Hail on Three
Three fans, two continents, one team. Hail on Three brings together Josh Edwards, James Barker and Lee Edwards to talk Washington Commanders football—the good, the bad and the downright baffling. Expect game talk, guests, hot takes and plenty of side tangents. Whether we’re winning or rebuilding (again), we’re along for the ride.
Weekly preview and recap shows throughout the season. Hail.
Hail on Three
Playoffs Preview Show - Divisional Round
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The boys get together to preview the divisional round playoff games after a brief discussion about their preferences and predictions for the Commanders defensive co-ordinator vacancy.
@HailOnThreePod
I'm knackered, so you have to pull me through of your energy and
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:I got
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:quick wit. Yeah.
How would you describe the culture surrounding this football team? You know, the culture is actually damn good. Daniels quick, get out MCC break. Terry mcc. Mcc. It's gonna win down Washington.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Welcome to another edition of the harlon Free podcast. I'm Josh. I'm your host this evening. It's Friday evening here in the uk. Uh, I'm joined by both James and Lee ahead of the divisional round weekend of the NFL playoffs. Uh, I'm gonna send it across to Lee in Chicago only a few hours. Left Lee of what sounds like quite a busy week for you at work ion by the chat.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:Yeah, hello Sports fans. That has been a bit of a crazy week, I think, for all of us by the sounds of it, but we've managed to get together ahead of what is often the best football weekend of the year, divisional round last week. Certainly lived up to the hypes. Let's see if we get four good games this weekend.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, it did live up to the hype, as did your podcast recording midweek. Sorry not to be able to join you, but you guys did a standup job, um, discussing breaking news again, that we got gazumped a few. Hours after the previous podcast, uh, in terms of the David Blau hire and also the recap of the games of what was a brilliant weekend. So good work, and thank you for doing that midweek. Um, James, I hope you've got Twitter ready just in case something breaks fri this Friday evening in terms of news.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Well, well, I'm all out of sync today, Josh.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Okay.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:massive phone issue, so I haven't even got Twitter back yet, so I'm out of the loop.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:What,
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:be happening I don't know about, and I don't feel comfortable with that.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:What happened? Not this Verizon outage that was in the States, wasn't it?
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:no, it was a, it was a late night and um, the phone was collateral.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Okay. Enough said he didn't get nicked. Didn't get nicked by, uh, someone on a scooter, did it?
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:No,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Okay.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:no, It's my, my own doing.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:you sound a little bit hungover James.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah. No comment. But yeah, no, it, it is my own undo. I, I was not robbed, which is always a positive, I guess if you wanna find one.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Oh, I forgot about you. Yes. You, you. At the event, you, at you,
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yes.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:you, did you, uh, rub shoulders with the great and good?
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Um, tiny Temper was performing.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:No. Then.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:got down the, got down the front as was Jonathan Ross. So, uh, all the stars were out for this
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:bloody hell.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Nice. Fair play to you. Okay, well I'm glad you're back in the, on online, on the internet, uh, as they say. Okay, well it's on us then, Lee, in case, uh, news drops. But no, in our luck it'll drop at like midnight UK time and we'll have already recorded, but we'll try and get it out quickly. Get ahead of it. Um, of course, talking about Commanders News before we look at the, um, playoff games to come this weekend. Uh, and there's been some news, no kind of. Breaking news in terms of there's not yet been a defensive coordinator hired, but we have had interviews and some very high profile names. Interviewed some surprisingly high profile names in my book. Uh, Brian, Brian Flores and, uh, Jonathan Gannon. Both been interviewed this week for the DC position. Both, um, you'd expect would be head coach candidates in one of the open spots. But both exciting names. Um, Lee, what did you think when you first heard that both of those guys are gonna be, at least in the building and being discussed?
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:I'll start with Flore,'cause Gannon doesn't hugely surprise me, although I'm interested that, but Flores does surprise me to be fair. I guess it's his contract situation in Minnesota that's, uh, making him do the rounds at the moment. So he's either gonna get a lucrative new deal in Minneapolis or potentially he'll get a head coach job. But there is some, I'm not sure if baggage is the right word, but obviously there was some legal stuff. He kind of. the league didn't he? For some stuff back in the Miami days. And that kind of was an interesting departure from the Dolphins. But for me, if he's gonna be a defensive coordinator and we could land him, this would be the home run higher. His defense is exceptional. And it wasn't just this year he seems to elevate, know, units that don't always have top, top talent. So I'm not. Either gonna get excited about this one. I don't really believe it happens in my head. He might be doing these rounds to kind of show current employer how sought after he is. And that always helps. And in the case, uh, contract negotiations, doesn't it? So yeah, we'll see what happens, but I dunno, in the off chance it does happen, this would make me feel completely different about the whole off season.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:He'd be all in on Dan Quinn if he could get this guy through the door. That's, that's what I'm hearing.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:Wow. Wow.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:How joking.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:in, uh, Dan Quinn's defensive staff.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:can't, I mean, even that sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? If you look at the standing currently, these guys have, in the league Flores working and reporting to Dan Quinn,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Hmm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:have a top five defense reporting to a bottom five You know what I mean?
