co exactly what we said. I think he was naive to just. and paste the strategy from the previous year of signing old vets on one year deals where it worked out the previous year and thinking it would happen again. the NFL doesn't really work like that. Um, so I think a massive opportunity and I think we are kind of back to square one from when, uh, Quinn first came in in terms of how the roster looks. Because if you took big, if you took Jane Daniels out this roster, look at it top to bottom and you'd say that's a rebuild job. Um, so that's kind of. Says it all on where I'm at with Peters at the moment. So, um, hopefully as you say, lessons have been learned and they take a different approach, um, this off season. But yeah. Uh, Dan Quinn, he is infuriated, throughout. Um, there's moments where he's looked like Ron Revera on the sideline, looking confused and dumbfounded. There were games, for the first three court, three quarters of the season probably where they were coming out. Massively unprepared and slow just almost losing the game. Um, in the first quarter, um, he run out of things to sale for. His message was wearing thin, um, in a lot of the press conferences. what can't happen is having the defense we've had under a defensive head coach two years in a row. fear that. He's hiring his pals. We saw Rivera do that a lot. Um, sounds like, I think you probably read the same thing as Mely that has his say on deciding who the personnel are in terms of his coaches Are, um, is that gonna happen again? I'd have my concerns if he's now gonna. in another of his who's not necessarily the right fit, um, rather than getting the best person for the job. Um, so I have concerns going forward. the players may say they like him and all that sort of thing, and he is a motivator, but seasons like this, stay with people. that are still there, the staff that's still there, it's hard to kind of, when they come back in March or April, whenever it may be. It's not gonna be quick to erase what's happened this season. obviously we dunno what goes on behind closed doors so it doesn't sound like he's lost the dressing room. Um, I mean, there's something he's doing wrong because they were coming out looking pretty poor. So he's either a bad coach or a bad motivator. So take your pick. Might be both. Um, in terms of. How much blame is on him. I actually put more blame on Peter's because of what I'd said and what Leah's touched on. and obviously there's a lot of injuries which he can't control, and, um, a lot of people not there during the off season. However, I think there was a lot of things in terms of coaching decisions and what we were seeing from the players looking unprepared.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 35:40

Yeah, before we let Josh summarize all, all of it, and. Add his 2 cents and I, I feel like Josh might, might push back hopefully a little bit so he can maybe have some debate on it.'cause I know Dan Quinn got us to the NFC Championship game for the first time in the best part of three decades last year. I guess if we were doing this last season, we would say how much of. was down to Dan Quinn and how much of it was down to, to Jaden Daniels, et cetera. But for me, Dan Quinn has had an absolute disastrous season, like as bad as it could have gone, because I feel like he's made really bad decisions in the season as well. Even when we were bad team Jaden Daniels versus Seattle, you know, we were saying, well, Daniels has only played three games, start to finish. Well, Quinn had a massive hand in that for the second half, half of the season. As James said, he didn't have the players really ready to go, and I feel like Atlanta fans used to say this, he has a bit of an obsession with some of these veteran players and not giving the younger players more of a chance. And to me that's where I'm a bit worried about the relationship between him and Peters. I feel like Peter is, is. A first time young gm and he might be listing it a little bit too much to these guys. Even Kingsbury had some kind of hand in that Connolly pick, it sounded like, didn't it? So I need my GM to kind of take over the show here a little bit more, I feel like. But it's a bit of speculation there. But overall, I think it's been a disastrous season for Quinn. he can stand on the sideline and look at that defense and not be embarrassed. I'm sure he was, but the guy kind of talks in riddles on a Monday morning. It just gets very tiring, doesn't it, when you're that bad. It works if you're winning, I guess. But, um, Josh, what do you think overall and then with the injuries, I guess I

