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.
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Hail on Three
Divisional Round Recap Show - bracket buster!
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The boys get together and discuss the wild divisional round of the playoffs. Lots of officiating chat (what's a catch then?) and coaching decision making, as well as "what's next?" for the eliminated teams. Not much Commanders chat and we finish on a brief chat about who we want to win next week's conference championships.
@HailOnThreePod
How would you describe the culture surrounding this football team? You know, the culture is actually damn good. From the 48 Deep Drop Williams's, got time shot down. Field in trouble is intercepted by Can Curl Curl Goes over, makes the play and the Rams have it back.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Welcome to another edition of the Halo Free podcast. I'm your host, Josh, and this is our divisional round playoff recap show. And, uh, as you heard there in the intro, a play by former Washington Commander Cameron Curl ending the fairytale. In Chicago and let's send it to Chicago to Lee, who I don't believe you were at Soldier Field or out and about last night, Lee, for that one.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:I was not, I actually stayed in all weekend at the end. it was rather cold and I'd spent a fair bit of time watching football in the pub, so I was like, you know what, maybe I'll save it for the conference championship games next week. yeah, it was Crazy game as has been scripted for the bears this year. A lot of, uh, a lot of thoughts on this one. Did you guys watch this morning?
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I watched this morning, um, I actually watched a drive live and then completely ConEd out. Um, I hadn't seen any chat from you James, for a while. Had you, had you given up on that point?
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:I, I went to go to bed, I couldn't sleep, so I put it on my phone, laid it sidewards on my bedside table. I was just lying on one side with one headphone in just kind of watching it. That's why I was silenced. If I, I went onto the chat, I'd have had to redone my whole setup and it wouldn't been worth it. So,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:How, how long did you do that? On one on one side.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:There's about five minutes left in the second quarter,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Oh, okay.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:to, I dunno, it was probably like one o'clock or something Yeah, just watched Fast forwarded that first bit for the game of 40 in the
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:yeah, I was actually quite anxious watching that back morning actually. For, for the team that, you know, I don't support either of them. I was quite
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:um, for the Rams to win that one.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, we, we saw all, I've watched all four games now, uh, properly. Um. Two overtime games, a blowout, and then a kind of very freaky game in, in New England. Um, but superb entertainment all weekend. Let's start in Chicago as we were talking about it and that one, um, a point of contention between you two this morning, as I saw on the chat, James, a lucky fourth down fro from Caleb Williams and Lee at a dime from Caleb Williams. I thought let's start with that debate before we crash.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:I didn't even, I didn't even go back to that. I forgot about that.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:You think you just chucked it up there, James? Yeah.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah, he just chucks it up. He chucks it up. What else is he gonna do
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I thought it was a, a, it's a weird one. I thought it was a, a hell of a play keeping it alive and the arm talent was obviously there to get it into the end zone.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:that that can't be compared? The one the week before was better. fought on fourth down, if
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I do agree with that. This one was a weird one'cause the defender was there and then he kind of, I think the defender made a really weird play that that was what made the, I mean, you shouldn't be open. He was open in the
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Insection play like that. It was just weird. Um,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:know, that's sort of play with the in Daniel's mate last year as well. Right. To be fair. So,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:yeah.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:you know, won't take away from him magic.
Command in motion. Williams drifting, sprinting for space in all kinds of trouble. Put it up for to the engine. He got it done.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Um, but yeah, pe people going a bit crazy about that. Um,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:it, is our, is our algorithm fucked on the Twitter account? Because all, all I've seen today is debate between Bears fans. It's just, it's all been bears. You kind of forget who won the game. As we now know, obviously the Rams won that game. Over time to progress and we'll get onto our brackets later, but at least the NFC side, we've still got alive as the Rams progress. Uh, Lee, what were your thoughts on Caleb like throughout the game though, because it was one of those weird performances again by him.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Absolutely. I, I just wanna respond to that. Firstly, so I, I, I, I don't, my phrasing wasn't, it was a dime. I just said it was a hell of a fro because what happened to me in the play was the Rams actually got home, so I think they kind of went all out and they was like. was verse and four.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Incredible. Throw
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Yeah,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:words.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:It was an incredible phrase. It was a fourth and four from the 15. You've gotta put that into the context, right? Say they only needed four yards and they had a timeout, so this wasn't. It wasn't fourth down on 15, was it? That's what made the play just so mental. Um, and the he backpedals twists and turns. He froze the ball from the 40 yard line and he was on the 15 to start. So it was just, it was an unbelievable, like off the back foot to get it to the end zone, it was just a weird play as well because you only needed four yards.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hmm.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:guess. I dunno, I dunno if it was, you really only need like a very quick, quick out or something, but it was just odd. But obviously just the way the season's been going, he, he got it to an area where someone could make a play, but at best it should have been like a contested catch. Right? But they just completely lost him in the
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah. Weird.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Just, but it was just a way the. Their season's been going, but to see it like in the moment unbelievable. It just, it was, it was just, it was a hell of a fro with all them people in his face to get it where he needed to get it.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Mm-hmm.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:not many callbacks that could do that, but it was just a weird play as well because throwing the ball from the 40 yard line, you could literally see the logo in the
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Mm-hmm.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:I, he looks very comfortable and unfazed, but he makes mistakes. I think he's got too much of a live arm sometimes, so that the play just before that fourth down. He threw it like high out the back of the end zone. He puts too much on it sometimes. So I think much as people are very excited about what he brings, he, he's not really that consistent as well. There was kind of six quarters out of the eight in the playoffs where the offense didn't really get anything going, if
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Mm.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:sense. But it's kind of overshadowed by their highlight real plays as it's a bit of a weird one.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah, and he seems to be quite. Un composed when he has time in the pocket. So he sort of sits in the pocket and doesn't look relaxed and, and sort of doesn't sort of just drop balls in where they need to go. He does seem to be better off schedule and when he's, when he's moving around, um, and under pressure almost sometimes it's a bit of strange one, he, he, he almost sort of suffers from, from occasionally too much time and doesn't quite know where to go with the ball. Um. The Ram.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Did you think, did you think they got really greedy at the end though, as you're on the subject? We're kind of going back to front, but they only needed 15 yards, 20 yards. There they were second and eight. You want a couple, like a quick hitch to Swift or whatever you, you need to do, but you don't need a 25 yard play down field, do you? Even if DJ Moore did kind of give up on it,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:hmm.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:maybe if the play was there, it was there, but I