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah. Yeah, exactly. That would be, that would, that would feel a bit weird. Um, and I guess that, that I, I'll ask you, James, what you think of that, but also what you think the chances are of us landing him. Because I'm, I'm, I'm thinking pretty slim to be honest. I.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, I, I'm not sure how many of us are even aware of his situation in Minnesota, so I think it came a bit left field to a lot of us, but I'm sure he'll. Be doing the rounds. Um, I think it's probably just trying to get leverage for, for a new deal in Minnesota. I suspect he's got a
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Mm-hmm.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:up there. Um, they're in a much better spot than we are at the moment and a much better head coach as well. So yeah, I'd be surprised at that. So I'd agree that it's slim, but would be pleasantly surprised if they managed to pull it off and I give them credit if they do.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, me too. I mean, it would be a, surely it'd be a a money related thing. I mean, Flores would look at this defensive unit from last year and that roster and not get excited, would he? I mean, he is not gonna look at that and go, wow, yeah, this is somewhere I can immediately have a kinda walk on to the field. Fantastic Defense.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:someone who's gonna wanna be a head coach again soon. And, I don't think coming here would necessarily put him in that position this time next year.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:No. Um
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:to play, uh, just to play devil's advocate on that, unless he's one of these people that really love to free themselves to the next degree and wants to go in a situation and say, look what I'd done. Because if he turned this into like, I don't know, a top 10 unit somehow.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:hmm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:an off season and schematically, et cetera, like that would just be an incredible obviously feather in the cap, wouldn't it? So there are some people like that in the league aren't there. They just really love to go into situation and prove themselves. But that would have to come with a huge check, I imagine.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, it would and, and I mean the dominoes haven't yet started to fall too much in terms of the head coaching. Um. Kind of the jobs that are being taken. We know that the giants have locked up, uh, Harbo. And that seems to be, was it done today, finally, or officially? I think it's pretty much there, isn't it? So that's number one. Um, but there's still seven openings, um, which is,
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:without, without James' updates, I'm lost
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:so, so busy. I haven't been on Twitter much. And then I always love the, the, the updates in WhatsApp. So I dunno what's happened today, but I, I did see that yesterday. Harvard to New York. That is relatively interesting to me because I'm not sure I'm sold on the Court of Act situation there.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Mm
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:When you've been in one place for so long despite your pedigree, I think that could be a multi-year project. I then all of a sudden think that turns the giants into NSC contenders in the NC to, you know,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:mm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:contenders immediately, personally. But we'll see. We'll see how that checks out.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah. And, um, I suppose we should talk about Gannon a little bit. Um, bit of, a bit of a weird character, an interesting guy, um, has had a lot of successes at DC and not, not so much as a, as a coach. There's some parallels of Kingsbury people were making, but on the defensive side, um, which is, he's kind of probably fair enough, uh, to some extent, um. He would be a very interesting hire, uh, as well. And I think it would be a bit of a coup as well, to be honest. And so either of those guys, I would be very happy with. My, my instinct is that we'll get neither and people will, um, be frustrated with that, but I kind of understand it, especially if, um, they get head coaching jobs. I don't think gannon's as likely to as far as Right. So it, it, it that's more, more of a chance for sure. I've also interviewed some other guys. I think we interviewed the, um, the Seattle. Um, defensive backs coach, uh, under who's obviously worked under McDaniel in Seattle and has been been excellent in that. Limited role. So we, we, we are casting the net far and wide. Um, but my instinct is that maybe Dan Queen goes of a guy that he knows already, uh, under the same sort of tree as him Morris obviously have been, been talked about and others. So we shall see. Um, and judging on how we've been unlucky recently, that'll drop in about two hours. So better talk about it next time after this weekend. Anything else on the DC search from, from either of you guys?