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 37:25

I. like how you ended that.'cause that was, that was gonna be my point, was it, it always works when, when you're winning and it's always horrible to listen to when you're losing. And there's a certain way that certain coaches speak, which is more frustrating than other coaches. And we've had that with, with Ron for sure. Less say with Jay. And now we've got it a bit more, again, I think with Dan Quinn, who is frustrating to listen to. For a number of reasons. I think everything you both said is, is absolutely correct. However, I will push back and I think you, you kind of knew I was going to a little bit based on the injuries. Um, before this season, we made our predictions and we said, um, all of those are kind of null and void. If Jaden Daniels gets hurt for a significant part of the year, um. That doesn't take away all of the things that you've mentioned for sure. But him being hurt and out for that long and in and out, et cetera, does put a big asterisk on the year, at least on the record. Um, I think we could probably all agree on that, on the record itself, the way things have been handled. No. So you said that Quinn should be embarrassed. There's a, there's a number of things I think Quinn should be embarrassed about. One is, is his hire of Joe Whitt Jr. Bringing him across at, in the start. There's a guy that's not been a defensive coordinator before and failed miserably. The second thing he could be embarrassed about is not taking, moving on from him quickly enough when everyone could see it and calling it. The third thing was this supposed bounce back that was gonna occur under Dan Quinn, taking over defensive duties. Um, so those are all particularly bad from a defensive head coach. Supposedly that's his strength. And I know that's not the kind of the thing that everyone looks at now in the NFL and expects to work, but it, it can work. Look at Seattle and how it's worked there. So I do think there's an element of we should still expect more, even if we have got, you know, haven't got offensive minded head coach. We should expect more defensively. He doesn't have a lot to work with. And that's on Adam Peter's and a bit of a hangover from the previous regime. But, but I do agree that Peter's, I think he probably got way too much credit last year and now was getting a bit too much. Um. Uh, stick probably is somewhere in between. I think all the highs of last year were what a genius GM will look at all these amazing pickups. And then this year it's, oh, look at all these busts. I think there's somewhere in between. I do think that the, the latter more trade is an obvious bus, like you said, but Conley looks like a great first round pick. Again, he's hit on maybe two first round picks. So I think it's, it's interesting. Um. To put the blame game. I'll try and summarize. I think it's more injuries than either of the others, so I'd say 40% injuries and then 30, 30 kind of split between Quinn and and Peter's. But I will lead that into the conversation about whether or not Dan Quinn should be on the hot seat, because I think five and 12 and the goodwill, kind of like you said, ebbing away, especially after decisions made mid-season. There's not a conversation, it doesn't seem out there in the wider media. And that kind of surprises me a bit because I think there should at least be a conversation. Um, what do you think, Lee? At least a conversation. Mm-hmm.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 40:24

uh, the injuries bit? Can I just point you towards the San Francisco 49 ERs without brought Purdy for a big chunk of the season two defensive stars, Fred Warner and Nick Bosa. Then earlier on in season we're saying we can't recover from the injury to Will Harris. Um.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 40:42

Well, it's a lack of depth, isn't it? So you get in, one guy gets injured, that's not actually that good, but behind him there's genuinely nothing. Then the hole is, uh, is, is massive. So I, I get, I get your point about the niners and how, what they've been able to do in spite of their injuries.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 40:56

Have to take that into account and that's why go into the next chat. That's why Quinn will get another shot. But, the quarterback injury is massive, but it's up and down the league. I.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 41:07

that are definitely better at figuring it out. The nine is record's. Incredible. And even look at the charges, their offensive line has been decimated this season. They're fighting on Saturday, right? Or whenever it is this

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 41:17

Mm-hmm.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 41:18

I, think the injuries part, the, Convenient a little bit'cause I saw them fully healthy against the Green Bay Packers get absolutely torn apart defensively. This defense was gonna suck, whatever, and we weren't gonna be a playoff team. I, I think we can probably safely say that, but yeah, I do. I do agree that the injuries a bit played a huge part of it because we are the most injured team in the league in terms of starters. I also think they need to look at that organizationally. There's a lot of luck goes into

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 41:47

Hmm.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 41:48

Even John Kim, he's a bit of a company guy for being honest, always gets the first questions, et cetera. He was saying what a soft camp he thought they um, in the summer. And we had two NFL games in four days. Don't forget. And we got injured straight away, didn't we? So.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 42:03