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I think it was the,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:thought you have to play, you have to play a bit safe. To be honest, I think
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:You're basically at midfield and your field goal
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Uh,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:If a touchdown won it, I'd feel a bit differently, but a field goal, I think they got greedy there.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:so I didn't. I don't, I don't mind stretching the field with some routes downfield to sort of open it up for the underneath stuff, like chunk along, that's fine. But I think the decision was, was greedy and it wasn't a, I've seen some weird kind of analysis on Twitter today about how I, I know he sort of stopped on the, on the route or he wasn't expecting it or whatever, or for whatever reason, more was, wasn't in, in on that. But it wasn't a good fray regardless. Like it is not like he, he should've. Even if he did break to the, like, sideline earlier and harder, he still led him far too far. Like I didn't, it was, it was a bit, a bit weird. Um, but I, I agree with you, yes. That they should have looked a little bit more conservatively to chunk it downfield. Um, and there you go. I mean, the Rams progressed. The Rams had a, had a, an interesting game. There was some criticism from McVay. I dunno if you saw any of that, James, in terms of didn't run the ball enough or was trying to throw the ball a little bit too much in those conditions. Um, and their offense wasn't as. As impressive as it has, it has been, albeit it was tough conditions.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:I was getting frustrated, actually watching that back this morning, not knowing the result and just Stafford dropping back and dropping back under pressure. Um, and they're running the ball pretty well. I thought Ka Williams had a really good game actually for them. Um, so yeah, it was a bit confusing. Um. they were doing that, especially in those conditions and, um, that pass rush. But they got away with it. Um, and I think there's probably something I missed on the highlights, Lee, I think you were talking about, McVay, uh, was time management perhaps before two minute warning.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Yes. I think McVey had a really bad night, actually, to be honest. And I'm the biggest sure McVey fan out there.
I could have done a much better job. And then I did think once we were able to get some success, we settled into a little bit of a different approach. You know, being able to lean on the run. And then when we were throwing it, um, picking up the tempo a little bit and I thought, Matthew, you had a bunch of success keeping the ball in play. I did not like the feel for the flow of the game that I had outside of the first, you know, series where our guys did a great job defensively. It kept us in it in spite of how, you know, poorly, you know. Poor of a job I did for our group. Um, but like I said, you know, I, I'm, I'm really grateful for this group being able to find a way, stick with it, um, and be able to overcome some bad coaching by me tonight.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:So Bears had a good game plan. They would bring in, um, corner blitzes and they bring the safety as well. B Brisker a lot. To the line and there was no adjustments. And then Stafford was a little bit off. I fought for him outside of the first drive and they kept dropping him back there and he wasn't, he wasn't comfortable. So I dunno why they went away from the run. They got back to it late, which gave them the touchdown in the fourth quarter. But overall, I, I was, yeah, I was a bit surprised by McVay to be honest. And yeah, the time management one was bad, so they. The Bears went for it, um, down in the red zone and the Rams get the stop on fourth down, which has kind of been a bit of the story of the Bears, uh, postseason as well. They haven't been very good, have they on fourth and short, but they got the ball at like inside the five they had third and 10 on two minutes, seven seconds, and the bears had two timeouts. So that's basically a free play to actually. and try and win the game.'cause the clock's gonna stop anyway and you are giving the ball back if you don't get it. So it makes no sense to run there. They run conservatively and they get stopped. So it was, it was just insane. Like you could have just won the game there and you just ran for a couple of hours and punted and the ball got to like the 50. And they've been pretty bad on special teams, haven't they? So they definitely dodged a bullet on that one.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah, I don't think I, I spotted that when I was watching back. Um, but yeah, end of day, happy they're out. Um,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I'm done with them. I'm very much done with discussing them.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah, we have spoken about'em a lot, but they've. They've just been in so many dramatic games and it feel, it just feels like their season just gone on longer than everyone else's. I dunno
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hmm.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Um, but yeah, they're out and sets up for a, nice tie the title game.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Last mention on them. So Ben Johnson was going for it on fourth down throughout the
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hmm.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:And I think yesterday in particular, after they weren't that successful the fourth downs against Green Bay and they were stopping the rounds, they should have been kicking field goals and they, they still didn't, and they weren't, they weren't successful. So I think that came out to haunt them as well. was an. I tweeted this out there. Should he have gone for two after that miraculous play like,'cause the rounds are just so shell shocked and it's like just a script of their season. Maybe just try and win the
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hmm.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:I, I agree. Uh, if, if,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:That said, they had been stopped on fourth and
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah, that's the thing.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:if I was the Rams, I'd have been terrified if they'd gone for two there. Just as you say, the way the bad season's gone, I'd have, I'd have bat'em to pull that off actually, um, in that game and.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:And I agree. And there's one, there was one um, point, someone made this point. It's like, as the defensive team there, the opposition, what do you want them to do? You want them to kick it, right? So like may then the other teams should do the opposite. So I think the rounds are so shell shocked. I would've just gone for it. And I don't know if it had got that much heat if you failed, because it's just the way the season's been going. Right. So,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:dunno. But
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:And final thing on this game, um, which. Channel was broadcasting this one'cause they completely screwed up the handshake at the end. No one could see the, the McVey Johnson
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:That's what you waiting for.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:could, I was at the end and it was, they were just surrounded by bodies and they didn't, they did not get a good angle of it.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:It was, uh, it was NBC, it has Mike Tarico. It's my favorite main commentator, but Chris Collinsworth just kind of is all over the
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:He is lost it.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:and neither of neither of them picked up on that two minute, um, man, you know, mismanagement by McVay, but.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:No,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:all of Twitter did. Yeah. So the last thing on the Bears, I will say last, last thing is
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:please.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:use, you don't usually. Yeah. Oh, this will be good for you to,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I need some closure
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Yeah. Well, you don't usually get two seasons like that in a row in terms of. Last minute, like
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:as we well know.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:shouldn't happen. Yes. Now they
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:roster than us moving forward. I, I would say that, but you don't usually get that kind of miracle season. And I did say, didn't I in the previous show, if they win that all bets are off
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hmm.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:yeah, I don't have been up big underdogs get in Seattle, but I just stopped banging against him at that
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:after that play. So I'm like, yeah, if they are out and the two best teams in the NFCI think are in there. In the NFC championship.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah, and tease it up nicely. Let's talk about that other NFC divisional game, which was the Seahawks hosting the Niners, and I will play the opening kickoff here.