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Not from me.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:I would rather not have Raheem Morris. I dunno why. It just feels like very safe hire for Quinn.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Mm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:And he's actually, he had, so he had the, he was the DC when the rounds won the Super Bowl, but the, the talent and
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:Aaron, Aaron Donald and stuff on that, on that defense. And obviously you had such a great offense, it would cup in his prime and stuff and et cetera, that you
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah. Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:have to do quite as much. Right. So if you look at his actual, um. Top his units. There's not many top 10 units in there, so
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Hmm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:I just feel like that might be the direction it will go and it'll probably annoy me, but we'll see. I'm sure
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:I,
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:an upgrade over wit.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:well, yeah, it's be hard to be a downgrade. Um, I like that. It's a good, good point. Making like. A coach that, that a positional coach that get, or even a head coach, that gets a team to a Super Bowl or wins a Super Bowl off the back of, of elite players rather than, um, you know, coaching up a bad unit. I mean, Rivera got to the Super Bowl off of Keekley, didn't he? And uh, cam Newton. So that does happen. Um. Fair enough. Okay. Let's do one more bit of Skins news before we go to the wildcard. Um, the divisional weekend previews, and look at our brackets and stuff is, um, a, what I didn't know was a real, um, released image of the proposed new stadium Commander Stadium at the old RFK site, which I, uh, which we, we were sharing on, I guess, before your phone incident yesterday, James, you were involved in that, weren't you? You're on there liking Yeah.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:I was involved pre-incident.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yes, uh, superb looking stadium. Genuinely one of the most impressive. Renderings of a new stadium, uh, not just because of where it is and because it's our team, uh, but I've seen some garish old things that have been floating around over the years for new stadiums. This looks like a real well done to the architects and the design team on this one in terms of a nod back to the history, um, in terms of the shape of the stadium, like RFK, and then bring it into the kind of modern era. Um, very, very clever, very, very cool looking and very excited by it. I haven't seen anything around timelines. If there's updated timelines. Either of you seen that. Lee, did you see anything
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:I think it's still 2030.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:still there? Okay. The 40th, my 40th birthday trip,
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Oh,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:yes. Is on the cards then. Nice. Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:start sa. Start saving now.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, pretty much. Yeah. Uh, but it does look really cool, doesn't it? And there's no moat around it. Like Dan Snyder, do you remember when Snyder released those images of that potential thing when he'd been going around like California? You look at the stadiums with Jason Wright and, uh, and released some weird renderings of a moat that you could do jet skiing on around state with obviously no intention of building it, and no, no chance that anyone would ever, uh, work with him politically to get it done. This will happen and it is going to happen. It's got through most of the. Hurdles early doors. Now, finally, and with sort of track the, the backing of the president in any way, uh, I think this is a, is a no brainer now. So we're in good shape.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:it's definitely, it's basically started, isn't it, in terms of
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Mm-hmm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:uh, demolishing, uh, the old RFK has gone, and this will be, this will be starting to get going, so this is the official. rendering. This isn't just like an idea, I believe. So
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yep.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:like this is gonna be going, it looks great. I, I was very excited when I saw it, and then I realized it's a long time away. So, uh, the excitement was brief in the sense that I'll try and forget about it now and just hopefully, hopefully it all comes together on time.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:I reckon it will. I reckon it will. And that is, that is very exciting. And I think it's the sort of thing that you sort of will forget about, and then you'll see some more stuff come up and then you'll see some updates and off season things, and then every time we see it, we'll get excited again, which is cool. Uh, and, uh, what, three, three more seasons of FedEx, I mean. Or, you know, whatever it's called now. Um, still wanna make a trip there again, uh, before going to the new one. A farewell. Farewell to,
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:maybe four years. Right. We'll, we'll see. Um, hopefully,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:host, some off season
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:I.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:That'd be nice, wouldn't it?
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, we'll be good. Um, sadly not this year. Um, there are four teams hosting a game this coming weekend. Um, I love Wild Card weekend, but it could be, it, it can be a bit of a damn squibb depending on how the games go. Last week, obviously, as you guys discussed, was superb for many reasons, not least because the Eagles got knocked out as I predicted they would. I'll say that victory lap briefly. Um, although I did predict six road winds and I didn't get all six, uh, especially not the chargers who were, as you said, quite anemic and miserable to watch, uh, in New England. Um, should we go game by game like we did last week? I feel that would be a good way to do things. And starting tomorrow night, obviously the time's a bit different now because it's just the four games. Um, but a very nice time for us. In the uk, a nine 30 kickoff tomorrow, the bills at the number one C Denver Broncos. Uh, the Broncos are one and a half point favorites at home. James, I'll let you have at it your prediction for this game, uh, discussion about the game and who you wanna win this game.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:I want the bills to absolutely dismantle the Broncos. And ruin Peyton's life. Hate that guy. You see his in his press conference this week where he snaps at reporter.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Did he? I didn't see that.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:a piece of shit. Uh, yeah. I, I really want the bills to win this, and I think they will, but it is gonna be close, uh, all season. The Broncos have had close games. They've mostly come out on top. Um, but I'm gonna go Josh Allen again here, and I think they win by a field goal. Uh, in this one, but yeah, I feel like I've not watched the Broncos for ages actually, so.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Hmm.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Uh, it'd be interesting to see, um, the bills might be a bit banged up. I think they're missing a couple of big defensive players. Uh, I think they're rookie cornerback