Yeah, good point. Um, one other thing on Quinn actually, um, before we talk about whether he should be on the hot seat or not, is, um, is the, the penalties, um, the most false starts in the league by, by a mile and the most pre-snap offensive penalties by a mile. A lot of indiscipline earlier in the season, defensively. Um. Lots of holds and PIs'cause people can't cover. But like ultimately that's not, um, acceptable. And it does play into what James, you were saying about not being ready or coming out slow and also being indisciplined, but you can't defend that as a head coach. And I think that he deserves, um, a lot of stick for how. How poor we've been in the penalty department as well, and that is on him ultimately as a head coach. So that's annoying as well. And I know some of that might, people might say it's'cause backups are in, but that's not fair, really. Um, so yeah, I mean, he, he's obviously gonna get another go. Um, I suppose. Uh, even though I said the injuries are the most kind of important factor in this season going south, I'm not particularly excited about next year if it's under Quinn and Peters, so that, that there's my kind of, oh, I'm not really sure about how things are gonna go, rather than my usual blind optimism. So, um, that's, that's I guess a way to end it for me that bit because I think, yeah, he, he, he shouldn't be fired, but ultimately I'm not that excited either. It's just a bit of a shit place to be in, I guess.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 43:25

Yeah, I kind of agree with that. So I think there should be a lot more of a conversation.'cause it wasn't just five wins, it was who the wins were against. Two against the giants, one against the Raiders, one against the Eagles scrubs essentially. So that's only one quality win all season. A lot of the losses were blowouts by 20 plus points. just looked embarrassing out there for a good chunk of the season. So when you look at that, I actually think there should be a conversation. It sounds a bit rash. But I would do the brave thing personally, and it sounds a bit hotheaded. I personally just don't see us winning with him big time in the next three or four seasons. I think this time next year he might well be fired just how I feel about it. But in the other sense of it, there's no way he's getting fired in the modern NFL. Him and Peters came in at the same time, so they're kind of tied together. They went to the NFC championship game. So they're not getting fired, would I do it? I'd have the serious conversation, but yeah,

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 44:22

Oh, question. Question for both of you then on that, Lee. So. Do, do you think if we keep Adam p as as GM and Dan Quinn as head coach, but we make two splash exciting coordinator hires that you are happy with, do you think that we could still win under that regime? Because I, I think we could. I think if we had an offensive coordinator that replaces Cliff and we'll talk about that possibility and a defensive coordinator that is a proper defensive coordinator, not Quinn, himself or Joe wit, um, I think we could win and we could be a good team if we don't get hurt. Do you disagree or do you think that, you know, we're ultimately doomed with Quinn at the helm?

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 44:59

I just don't trust I don't trust them to make those hires.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 45:03

Y Yeah, exactly. I don't, I think you can win under

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 45:07

I.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 45:07

have all the pieces in place. I don't really rate Siri. He's more of an offensive guy, isn't he? I think some of his, um, game management's really questionable he's just had Howie Roseman defensive coordinator and his kind of pl along with his offensive hires, but just the roster makes them look good. So I yes is the answer, but. I don't really like that there's only a few coaches like kind of vape or a few others that have the ability really to do that. big, I kind of wanna stick with Alan Peters he's pretty learning position. Like I think he would be more rash to get rid of him. I feel like give him five years unless he really goes terribly wrong and the roster's really falling apart. But yeah, I just don't, I just don't have the confidence under Quinn to be honest. I was happy when you had Cliff. Doing his thing last season and then Quinn maybe kind of overseeing a little bit if we could get the next defensive coordinator guy. Right. But it just, to me, I just, I just see him as a guy that's been around forever. Can't really stop the modern game that well with the Shanahan style offenses has, that kind of coach that's just never gonna win, like after that Super Bowl. I just feel like he's never, he's never getting to the promised land. He's not someone that's gonna. Be a bright, you know, he is not gonna change course, essentially, is he? You know what I mean? So I want to get younger in the coaching department as well. But I don't know. I just feel like time next year we might be having an interesting conversation.'cause I can't see the roster just suddenly, completely flipping to be