It's Rashid Shahe with Team Shaheed. Breaks through, still going a flag fly. Shahin's gonna take it all the way. Let's see if it stands. It's a 95 yard return if it holds to start the game. The result of the play.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:That is one hell of a way to start a game and one head of a stadium noise as you can hear on that opening, uh, kickoff return touchdown for the Seahawks. Um. They didn't really look back from there. So this is the blowout of the weekend. Blowout, the playoffs thus far, 41 to six. Um, I had it a bit closer than that I think. And uh, I mean ultimately they got ahead and the defense was. Exceptional and they're able to take advantage offensively and they did not look back. Um, this one less, uh, interesting to watch back other than just seeing a dismantling of a very decent offensive team, albeit, as we said, an incredibly injured San Francisco team. One, one step too far for Kyle and his men on this one. Lee, what was your thoughts watching this one?
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:You guys might have more to add to this because I didn't watch much of the second half. To be quite honest. They got ahead from the kickoff return. And everything that could go wrong for San Francisco early kind of went wrong and you just knew there was no way back. I didn't think it would unravel quite so, much. But even during the game, they were getting beat up, weren't they? And injured. It's just been one of those seasons and you are correct, a step too far. the number one seeds, they really did. that all to their benefit, didn't they? If you think, I mean, so San Francisco, what went coast to coast, six day rest really injured that. That is a tough ask. So two weeks without having to travel, that really, I think that really helps Seattle as well. And that is a stadium that carries some incredible noise at home as well. So yeah, once that kickoff went in, I always felt like game over.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Did you feel the same when, when that happened? James, did you watch this laying down one, one headphone in, in bed, or
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:no. I just watched it. No, I watched it in the morning. Um, yeah, no, I, um, I've watched a few Seahawks games this year and. When they get up, there is no, there's no coming back. Um, I think a few weeks ago I point
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Shahid and Kenneth Walker's free agent targets for us. Um, I think their price just went up, um, after this one for the both of them. They both looked really good. but yeah, there was. There was just no chance of the Niners coming back into this one. I think, I believe the Seahawks only had a hun under a hundred net of offense at halftime, but they're up 24 6. Um, many games like that. year with them where they just get up early, special teams defense and um, Donald can just do enough to, to see the game out. So, um, yeah, they look unstoppable. Um, but yeah, the Niners were never gonna have anything in the locker to get that back. I actually thought. Purdy done pretty admirably in that game. some really nice throws under pressure considering what was being thrown at him and what he had to actually throw to himself. Um, but yeah, there was never really much they're gonna do, especially, and I think McCaffrey got dinged up halfway through as
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hmm.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:just, it's never gonna
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:There's that simple formula, which is imposs almost impossible unless you have the, the, the scheme and the personnel. But Seattle has both whereby they stopped the run, I think it was like 3.4 yards of carry for com combined. McCaffrey Robinson and the other guy James, late 3.4 yards per attempt. So just 67 total yards. But they also got after, after Purdy. And they were after him, like you said, all night. He did pretty well to kind of evade stuff, but he was only sacked twice, I think. But he should have been sat away more. So they stopped the run they got after him and they got up. Um, actually talking about special teams and that kickoff return. Do you see the kicker? Try and take, take out.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah, like that.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:This attempted slide tackle? Uh, yeah. Um, yeah, there, there, there's, there's not, I mean, there's not too much to talk about other than that, for the game itself, I guess it's more about both these teams moving forwards. Um, obviously for the Niners, the season over and it is just regroup, right? It's just regroup, try and get healthy, try and add pieces again,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:They, they need to relocate their training facility. I dunno if you've heard all
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:because.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:the conspiracy theories,'cause they're next to some sort of electrical
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:fucking hell
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:and that's causing all their injuries.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:is it?