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Mm-hmm.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:else, so, obviously Josh Allen, he's been full participant, but he was getting. up, uh, last week as we saw. So you, you gotta hope they stay healthy and they have enough to get through this one, which I hope they do. Um,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yep.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:they win. They win a close one.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:You hope they, do you think they will on a close one? Uh, it's worth saying that all of our Super Bowl brackets technically still alive because the bills and the Rams progressed. Um, this is a game where, to me, I, I do think that the Broncos are a better overall team, but the bills are the best player on the field. And it's like, which one do you go with? The best player or the best team? Although it's fairly close, uh, actually, and I think the fact that the bills are only like a one and a half point underdog. In Denver and that, in that environment and that stadium is interesting. Um, I would imagine the bills would be a much bigger favorite if the bills were at home would be my guess in this one. So I, uh, I will go with the bills as well. I wanna keep my bracket alive in that sense. Uh, I would like the bills to win this game, and I think they. Probably will just as well. So James, I'm pretty much aligned with you, mate. I think it's gonna be a close win for Buffalo. Um, definitely within a touchdown, maybe within a field goal or even closer, maybe over time. Who knows? I'm gonna go with the bills on this one, Lee.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:It should be a really good game. Denver is obviously a great defensive team this year. They're the number one seed for, for a reason. I feel like big I, you know, I backed. Um, Alan's get it done last week based on playoff experience. I'm gonna, I'm gonna do the same, same thing. I'm gonna keep my a FC bracket alive here, and I agree it's gonna be a close one. can see, you know, it's gonna be a really hard place to play. I kind of mentioned this before. Denver is a bit of an underrated home crowd, home environment, so
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Mm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:I, I think that would be extremely loud over there. I haven't had a chance to check on the, on the weather out west, but I don't, I don't, I haven't heard anything. It's gonna be a factor. Um, but yeah, it should be a, should be a great scene in Denver. I think the bills will just about have enough, um, to keep, to keep my bracket alive and I'm rooting for them to, to win the game.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Uh, what is doing a live weather check? Denver, Colorado. Yeah, it looks, it looks fine. It looks like five degrees and sunny. Obviously it's a afternoon game there, so no, no issues weather-wise there. For that one. Okay. Talking of difficult home environments or great home environments and loud environments. The game that is at 1:00 AM UK time, 8:00 PM Eastern. The NFC featuring the NFC one seed. Interesting. They're both on the same night as well. By the way, that's not necessarily always the case. Both one seeds on the Saturday Seattle Seahawks hosting the San Francisco 49 ERs. Uh, I dunno if you know this Lee, but I'm gonna ask you to guess what the line is'cause I found it interesting.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:I feel like Seattle will be quite strong favorites because of one the last week of the regular season. A pretty short rest for the Niners. Hmm. I'm gonna say seven.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Bang on. Well done.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:Really?
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Get you, get you to Vegas.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:hadn't looked, I promise.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Draft DraftKings Lee there. Seven. Yeah. Seven point favorites. I mean that. That's it. Right? Two weeks ago. Um. The seas pretty much controlled the game right from start to finish, never let up. San Fran had, um, the few I I read this earlier, the fewest total yards in a regular season game under in, in Carl Shanahan's whole career, 173 total yards, showing the strength of that Seahawk's defense. Um, and do you think that's the way it's gonna go then, Lee? Do you think that's the, like likelihood again? And who would you, would you, would you want Seattle to, to progress as the one seed as well?
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:I'm kind of indifferent about who I want to win. I just feel like the Niners really deserve all the credit in the world, as I said earlier in the week, about how they've managed to overcome their adversity this season, and to to that amount of wins, and then to go in and knock the, uh, super Bowl champions out on Sunday. So, I, seemed to have their number obviously a couple of weeks ago. assume Kyle will be, um, working very long hours this week to try and draw something up a bit, a bit differently and see, see what he can scheme up. But that defense is just nasty, isn't it? It's, uh, gonna be a formidable atmosphere as well. I've been to that stadium a couple of times and it's an incredible, place to watch a game. I mean, obviously in Run of the mill NFC regular season game there and been
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Hmm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:impressed with how loud it is. So I can't imagine what it'll be like tomorrow night as the number one seed. I wanna go over to the other side of the ball quickly. I think if Sam Donald just plays an okay game, Seattle probably win, If he just has a bit of a meltdown on the biggest stage like he did for Minnesota last year, that's how the Niners are gonna be in, in with the chance, in my opinion. So I'm gonna say as long as Donald plays, you know, a plus type type performance and just make some plays and they get towards 20 points, 24 points, they'll be fine. But if he starts throwing. Postseason picks like Sam Donald has before. Then the Niners could maybe, uh, build on that momentum from last week.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, a good shout. I mean, you, you, I, you jumped ahead of me.'cause when you said middling. Run of the mill. I was like gonna mention, I trying desperately to mention Sam, Sam Donald. Um, I think you're right. I think if he, I mean he led the league with 20 giveaways. I mean, he, he, he can do that, but, but San Fran aren't really particularly known for kind of wreaking havoc on the quarterback. So it's an interesting one. Obviously the Niners lost George kill last week as well, which is, uh, a real shame. Um, once that, that was interesting to me. I didn't realize that Shanahan is seven and oh in the World Card and divisional games. Um, as a Niners coach. So he is never lost a wild card or a divisional game As the coach of the 49 ERs, um, James, do you think he loses this one? Do you think the Seahawks, uh, progresses the one seed to set up potentially that game against the, their other opponent from the NFC West?