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 46:39

Yeah, I think, I think unfortunately it's gonna be, probably gonna be a sitting duck for next year. might just be one of those open secrets everyone knows he's probably gone. It'd have to have a pretty good turnaround, which is, as you say, it's gonna be tough at this roster. I would, you say, I would have the conversation. Internally, because you can't have a season like that with, without, um, doing so. And it would depend who else is out there. I know they're not going to do that, but if you're asking, what I would do, be very interested in Kevin Stefanski, um, as a, as a replacement. If, if we're looking in fantasy world, um, yeah, he'll be there next year and he'll have a mammoth task. Um. keep, to keep his job. I suspect we'd have to have a really, really good season. Um, as you say, Josh, it's hard to get excited based on what we've just seen. So I think they've got around the trust back of everyone involved in the organization for fans, staff, uh, to play is and it might be a bit harder to attract people

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 47:42

was gonna ask that question'cause they do have.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 47:44

'cause they're banging on about that last year, how everyone's gonna wanna come and is that gonna be the same? Um.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 47:50

Well, they do have Jaden still. They have Jaden and they have the money. And I think those things will, you know, and they don't have Dan Snyder. So I do think those things will help in terms of in, in terms of recruiting head coaches in the future, but also coordinators now. So let's talk a bit about that'cause there's been a lot of conversation this week about Cliff Kingsbury and whether he's likely to move on. He obviously didn't rule out anything. Um, I don't think he'll get a head coaching job in this cycle. If he leaves us personally, I think he's more likely to be a another o OC somewhere else, which does make me think he might stick around. Um, even though there's a number of openings, there are some, some more highly touted candidates like Stefanski, like you said, James. Who I think will move on to other head coaching roles. Um, I might be wrong. Um, I did say earlier in the season that it didn't really matter what happened. He would get a head coaching gig. I kind of rode back on that a bit now, I guess. Um, what do you think? Do you think he'll, he'll want to leave Lee and do you think he's likely to, to leave? I think he's interviewing.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 48:50

Yeah, the old No Smoke without Fire comes to mind, doesn't it? As well after Rossini's article of the weekend. So maybe there is some disconnect there with strategy. Gruden yesterday said he surprised because why would a coordinator be talking to a general manager? But who knows how the setup is? I think Cliff is probably pretty frustrated. Uh, pissed off at. The whole last, um, 10 months really since we lost to Philadelphia, trying to get Terry under contract. Uh, what he's been given in terms of the wide receiver room in terms of depth, um, and then just having the worst defense almost of all time the other side. So he's probably frustrated. I think it's unfair that there's so much chat about him, to be honest, when you look at terrible one side of the ball was and then him trying to do what he could without Jayden Daniels, he calls some bad games, don't get me wrong. Yeah, I disagree. I think he's gonna get a head coaching job. There's already six available, so I think someone will take a shot. at him. Stefanski, I'm a bit worried about is gonna go to New York. I feel like that could be a fit and I think that would probably mean we'd have a really weak coach in the division that if you look at it. Um, but yeah, I think Cliff gets a job. I think he leaves if he doesn't get a head coached and job. Then I don't think he makes a lateral move as an oc, so it would have to be that or, or college. Um, unless he just simply loves Jalen Daniels and he thinks this season was a bit of a one-off. But overall, I'm going to stick my neck out and say we're looking for two new coordinators.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 50:25

Yeah, I agree. Just because I think if you look at someone like the Titans who aren't gonna really too many suitors, I wouldn't have thought, somewhere like that. Could be an opportunity for him with a young quarterback to, too much pressure to do anything right away. Um, so he might jump at that one. He might think he can do something with, with Cam Ward, uh, there, um, yeah, I think, I feel, feel from him a bit.'cause now he's got all these stories coming about him and he's been far from of the issues I think most we've had to complain about and some of those kind of goal line calling. Um, but

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 51:03

Some of the penalties are on him. I think the way he, the way he dies up an offense, to be fair.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 51:08

I think frustrated that he's getting heat at the, at the end of the season. He's kind of the talk of the articles. I did see Kevin Sheehan did say the opposite, that there is no issue there. Um, so it'd be interesting to see who's right or wrong, um, when it sort eventually gets resolved one way or the other. But, um, I think. If he gets the chance, I think he, he will go. Um, but I, as I say, I think it'd be for a team like the Titans, where they may struggle to attract suitors. Um,