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Or maybe they need to get a bit
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah. Yeah, probably. Um
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:But, but it always seems like they might have to rebuild a bit, but they always still pull it out. But yeah, I dunno, have, they'll, they'll have to, they'll have a bit of a reshuffle, won't they? I obviously isn't gonna be there. Uh, who knows how serious kettles injury be, come back from Achilles and McCaffrey's getting older
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:hmm.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Um, Trent Williams getting up there as well. So, Interesting one for them.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:They've got a pretty short window now.'cause some of their better players, like as you mentioned, they're are definitely getting towards the tail end of their careers. yeah, if they could stay healthy. They will always be there or thereabouts. And I think Kyle done an incredible job this year when you look
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hmm.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:how depleted they became, but they became depleted early, didn't they? Like October, they have a struggling and say, yeah, it, it's still incredible to me that he hasn't really won a Super Bowl and you consider it how he can scheme up an offense. Um, we'll have to see the window is definitely, uh, closing in on them a little bit. I would suggest.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Agreed. Um, whereas for Seattle, it looks like the window is well and truly open. Um, with that defense, they have a hell of a chance to make the Super Bowl. Um. They will face the Rams for the third time this year, obviously in the NFC championship game. Um, annoyingly for us it's the late game next week, but at the same time as the game last night. So 11 Fe UK time, uh, Rams at Seahawks. Um, early thoughts on the game, as we might as well give a quick thought on that after having watched the two teams, um, the best offense scoring offense in the league against the best scoring defense in the league. Um, just a really quick hit, Lee on your thoughts on who might prevail in that one.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:I feel like the Rams about the only team that have a legitimate chance to go in there and win just because of the familiarity with the divisional opponent. The game they had just before Christmas was probably the best game in the regular season, wasn't it? And I think the Rams got up in that game by a couple of scores and. Seattle still came back to, to win. There was a missed field goal, I believe at the end of that game for LA as well. So yeah, it's gonna be tough. I mean, again, to Seahawks, they didn't really probably have to exert too much energy in the second half, did they? And they already had no travel. They already have the rest by week, et cetera. Say they're gonna probably be feeling, uh, a lot more fresh coming into the game. I'm sure the Rams are pleased. They don't have to travel. Uh, east too far and just go up the coast. But a lot, a lot of, uh, energy would've been exerted over the last couple of weeks for them in, you know, two tight gains that they just about pulled out. So I'd have Seattle as big favorites, but I do think the Rams can kind of get back to the West coast and regroup a little bit and they know how to put our points against, and they've shown that. So I think for a, a neutral, this is the best matchup we could hope for.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I agree, definitely. James, your quick thoughts on that one?
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah, as it stands right now, um, I just don't see how they beat the Seahawks. I think they're still a little bit off. On offense at the moment, and if they're not bang on it and firing, they just don't stand a chance in
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:I might change my mind near the end of the week, so I do want the Ram, the Rams to win. So I might get a bit more excited for the Rams. But yeah, haven't just watched what we've watched, um, this weekend. I, I don't see how to Seahawks don't win.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:At least we can have a big rooting interest in the Super Bowl from the NFC side.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yes.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:who's left the other side of the drawer and with the, uh, eagles going out and um, maybe some more than others, but the bears going out as well. That's been quite nice to get set this, uh, conference match up.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:we'll see. We'll see whoever they face. I think we're all gonna be rooting very much
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Get our NFC hats
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah. And think, I mean the, the one seed and the, and the five seed, but I mean, obviously, obviously the Rams considerably better than Carolina and, and Green Bay. And obviously having been in Chicago, it does feel like a a, an absolute proper NFC title game, which is good.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Uh, I think the Eagles last night would've been looking at that game with some disappointment, thinking, well, I missed opportunity as well, which I found quite nice'cause I, their defense could have gone in there and done something last night. I think they could have ease, ease, but I think they'd had a chance to win that game in Chicago as
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:thank
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah. Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:So tip to the nine Rs as well for
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah. Yeah. Get'em out early. Give,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:your service.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:you indeed. Uh, let's talk about the other game last night, because before this one we had a game in New England with the Patriots host and the Texans. Uh, and this was my favorite game of the weekend to watch because it was utter chaos from start to finish. Uh, and we'll clip Lee or clip you in here from our preview show briefly. So one second. So you pretty much said there that CJ Stroud needs to not do anything silly to give them a chance in this game because of how good their defense is. Uh, I'll let you have at it, Lee. Well, did did he do anything silly in this game? I think we can say yes, he did.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Mental game to watch, wasn't it? And
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:if you sat down and watched Monday Night Football, um, six days ago, that performance, you could see that potentially coming. He just looked erratic and sloughy, and I dunno what was wrong with him, but. Yeah, there were like legit tweets out there saying, kick a field goal and get your defense back out there and stuff like that. And obviously Pullin was a discussion and I actually quote tweeted one of the Houston guys who I've seen around for years on the app. And apparently his bio has been, um, covering NFL in Houston for 49 years, which is amazing. I'm sitting back on all them like, um, NFL top 10 shows like in the nineties
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Nice.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Anyway, he said that you can't pay him. You like legit can't pay him moving forward, which is another discussion, but yeah. How many picks and turnovers did you have?