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:It's a very, very tricky one. Um, my head says Seahawks. My heart is the Niners after what they've done last week. Um, I will go with the Niners officially.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Okay.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:They, they're so banged up. You said Kit will miss it now as well. Um, what they gotta hope for I think, is Sam Donald or Donald coming out cold. He seems to be very much a quarterback that needs momentum. Um, didn't have the best end of the season, had a bye. Could that be a bad thing? he just doesn't come out hot and they take advantage. yeah, that, that defense is, is, is formidable, but Shanahan. I'm trusting him to come up with something here, so go the niners of a win.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Okay. Blow me.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:A
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:That's much.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:night on the road. Large underdog winning the division around. Take me back
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Were we, were we probably similar in terms of being a
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:10.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:10. Bloody hell. I, I have the Seahawks progressing relatively comfortably. Probably within a touchdown or 10 points or something like that. I just don't think that, I think the Niners run is, will, will come to an end here. Um, it's nothing short of remarkable what they've managed to do to get to this point.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:I don't think I actually gave my official pick. I was like, how they could win the games. I'm going Seattle,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:uh, not really into the betting side of it, but I think the nine has probably covered that and it's a really good game.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yep.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:low scoring, but a decent game. I think Seattle will probably win by four, so I
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yep. I.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:they're, they're pretty worthy of their number one seed really. The one, some incredible games. I mean, that Rams game
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:before Christmas was the one, wasn't it? Which was probably for the, I know the nine ERs game was in the end for the one seed, but it just felt like if the Rams won, that they'd kind of run home to the, to the NFC West title. So,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:yeah, I think that, I think Seattle can can do it, and that would be a tough place for whoever the payment is next week as well.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Certainly would. Um, lumen Field in Seattle. Okay. Uh, onto Sunday, uh, where the timings of the games are a little bit more friendly to UK fans because we have a 8:00 PM kick for the early game, um, which is the Houston Texans in New England to face the Patriots. So. Patriot's a three point favorite in this game. Um, that in itself is interesting to me. I am Okay. No, actually, I'm gonna let you go first, James, on, on, on a game that is probably not the pick of the weekend out of the four for most people, but are you looking forward to this one?
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Sorry, mute. Um, what's the first one again? Sorry,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:All over the place.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:I'm all over the
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Lost his phone. Texans at Patriots 8:00 PM UK Time.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:I think I said at the start of the week, this is gonna be the toughest one to call. I think it's a coin flip, um, that Texans D is very scary, but the Patriots isn't too shoddy. And we saw CJ Stroud have some bad moments in that game against the Steelers when their D hasn't been particularly, uh, strong in this this year. It looks like Texans could be about Nico Collins.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Mm-hmm.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:I suspect he will. I think that's his second concussion of the year. So I very much doubt he plays in this one. Um, they have got other receivers. Christian Kirk stepped up and they've got a couple of nice young rookies at receiver as well. Um, but I think Patriots have a good enough defense and a much better offense. Um, I, yeah, I'm gonna go with the Patriots in this one, I think quite comfortably in the end.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Oh, interesting. Okay. You're trusting Drake May, who I think, I mean this, this is by far the hardest test he's had
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:in his career. Um, and to me, the game comes down to. The extent to which you, you trust it. Trust in mono.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:their this year being quite easy, but I I, I do think they're actually really good football team, um, despite a soft schedule. So, and I expect'em to go and prove it in this one. Setting up Patriots for the bills. Yeah.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Mm-hmm. They, there's just a thing on the, on the Texans especially'cause the, the jets had that. Amazing stat that they didn't have a pickle season. First time it's ever happened as a defense. Uh, the Texans have four people with four picks this year. So Derek Stingley Jr. Kaari, Lasseter, Jalen Petri and Kaylen Bullock have each got four picks and Bullock had a pix against the Steelers. So it's just, it is just incredible what they've been able to do. Um, Lee, do you trust Drake may, or do you think the Texans will be too much for them, or do you think it won't really necessarily matter? What's the, what's your kind of key to this one? What do you think it will end up like?
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:It's a pretty intriguing match off, isn't it? I think the Chargers defense is sneaky good actually, and May may play pretty well in that game. That went a bit under the radar with how good their defense were. All over Justin Herbert. But I think May, may done a pretty good job. I want to
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Mm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:my bracket, really. So I do think the Pats will edge this one, but I mean, the Houston defense of Monday night was just unbelievable and they've. They might be right there with Seattle, to be honest, in terms of that unit. So, Hmm. It's gonna be a close one. I, I suspect it might be a, a bit of a low scoring one, but we'll see what happens. I'm gonna go for the pet pats to, to edge it with their, with their home field advantage. And I know this might be a hindsight kind of thing, but I don't really believe Pittsburgh actually probably deserves to be a playoff team, to be honest. So I'll go Pats.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Pat Philly and uh, the Texans for me. So I think that Houston wins this game and, uh, defense wins championships and all those old adages. Uh, not that the, the pats aren't also good on that side of the ball, but I do, I just think that the Texans are good enough and may will come a bit unstuck against this unit. Um, potentially no Nico Collins of a concussion for the. Texans, like you said, James, but potentially no Christian Gonzalez, uh, either. Um, who also has a concussion, so it's an interesting kind of, this is where people have to step up in the playoffs after. Actually, this was an interesting thing. I often watch the playoffs and there's someone that's never caught past in the regular season. Catches like three balls or sorts of touchdown. In the playoffs seems to happen like every week for like a tight end or receiver. Um, I guess it's just there's no tape or they key on, on guys and then you kind of release or announce someone out of the blue. Um, may
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:point that remember the Army Brown last year, really like in Tampa and Detroit, wasn't it?