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 51:40

it, I hope, I hope Cliff goes to the Giants rather than just Stefanki after two. Um, if that was to happen,'cause I did see that he might be interviewing the Giants. Um, Stefanki is obviously getting a head coach job, right? There's no way he'd go back to an OC now shortly.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 51:56

So fancy got a horrible hand at Cleveland. Their GM is a

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 52:00

Mm-hmm.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 52:00

he's a, I think it's an I would be all over him if I needed a head coach. A hundred percent. was kind of the one like Mike Vail being available. It's like you just have to grab him because. It's just where he was that made it basically unworkable. But for sure with Cliff, the one thing I will say is the offense just looks a bit weird how it kind of works, isn't it? Because he does know Huddle, but because the other team have a chance to substitute, it's not really that fast Tempe. So it does look a bit strange. Um, the whole under center thing, obviously. But I mean, that was fine. Last year. Patrick Mahomes didn't exactly play under Senate at the time. Has a lot of success. Um, so it just, I, I'm not really as worried about that kind of stuff, but it would be, this should be really interesting. There's so many obvious defensive directions. We could go with all these Dan Queen connections out there as well, but that would then be really interesting. gonna have a very active podcast for the next few months it feels like.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 52:59

Yeah, absolutely. We'll keep a close eye on all the coaching carousel stuff as well, because it will affect us in, in some sort of ways. Um, and in terms of coordinators, we'll have a probably a. A defined episode on that when, if and when those are, um, announced because it'll be interesting to see what sort of philosophy they bring defensively and offensively. Can't be worse defensively. Surely can't be worse. What's Joe Barry doing? Is he knocking around still?

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 53:23

Insert Mick McCarthy quote

53:25

Terms of results, it can't go on like this, can it? It can.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 53:31

Yeah. All right. Um, we don't have too much longer, it's the middle of a working day on this Tuesday and the start of Lee's working day. So we're gonna try and end on a positive note, which I dunno if that's gonna be too feasible. But the season has finished our first season of the podcast. Also, by the way, I'm very sorry, boys. I missed the 50th episode special. It was, I think it was three episodes ago. So we've gotta wait for the next. Big milestone to do something special. Maybe 75 or a hundred. Maybe we'll get to 75 before the draft. Given how much I'm gonna be excited about draft players. But um, yeah, we wanna end on something positive. So a favorite moment of the season can be any moment. Doesn't have to be a play. It can be something else. I'm 10, tear myself up there a little bit. Um, but let's go with James, your favorite moment of this season.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 54:18

Yeah, I'm glad he came to me first.'cause I can say Madrid and specifically, the moment we all reunited after the burn about game, uh, in that lovely little bar with red zone on, um, favorite moment of the season, I don't think. Any more explanation required. I think we spoke about that in length on the Madrid episode. Um, yeah, it certainly wouldn't be anything that happened on the field, but was a, was a good, good, good night. Good

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 54:44

It was a special trip and I'm glad I had a backup'cause that was gonna be mine also. Um, but obvious, probably a bit too obvious I guess. Um, my, my one is on the field, so mine was the Jalen Lane punt, return touchdown against the Raiders 90 yard punt return. Um, because we talked about Jalen Lane and his explosiveness. As a special teamer and then to see that translate was very nice. Do you think there's something in Jalen Lane in the future? Certainly as a player on this roster and certainly as a returner, so I was glad to see that and that was kind of one of those, take it to the house moments that, you know, it was just a bit rare for us in our, in our years of watching the team on special teams. So I used to kind of. Go and, uh, go and make a drink or whatever, or go to the fridge when there was a punt return. But now I don't when Jane Lane's back there. So that was my favorite moment on the field and off the field definitely was. Any moment imagery that you could pick? Really, Lee, what about yourself? I.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 55:38

Yeah, good shout boys. And also on Jaylen Lane, he did have that one against the Giants, didn't he? So that gives me a bit more hope that it's. Not gonna be just a one, one-off. And maybe we can get two or three of those. A season would be would be great. He's obviously highly touted in the return game. Didn't probably have enough chances did he? With our defense as well. So I like that. Obviously Madrid was a fantastic trip. We done the whole special episode on it.'cause it was just a really. Amazing few days together with all of us. I'm gonna go with the game out west, our one quality win of the season. The one time it felt like last year watching this team, so going to Los Angeles, which was a bit of a special trip for me as well. Going there and winning that game was clearly the highlight on the field. So I would just say that day in general was fantastic. Um, on the West Coast in Los Angeles.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 56:34