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Got four picks and two, two fumbles.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:must have been a fumble in there. It fumbles the whole fucking game.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:So there's eight, eight turnovers total in the game.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:outside of the pick six, the Patriots didn't score a point off the turnovers
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:which was a crazy thing. They were still in the game. Yeah. Which just shows their, uh, defense.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:He, he, he, all of his inceptions were in the first half tr he was 20 or 47. One touchdown pass, four picks all in the first half. He's the first. Player ever to have five or more picks and five or more fumbles in the post in a single postseason. Insane.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:I was kind of enjoying the chaos and was getting towards the end of the second half. I was getting pissed off. It was just what was going on in this game? Take, take the guy out. His head was gone. You could
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:in his face. He did not know what was going on and what he was doing. I'd have taken him out.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:The ball didn't come out well at all. Like it wasn't, he wa he, he from, from early on, he missed people on o open check downs, which is never a good sign. Um, it was clearly cold and a bit of sleet and stuff, but it wasn't like the worst conditions in the world. But he couldn't handle it. And then his head, as you say, his head just went, I guess they got him in a halftime, tried to calm him down and hope for the best in the second half, but obviously didn't work.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:the thing is Drake May wasn't that good.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:No, he, he wasn't, he wasn't.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:I thought that. I thought that. I thought he was, he had a, yeah, he had a, I mean, he's says defensive
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yes.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:I didn't think he was that
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Four fumbles. 2, 2, 2.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:His turnovers weren't as embarrassing.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Well, it just didn't matter if he turned it over'cause Houston weren't gonna capitalize,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:True.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:they'd have to score off.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:it
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:They'd have to actually score touchdowns as defensive plays. Otherwise it was, it wasn't gonna happen for them. Um, I, I do think the Patriots.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:I can't even remember them. I can't picture a turnover now. There was so many. I actually can't picture a specific one.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:I found it actually a really riveting watch
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:it was. I, I was glued to it. It was crazy,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:yeah, you couldn't take your eyes away, but
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:did did. I mean, they had the ball down 10 with less than six minutes to play. And punted, um, because they knew that fourth and 18, which is just so unlikely for them to be able to get, they trusted their defense to make a play rather than their offense. They punted it away. New England took the clock down under two minutes, and then the textile turned over on Downs and the fourth down. So
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Stefan Diggs had an excellent game.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:he did? Yeah.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:this one. Some incredible catches. He looked great. A few of the other receivers did as well, actually.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah, that Kon booty touchdown was unbelievable. One hander. It was a little bit like, um, like, uh, tray on Burke's one earlier in the season.
What's that? Anderson coming off the edge. Maye steps into it. Takes a shot down field and caught for the touchdown. Khan booty. Wow. Pretty amazing job. Ray Throw. Outstanding catch by Kha booty. That's some of the things that we've seen from him throughout this season and what has been a breakout year.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:When you look at that as well in the snow in the playoffs, that the optics and the visuals of it are amazing, aren't they? But that will be the one shame when we go to all these dome stadiums. When you look at the two games yesterday, just outside, like real January football. Pretty cool in the cold weather markets. So do enjoy, enjoy that from a
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:It does look good. Yeah, I agree. It does look good. Um, some, some good, some good. As we talked about this in our pre playoff preview show about the different environments that we'd be watching teams in, especially if they won, run their first game and stuff, and New England hosting. That one was cool. And, uh, I don't know. I, I've seen a lot of, I'm not ready for them to be, to be. Contenders again or good again. Um, which is fair enough. Um, I'm kind of over that to be honest. I think it's been long enough. Um, and
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:It's been long. It's been longer than I thought.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:yeah. And.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:eight, eight years. Right, but it's still a bit, yeah, it's a whole different,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:It is a new, it's a new era. I mean, it's still Robert Craft, but other than that, it seems pretty, um, variable is, is, I mean, the job he's done, I mean, what they have two, four win seasons in a row. Uh, the reverse, just flip the script completely. Uh, this season and there they are in the a FC championship game and they're keeping up an amazing stat of either the chiefs or the Patriots in the a FC championship game, which we assumed would probably not be the case after the chiefs missed the playoffs. So the perhaps are still there. I can't, I actually can't remember how many years it is, but it's this ridiculously long time of 15 years. So something silly that one of them had been in there and they, uh, have managed to get there again, uh, as a two seed. But they will not host the a FC championship game, uh, next Sunday evening because they will be going to the one seed Denver Broncos, which destroys our brackets. We no longer have a chance for Bron uh, bills, Rams Super Bowl, which we all had in our brackets because the Broncos won in overtime against the bills in an incredible, incredible game.
His team to the championship game here. It's on the way bros have.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Um, prob, I mean, this would've been the game of the playoffs, the game of the week in, in any other playoff week, I guess. And then we ended up having the Bears game last night as well, which is probably at least got close to it in terms of drama. Um, but this was an insane game as well. Uh, I see you're chomping at the bit Lee to discuss this one and various calls and people in football. So why don't you go after that straight away?
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:is, he's, he's really leaning
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:This game had it all for me. I, I can't believe the bills. I mean, if you're a Bills fan, you, you must feel like giving up at this point. Especially now with New England there, can you imagine saying that a Braless Patriots are gonna get to the, uh, potentially to the Super Bowl or back to the a FC championship game? Um, in the season where you have Josh Allen, I mean, it's, it's incredible. They still, they find new ways to not win and I, I think Josh Allen needs to take some heat for this. So he had a very emotional. Press conference after the game. You obviously felt for him, but there was some crazy decisions in this game. Did you see the end of the first half? That is the most
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:boneheaded thing I've ever seen from a quarterback with experience because Where was he even running
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:I think I also think he's trying to do a lateral or pass it back to someone that wasn't just a straight fumble. He was trying to pass that back to someone that.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:yeah, I agree with that.'cause it was like just suddenly the ball was out and there was no reason why it should be almost It was. But yeah, I was like, where is he running to? They've got no time out. They're deepen their own territory. Every quarterback is gonna be told to throw that out of bounds and they have nothing there. You're not gonna run 80 yards for a touchdown. was just this bizarre like hero ball. I'll do anything to get us there and it potentially cost him the game. Well, it did really, if you, obviously the game script might change, but if you actually think about it in terms of points, it was an awful 10 points lost at the end of the first half. And I, I genuinely think he needs to take heat for that. Like that, that's gotta be his own individual decision to do that. Um, so I, I couldn't believe it. There's a question whether they should even be trying, I guess, down,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:What was it like 12 seconds maybe? Was there?