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:To do that in Tampa was particularly impressive'cause their defense was quite good. You know, I said that Sam Donard will just have to play that to that kind of mid-range play. Okay. Not make too many mistakes for Seattle to win,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Mm-hmm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:for Houston to win. I think Stroud has to play really well.'cause he was, he was sloppy on Monday night from what I saw and I was watching that game. So I think they need a really improved performance to have any chance
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah. Yeah, he was terrible. Like he was pretty flat. How terrible in that game. And it's sort of think how, how, how, you know. Yeah. He, he needs, you know, especially if they can't run the ball. I mean, that's the thing, isn't it? If they're not able to run the ball against the New England front, then ultimately he might have to do a bit more. Um, and yeah, he can't, you can't rely on defensive touchdowns to, to be able to win games. Um, that again, will be.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:I just say one last thing? If they do, pull it out. caused buffalo all sorts of problems and beaten them the Texans. So that would be an unfavorable matchup for the bills. They, they were all over, uh, Josh Allen. So
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:that's one to keep an eye on if that were to be at a surprising, uh, a FC championship.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, I, I was gonna, I mean, that's an interesting point. Let's, let's say the Pats win. You think the Pats are cheering on the pa, uh, sorry. The Bills win. Are they cheering on the Patriots in this one?
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, I remember that game actually. Good shout. That was, uh, that was the worst game, probably seen from Josh Allen in a long, long time. He couldn't do anything in that game.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:I think the Pats probably, um, I'm sorry. I think the Bills probably would want the Patriots for their familiarity and their game planning. So the big win of the season was Drake may go big, like kind of turning point of the Patriots to have this. season was Drake May going into Buffalo and winning, wasn't it? But that was a really, really close game as well. So I don't think they wanted anything to do with the Texans, to be honest. The build those.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, fair enough. Um, onto the final game of the weekend. And you get to be host again to another playoff game in your adopted home city, Lee, as the bears roll on after the magic that James predicted last week, uh, to host. The Rams at 2 12 30, 11 30 UK time. There you go. That's why it's better. It's, it's just that feasible to, to watch the whole game actually, if it's a good one for the UK fans, if they wanna stay up for that. Um, yeah. Bears hosting the Rams. Um, can we get a weather update over there? What's, what's it looking like?
Wouldn't you like to know Weather? Boy, where are your parents kid's? Sketchy. Back to you guys.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:You sure can. It's turned into just how January space will be in Chicago. So not the, the brutal of extreme of how bad it can get, but it has just an average Chicago cold snap, so not gonna be anywhere near, uh, plus temperatures. So I think right now I look at my phone, it's kind of minus four. Then in the evening it gets to minus seven, minus eight, which it will be a kickoff. So the Rams will have to face the elements, but it's not, you know, it's not gonna be like when the Miami went into Arrowhead a few years ago. Do you remember that
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:it was like minus factory or something? So they can still, they can still do everything they need to in terms of the offense. I saw there could be some snow flurries, but I don't think there's gonna be like heavy snow or anything. So
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Okay,
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:goes.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:James, your thoughts on whether or not the Rams roll on and give us a chance at Bracket still being alive in the NFC side for Sean McVay and Stafford.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:so. I'm, I'm ready for the, for the Bears season to end, and I, I wanna see them looking very miserable. and if they do lose, I'm sure Ben Johnson will take it very well. Um, yeah, and I, I think the Rams will win as well. I think they'll have too much. Um. Uh, the Bears made did make some adjustments on defense in that second half against the Packers, but overall you've been able to. out their defense in, in if against, you know, better opponents. So, um, yeah, with the rounds of their full compliment receivers and, and running backs, et cetera, and Stafford fully healthy, I, I do expect them to win this. But it won't be easy. Bears will hang around, uh, like they always do, I suspect. yeah, I want them to win and I think they will win Rams. I.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Nice. Um. Bears, as we've kinda discussed previously, have been not dissimilar to us last season in that they've won a lot of one score games. They're eight and four in one score games. The Rams are five and five in one score games this year. Interestingly,
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:say the Rams defense look good last week. So that is, that is a concern.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:31 point ships to the Panthers. Yeah.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:And Bears, you know, they can rack up some points, so that would be a concern. Okay.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, they haven't, they haven't been as good, um, since that, um, Quentin Lake went out. Um, and, and generally speaking, they've, they've kind of slipped down defensive rankings, uh, as the season's gone on the Rams. Um, some, somewhere similar to the Bears actually at the moment in EPA, which is interesting. Um, yes. Okay. Um, talking to Ben Johnson. Lee had some thoughts I think on uh, on the man.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, Lee was full of praise, wasn't He
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:He loved him. Yeah. Get him in, he said.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:This was just gonna be a recap of what I just did see on my phone earlier today. Peter Schrager, who I'm a big fan of, since his, uh, good Morning Football Days, and his big buddies with McVay, isn't he? Way back when McVay was, uh, defensive, I'm sorry, offensive, just positional coach in, in Washington. done a podcast together as well a few years ago. I don't think that's still going, but yeah, he's, he's got very connection with Sean McVay, so I'm, I'm sure they talk a lot. And he, whether this was, uh, messaging that Sean wanted out there or not, he certainly said on a podcast he was on that, that did not go down too well in the McVay circles how Ben Johnson was behaving last Saturday evening.