I, I just shocked you didn't pick the snails at this point.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 56:39

A the snail.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 56:42

Uh, that's a great one. Um, we were very, James and I are very glad that you had that experience.'cause otherwise it obviously could have felt more like a full washout season if you didn't have something so positive to experience on one of your trips.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 56:54

it long enough, wasn't I looking at that, the schedule game.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 56:58

Schedule game.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 56:59

that one, worked out. Schedule game will be

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 57:01

We can play the schedule game soon because our opponents are set. God, it looks tough on paper.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 57:05

again, doesn't it? I forgot about that. Yeah.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 57:08

next year will be way better. We've

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 57:09

It's not. Yeah. Yeah. Hmm.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 57:12

I'm intrigued about a London game possibility though. Who knows? And, uh. I dunno, something like Jacksonville or something. Maybe a little trip to Florida. Who knows? Um, cool. Um, obviously this is the first pod for a while. We're gonna be much more regular now that we are back in the swing of things. Um, at least for the time being. So there is the playoffs starting on. Uh, Saturday. Um, and we're gonna get a put out before then where the three of us discuss the wild card weekend games and also a bit of a bracket each, I guess for the whole playoffs. Predictions, dark horses, teams we wanna do well, teams we don't wanna do well, and all that jazz heading into the playoffs. And then we'll be relatively active throughout the playoffs as well before a break, after the Super Bowl, moving into free agency. Obviously, uh, from now until the draft, there'll be a lot to talk about. Um, there will also be. Um, potentially some breaking news pods that sort of time of year, so any announcement of hires and those sorts of things. So we'll be back on the airwaves a lot more dear listeners, before, uh, the draft,

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 58:16

We must also recap some of those preseason predictions.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 58:20

lost the spreadsheet. It's gone. It's gone. it. Yeah,

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 58:24

there's a few that, stick

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 58:26

some really good ones.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 58:27

There's some really good

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 58:28

Yeah.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 58:29

I don't think I've done very well. I not to call him out. I do remember Miles talking about the Las Vegas Raiders being his surprise team, so probably

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 58:39

Call out. Great call out.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 58:40

Sorry,

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 58:41

I now, I, I did say panthers to the playoffs and it,

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 58:45

You did.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 58:45

it did

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 58:46

Yeah. Nice. You did,

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 58:48

And

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 58:48

shout.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 58:49

a really good one because they were not fancied

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 58:52

I mean, I got, I mean, yeah, they, I mean they were kind of limped in, but yeah. Fair play to you.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 58:56

have had the chiefs not winning the

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 58:58

I had the Chiefs not making the playoffs. Um, but I also had the Eagles not making the playoffs as the same. It's part of the same bold prediction. I wanted to shout out Tans who said that the dolphins would bench tour and start to tank for a new quarterback in week. I think he said he nailed the week as well. So fair play to Tanner there. Uh, yeah, we'll go through a full one of those actually. Maybe we'll have time to quickly do it on, on this week's show actually, as it's, as it's fresh in the memory. Um, later this week for the playoffs.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 59:24

season into the

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 59:25

Yeah, exactly.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 59:27

Yeah, and for any fans of the NFL in general, not just Washington fans, then this is gonna be the month for you because we're all depressed in January. It's cold. Christmas is over, but there's a lot of good football on, so we are gonna go round the league a bit for these playoffs. And the good news is, boys, this is important to me. We managed to get the scheduling going, but now our scheduling gets way easier with no game recaps to do in of

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 59:51

I.

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 59:51

Yes.

ledders_1_01-06-2026_070343 59:52

and week. We can do our weekends, we can get together whenever the hell we want, and that just makes life a bit easier.

josh_1_01-06-2026_130343 59:58

Yeah. Thank God it's over. Alright, nice one. Cool. Um, thanks everyone for listening. Thanks guys for jumping on. Um, we will be back before the games kickoff this weekend for a playoff preview. Until next time, hail

james_1_01-06-2026_130343 1:00:14

Hail.