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:the
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:It was in Incre. It was just with no,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:everything
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:So, um, that lost him the game really. So, yeah, I, I just, he's gotta be better in that situation. This is the one year he has no Mahomes, he has no, uh, Lamar Jackson. It's kind of right there for him. They were the, they're better than the Broncos, aren't they? you know, the Broncos have probably the better unit on defense, but overall they have enough there to beat bows in the Broncos, in my opinion. Uh, he missed Kincaid for the winner right at the end as well. take all the calls that everyone's losing, you know, losing it over. They should have won that game. Now the calls, I'll let you guys chime me on this. I think the one call they should be annoyed about that no one talks about is probably, uh, the corner moss on Cooks at the end that had the potential to be pi. I'm okay personally with the officials swallowing that in the moment, in the fourth quarter in the playoffs, but that was probably the, the one where they got the short end of the whistle compared to what Denver got at the end of the game. For catch and the interception was correct, so I'm surprised that so many people just don't know the, the rule. If it'd have fallen to the ground and the ball popped out within N 0.5 seconds, it's obviously incomplete because he hasn't survived made a football move, survived the ground, and it was picked off. It's an inception, so I'm surprised people don't know that. That's the actual rule, Josh.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I, I. I'm, I'm, yes, I'm surprised as well. I think it's, it's just rare that it happens the way it did and people assume certain things, but. Based on other rules and getting a knee down and as soon as a knee's down and all this stuff. And these are the things that need to happen for it to be a catch in the end zone and all this kind of stuff. But then, you know, any sort of, actually think about it a little bit, you know, you have to survive the ground. Um, and if you don't, it's an incomplete pass. And if the ball doesn't hit the ground and the other guy catches it and takes it up, then it's a pick. So I, I suppose I see it both sides, but I think, you know, a brief explanation of it. Anyone that's been in football long enough or watched it long enough should then go, oh, yeah, okay. That makes sense. Rather than doubling down like so many people have done online and said how crazy it is that it's not a, not a catch and all this stuff. So that's, that's annoying that people have done that one.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:I saw it, I didn't understand how that was an inception, but once I saw how it's explained, although not in the moment because the commentary and the, I don't think the officials really, um, explained it very well to. What was clearly a, a complicated play. but yeah. Yeah, I think it's clear the rules have been put out that it wasn't a catch,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah. I mean,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:The other prob the other
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:the, but in, but in the moment, in the moment, I was like, I
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:yeah. Yeah. Fair enough.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:inception.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:they, the, the commentators and the rule analysts that come in don't really help too
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:No.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:and then they didn't look at it long enough. I'll definitely say that. Uh, they just kind of, they were all just lined up,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hmm.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:they? And ready to keep going without really any explanation. I was like, yeah, I agree with the call, but you've gotta make sure a hundred percent. And yeah, the reason I believe he kind of stripped it so quickly is it wasn't secure within, there wasn't like a couple of seconds. Now, there was other plays throughout the weekend that Bill's fans will point to and say, how come that's a catch when that isn't? A lot of them, they have a couple of steps and then the ball comes out and they're down or whatever. So it's just, all about the kind of intricacies of it. But yeah, I, to me, after that, they got the short end of the whistle on the game winning drive for the Broncos. I actually think that last one, it had so much air under it and he got there a bit early, so I, I do think that was Pi personally, the one before was not, but then Besa got. Called on the same play for Smashing into Nicks anyway, so it's gonna sound horrible. I'm sure Bill's fans are screaming, but I don't think they got too much wrong, to be honest. Uh, the, the one I'd be annoyed about as a Bill's fan was the, the
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:uh, by Moss on Cooks
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah, it's not, it's, it's being painted as something it isn't in terms of the rest performance in my opinion. And, uh, fits certain, certain narratives and things like that. And I think people just.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:I don't, I don't, sorry. I, I don't think their now former coach helped the cause after the game.'cause he was just talking about the ref as well. And I don't think, I think he should have been taking some accountability for why they didn't win that game rather than just. Going on about referring
So I'm doing, I'm saying it'cause I'm standing up for buffalo, dammit. I'm standing up for us because what, what went on is not, that is not how it should go down, in my estimation that that plays, these guys spent three hours out there playing football.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Well, I mean, yeah, I mean, so yeah, Sean Dale's been, been fired, uh, after nine, nine playoff appearances. No Super Bowl. Um, a bit of a surprise to some today, but a very bold move that I rate very highly. If you keep getting there and you keep failing, change it up. Um. Interestingly on the playoffs, his defenses have been particularly poor in terms of points given up. So I think that, uh, again, yes, again, on, on Saturday, that's the case, right? Um, that's not the strength of the Broncos team. The, the, the offense. Um, and again, they shipped a load and load of points to lose the game. So McDermott's out, um. The other big news, obviously in this one with the Broncos moving on to host the a FC championship game is that Bo Nicks is out for the season, the remainder of what's left, um, because of an ankle injury that was. Um, that happened very, very late. Um, pretty much on the designed run before setting up the field goal to win the game. Um, so Nix is out, which means we won't have him in the a FC championship game, which makes for a really weird a FC championship game where the Broncos host and have Jared Stidham starting the game. A guy that was originally drafted by New England, um, which is weird and does not, um, kind of wet the appetite like the NFC championship game does now, but the Broncos is A1C roll on and then they all host that game. So it is an interesting end to the A FC in terms of next week's game.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Are they are the Broncos not calling Tom Brady, Josh?