Handshake and all that. Mother F, mother F stuff from Ben Johnson did not go over well. The McVay tree, if you will, and around the league. Mike LaFleur is Matt LaFleur's little brother. He's the offensive coordinator for the Rams. And Sean's best friend in coaching is Matt LaFleur. So when you do the utter disrespect and the brazen. Locker room video where you're saying, F the packers, F that coaching staff and the social media team clicks, go send it put out in the world and then the next day when you've got 24 hours to really think about it, to say, no, I'm fine with what I said. And my owner's got my back on that too. This is the. The, the, the, the WWE part of this where there actual personalities involved and like, I think McVay wants to kick the snot outta Ben Johnson. And I think Ben Johnson who's beaten McVay the last two times when Detroit played the Rams has no problem with that. I'll beat the snot outta you. Like I love these two guys. Two young alpha offensive minds like going at it in this game. I can't wait.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:So Matt LaFleur's brother is the offensive coordinator of the Rams. We know all about the whole McVay tree and Shanahan tree from Washington. Uh, Matt LeFlore and Sean McVay are like besties in the NFLI believe so.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Hmm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:He will definitely have taken note of that. And I think Ben Johnson almost doubled down on kind of how he was behaving, didn't he? On the presser for the bears earlier in the week. So we don't mind a bit of passion. I'm sure we'd enjoy some of it if we were thrown it back, uh, to a, to a rival, but it did seem to be a bit unprofessional and,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:especially the handshake. I didn't like that. So I wouldn't want, I actually wouldn't want my coach to ever do that with the
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:No, no.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:that crap. Never have who, even if it's like a heated rival. Um, so. think Sean, uh, not that he needs any more incentive to win a game of this magnitude, but I think he's gonna be very up for this one for, for a number of reasons. And I actually didn't even think about that, um, until I saw that from Schrager, just the connections there with, um, with the family and his, and his friend as well. So we'll see. Um. Yeah, the city's obviously absolutely buzzing. Biggest game in Bears. Recent history, just getting the train to work. Everyone's decked out in their gear all week, so they're gonna be up for this one. It's gonna be an incredible environment. It's gonna be loud, but for me, are you ready for this? And I'm sorry to any, uh, any of my buddies listening. I. Believe that the Rams are gonna go in there and make a bit of a statement. I
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:bet against the Bears for a while this season that hasn't, uh, come off like last week I thought the Packers would win a clay one. I think the Rams are gonna, are gonna put it on Chicago. I just got a feeling I think if that, if anything happens like last week when they were struggling, I don't see a way back this time. I think the offense for the Rams gonna be gonna be all over it. So the Bears lost a couple of players as well last week. Um, TJ Edwards and I think they lost an alignment as well, so. I'm just, even despite the conditions, I'm, thinking Los Angeles are gonna be win this won, even run away.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Nice. Oh wow. Okay. Running away. And, uh, what is your plan, Lee, for that game and then I guess the weekend and your viewing?
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:Uh, I think I'm gonna be out early tomorrow and that will be the extent of it really.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Mm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:I'll see how I feel Sunday, but. Sunday night football minus eight. That sounds like staying, staying indoors to me, so.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah. Fair enough. Understandable. Uh, okay. Round's running away. Interesting. James, uh, what are you gonna do for these games? Actually, I haven't asked you.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:I think it's best. I, I stay in.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Protect yourself, protect your phone.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, yeah. No.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Fair enough. I, I mean, I, I think. When it gets to this point in the season, if you do go out in London and watch games or just anywhere neutral city-wise, you get, you're getting into the realms of big groups, of the fans, of the teams that, that, that are there, as opposed to kind of a bit more of a neutral crowd, which can sometimes be, uh, less fun in terms of an evening. Um, so fair enough. And I do, I like watching these ones properly and um, if not totally sober, which I am this January, but certainly with a bit more of a clear head to be able to watch these games. Transpire. So myself will be at home as well. Either the Rams in this one, either the Rams, um, probably not running away, but also probably not kind of in, in a last minute or an overtime craziness or anything. I think they'll win by maybe a score. Um, and I very much want that to happen because I want the Rams to get to Super Bowl and when it all for the NF cva. Um, so I've got, yeah, the Rams taking, uh. Taking Chicago down and, and actually interestingly, maybe giving them a bit of, um, next season, a bit of the, the treatment that we've had. Who knows, um, in the terms of the bear's outlook moving forwards. Maybe this is a ceiling. It'll be interesting to see if that does transpire. But, um, obviously that's looking forward to bed.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:So do we have the brackets? Pretty much as we picked, although you had the Houstons and James, you took the Niners. Right? So we went off course a little bit, but we still have the Super Bowl matchup alive. Is that, is that right?
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, I do. Um, because I think, and, and, and I think that depending on, on who, who does progress this week, and especially in that Houston game, um, be very interesting to see how we, how we look at the, the conference championship games, uh, and those matchups. Because if it gets into a, you know, quality teams and it is very much a matchup driven thing, then, um. Like it was with us last season. Um, we were going to have a guest on this week, um, Brett from Brett Chat Sports was gonna come on and talk about the Patriots. Didn't quite work out scheduling wise and I will say that Brett is very confident that they progress and thinks that next week he'll be able to chat to us about, uh, a preview of a conference championship game. So, uh, Brett, I hope you're right for your sake, I guess in that, in that instance, and you'll be able to come on and we'll have a chat about the Patriots in the a FC championship game next week. But we will see.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:If they, I will say if the Bears do somehow win this game, and I feel like all bets are off for them at that point. And anything could happen,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:just'cause of the season they're having. So even if they had to go into Seattle or they would just be playing with. An unbelievable momentum and confidence from there, so we'll see what happens. The only upset I thought about picking was was Houston, but outside of that, I'm just staying the course of my Super Bowl match up.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Understandably and fair play to you. Um, well, James had, James has gone for the, the, the biggest upset of the week, uh, in terms of the Niners. So I think, uh, fair play to you for that one,
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:Maybe some washington offensive coaching staff updates.'cause we did hire, um, Doug Williamson. Who's been a past game coordinator in a few places.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:assistant callback coach.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:In Atlanta. He is a pass game coordinator and assistant assistant, um, quarterback coach. Uh, yes. He's been hired as the quarterback coach. I know, James, you were a bit underwhelmed by it in terms of like, well, you know, what did Atlanta have at quarterback wasn't particularly good last year? I, I just think that this is very much a. Uh, offensive coordinator driven league. And a quarterback's coach, if they're in line with the offensive coordinator, is more of a kind of guy to be close to. I don't think we have to worry too much about that appointment in terms of the impact it'll have. Um, but good stuff to have Doug Williams' son in the building. That's interesting. I didn't, I had no idea that, that, that he, he, uh, existed to be perfectly honest. So, fair play.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:It would be interesting to see if we keep the, um, more experienced offensive coaches. On the staff. Um, I'd like to keep Anthony Lynn
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Mm-hmm.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:for the run game. And then we have Brian Johnson, who I'm kind of. Bothered about that sounds a bit harsh maybe, but he didn't, he didn't do very well as an offensive coordinator and fairly did he? So I don't know how much of a hand he is had in, the offense the last couple of years, but I'd like to keep Lynn and it'll be interesting to see if, um, there's any more experienced hires come into the room. Because I believe Blau hired another fairly young, uh, coach on his staff today. Um, I saw a tweet earlier,
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Okay.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:guy used to play with him, Purdue. So there's obviously starting to assemble a staff, but we're definitely gonna need some experience in there.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:I'd be interested about Lynn. I wouldn't, I wouldn't be worried either way, to be honest. If we, if we brought in someone who was a run gang coordinator who had a different sort of scheme, outlook maybe. But, um, I, I don't dislike him. I'd like to keep Larry Zo a special teams coordinator. Um, he's done, done a good job. Um, we've got James sort of wandering around. I think he's getting angsty. He's, he's ready, he's done. He wants his kebab or whatever's on the menu, I think.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:Did you work today, James?
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yes.
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:Oh,
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:Well,
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:have been
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:yeah,
ledders_1_01-16-2026_140707:morning.
james_1_01-16-2026_200707:yeah. Story for another day.
josh_1_01-16-2026_200707:Yeah, sure. Okay. Well, uh, Lee, thanks for bringing the energy. I've been particularly knacker this week. Um, I'm, I'm gonna get a good sleeper ahead of these games and enjoy them. Um, next week we will have a recap and we'll preview the conference championships. Um, and I say we hopefully have a guest on, uh, especially if, uh, the Patriots win will get Brett on to chat. Um, but until next time, and maybe we'll have some news coordinator wise, hail.