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah, this, I, I had, I had Sky on for the start of, I always put it on to start with because I'm always interested in that rather than D Zone or certainly not Channel Five's coverage. And, uh, I was a bit annoyed, but Neil Reynolds earnestly said that they should call Tom Brady and see if he wants to play for them. On a week's notice when he is a part owner and team and can't Yeah, I, I, it wasn't a joke and, and the coverage was a joke because I switched over to D Zone and much preferred the American adverts and stuff, but that did piss me off. Yes,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:And I will say if the Broncos had any courage and any love for the game, they would give Philip Rivers a call.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:they, they have, uh, SMS played okay and relief in the games that he's come in, but they've just been relatively meaningless games.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:He hasn't thrown a ball in nearly three years, I don't believe.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:No, how much will you have to throw? It's, it is, it is, it is intriguing. It is. The people were trying to, were, were again, on online sort of trying to make comparisons with various, uh, players coming in, um, late and stuff like that. And there just isn't really a good comp for this one.'cause you say hasn't thrown a ball in ages and
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:loves him though,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yes.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:They gave him like a, a new contract quite early on to paint and get in there just as the backup, I think. But he loves him.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yep. And as full faith in him and said, well, I think he said Watch out.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:I, I, I think this is game on by the way. I, I'm not saying the Patriots are gonna just go in there and beat it back up that easily. I think going into Denver against that defense is what I saw from May yesterday, and if there's anyone that can actually scheme up in a week, a pretty decent game plan as much as James, Hey, Sean. Peyton, I think can do it. I think this is a really. Intriguing matchup. Still, I, I don't think this is like a sure thing personally.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah. I mean, B wasn't carrying them. Um, so it's still, it'll still be interesting. Bone X did come up and make a couple of really important plays where he needed
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hmm.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:So whether Stidham can do that in those moments as well might be key. But yeah, I think you're right. I think it's still gonna be a game.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Imagine a backup in a Super Bowl.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:A proper, proper backup as well. Like this isn't, yeah. You know, like, this isn't a, a benching for a veteran or, or like a, even a Nick Foles kind of scenario and a run.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:um, did Brooke Osweiler playing the Super Bowl or did he get them there then Manning, like, sort of played in the Super Bowl?
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:He, I don't, I'm, I don't think he did.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:No, I, I think Manning played, I think Oser kind of got them there in the end. Then Manning just came in and like done fuck all, but they won.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:He, it, it was, yeah. I think he, so he, yeah. Oswell like relieved manning early in the, like, mid middle of the season and then went back out again right later when Manning, I dunno, he, he, um, I don't remember him playing in the actual game.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:I think I'm gonna Google.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:But yeah, this will be, this will be a real test for New England. Because they've obviously had a couple of games, like yesterday's, just homes, different environments. Stroud is all over the place, and it's not like they, they went away, did it with all them picks and
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hmm.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:They didn't build up a really big comfortable lead and Denver on defense. I mean, even though they shipped a lot of points because Buffalo still made plays. Against kind of a New England team with a bit of an inexperienced quarterback, despite how well he's played, I think they could cause him all kinds of problems. I, that's actually interesting game to watch
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah, it is, it is. It's not, it's not a matchup we all kind of expected or even hoped for at the start of these playoffs from the a FC side or at the start of the season. But it is incredibly like intriguing and hard to kind of work out when we'll get into the detail of it when we do our preview. Um, and we'll have Brett on from Brett Shat sports'cause he correctly predicted that the Patriots would. Carry on. And he wanted to be chatting to us about a conference title game, which he'll be able to do. Um, it's, it's really hard to decipher it because of the unknown factor, but Broncos being at home again in a good environment is a known factor. Um, I wouldn't wanna call it yet. I need to, I only need to do more thinking around it. Chat to some more people.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:like, it's not, I don't, they didn't like shoot up to a 10 point favor either. I think it's like four and a half,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Okay.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:interesting. It's annoying though because I would've had the perfect, um, a FC and NFC title game bracket if it wasn't for the bills.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Choking that a bit
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah, I've, I've got a feeling about the Broncos in this one. I dunno. It just feels like that kind of year. I, I googled that. Um, Oslow didn't Manning, did play in the Super Bowl, but I was Googled in it. Come up with like a Mark cler start of a, a coil. Without going into it, it just says broth. Carlos Arla is backing up Paint Manning Super Bowl 50. But don't let demotion fool you. Mark Cler sees great potential in Brock, Osweiler.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Freezing cold takes.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Sorry,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Uh, he went back there, didn't he? That's what, after he bounced around and went back there and got benched again and all sorts, um, I quite like the. Potential. Okay. What's the, what's the least favorite matchup? What would be your most annoying matchup? James, bro. Bronco Seahawks.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:you'd have a backup against that defense and
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah. That wouldn't do anything for me. Uh, I think that could be, yeah. I would, if, if, if. would take Ramsey. Any opponent I think would be good, but if it's a Seahawks, I want it to be the Patriots,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:old school
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:would be where I'm going
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:2012. Pat Seahawks,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Yeah,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:with the, the Malcolm Butler interception. That'll kind of be rolling back the years of it. I quite like that idea.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:But yeah, definitely not rolling out Broncos.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Okay.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:about it. I think they might win.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Okay. Chase taught, taught himself into Bronco's win next Sunday. The one seed could be a two one seeds. Dunno how, uh, often that is the case. If Seahawks and the Broncos progress. Um, Lee what.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Now Ram's Patriots was a Super Bowl in Atlanta
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Cracker. Great. Super Bowl.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:scoring.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hell of a Super Bowl. Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:different, different kind of Super Bowl. That
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:that game comes up in our chat a lot and, um, no one wants to see it, just'cause everyone still has PTSD
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:from that game,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Yeah.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:but. That was an aging Tom Brady versus uh, Jared Goff with two high-end defenses, wasn't it? So,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Yeah.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:till Gronk made a diving catch towards the end of the game. Um, yeah, that was, that was not the best for sure. It would look rather different this year. I would suggest it'd be a pretty good game, so would probably be a fun Super Bowl. I've got a root for New England, though I'd rather see exciting sophomore callback in the Super Bowl. So I am gonna root for them. And then whoever the A FFC NFC advances will, I will definitely be fully on board with that. So at least we have a Super Bowl where we don't have any main rival, but we'll still have a clear, uh, team we wanna win, which is kinda my best case scenario in
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hmm. Do you
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:going off. If going off coaches, gimme vrabel. McVey. Love them both.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:that would, that, that would be good. That'd be good. Talking of other, uh, other matchups. Do you remember Seattle? Denver in 2013. S
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:New
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:in, in, in MetLife. Yeah. So Seattle underdogs ended up winning 43 8 in that one. Russell Wilson, Pete Carroll. So this gets some good history in terms of these, these teams and matchups in relatively recent years. Um,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Imagine if you got told this was a final four in August, though, say. The NFL definitely delivered this year for, for keeping the
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:they did.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:right there because every year people used, people would, like, they weren't passing on the Super Bowl, but the excitement was getting less and less, wasn't
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Oh, it's my homes. Oh, it's Brady. Even if they, even if they had a tough match up. And then when you've seen a quarterback win so much and you don't like who they're playing against, then it just becomes like, ugh, have to reap for my homes or
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:yeah, exactly. Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:you know? So, so this, this year I'm actually really looking forward to the. To the Super Bowl, but I don't wanna see, I don't wanna see a backup in it. I, I'm intrigued for the A FC title game. But yeah, let's go. Pats, I guess.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I think for that reason, I, I agree with you. Um, we were gonna finish or start this show with some skins news. Um, there, there isn't any essentially, uh, unless anything's,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:there'll be some hour
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:yeah. Well, I might not be able to get it out tonight anyway, so I might be able to clip in if there is, um, obviously the Falcons defensive coordinator that. We were sort of hotly tipped with, um, Jeff Ulbrich has resigned in Atlanta, um, under Kevin Stefanski who's gone there as head coach. Um, so he won't be coming along. So the pool's slightly lessened, um, from what it was previously, but we still have the op. Opportunity to hire someone that we get excited about as defensive coordinator or someone like Raheem Morris. So who knows where it might end up, but no, uh, news yet. I think some dominoes still to fall. Uh, some news on an old, um, Washington offensive coordinator, James, your favorite guy, Eric Bmy, uh, is potentially back in Kansas City. So rolling. Rolling.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:that's mad, isn't it? They, they could surely have their pick of anyone
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:It is.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:go
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:I would imagine this is Mahome. This is a Mahomes
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:that job.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:thing, right? This is him getting Well, I'll just get Eric back. Whatever. I think that'd be better for me. I'm sure that's, that's part of it. But yeah, it seems like Eric's back in the league potentially. Um, but yeah, nothing else in terms of Washington news. Um, just some very cool drawings of the new stadium. So lots of stuff on there. I think there's like a 50 page document that someone tweeted out the other day.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:enemy not actually got a job somewhere now.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Uh, ecology was somewhere I think, uh, Lee's Leah's his hand up virtually for,
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:he at the Bear's running back coach or something, I swear. Or was that last year?
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:uh, I don't think so. Maybe. I dunno. Who cares?
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:No. Yeah, no. Who cares?
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Go on Lee.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:I might want, it might not move the needle too much in terms of breaking news, but we have promoted, um, with within uh, our offensive line coach with Darnell Stapleton. So the, so there you go. So they haven't gone outside much. It just seems interesting philosophy, doesn't it? When you consider they've let some people go, gonna have a lot of new time, first elevated coaches on the offensive side of the
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Hmm.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:which yeah. Interesting. But I guess if it, if they like him in the building, then they've, uh,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah, so he, he's, he, uh, he's an interesting guy. So he won the super, he won the Super Bowl with the Steelers, um, and then has been a coach in college until we gave him the chance last year as an assistant offensive line coach. So, yeah, his first proper gig in the NFL was with us, uh, after many years at Rutgers and. At Florida, so. Okay, fair enough. Um, no, it's blouses offense. It's gonna be his philosophy, so if he likes someone else that he's already had in the building, then uh, good luck to him. But yeah, no more news. But that was good. Yeah, that's something at least, um. Cool. We, we will get a preview show out later on this week for the conference championship games. Uh, and then of course a recap of that and looking forward to the Super Bowl after that. A Super Bowl that I personally hope will be Seahawks patriots. To be honest, even, even now with the Rams love, I think because my bracket is busted, I wanna see that old school Seahawks Patriots matchup. But we shall see, uh, and we want to, uh, we will be chain to Brett. Later in the week as well as part of our previous show. So we'll get some pats on there. I don't believe, uh, we have any fans of those other teams that are left unless, unless you really dig, dig the barrel, James and get Bono on other seat.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:no. We might get canceled.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Possibly. I don't think he listen, so that's fine. Uh, cool.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:think he's ever listened to a podcast or knows how to be fair, but.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Okay. Uh,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:I wanna, I wanna give Cam Kerr a
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:out'cause we didn't mention him by name. So,'cause if he just bats that down, they're third and eight with a chance seal. What a diving. Accent was to hold onto the
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:It was. Yeah.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Hmm
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:probably Ron Rivera's best draft pick maybe.'cause it was like a late round draft pick as well.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah,
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:obviously didn't him
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:hmm.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:But there you go. Right on to Cam Cow.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:On Ron,
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:yeah. And, uh, I guess it does still mean that there's a chance that, uh, Manuel Forbes will have a Super Bowl ring, uh, the way things are going
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Christ.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:as well.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Actually, yeah, I'm out on Rams.
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yes.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:He got absolutely run over last
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:Yeah, I did see that. Yeah.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:he got absolutely destroyed
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:thing is, when he gets run over, he goes flying and it looks really
j_1_01-19-2026_200338:It does look a bit funny. It looks like one of those, those, um, those puff up things outside of a, a used car a lot of his lives. I was going away over the face. Oh dear. I love those things, right. Let's call it day. I've run out of stuff. I'm talking about camp Curls, how it's, uh, and Emmanuel Forbes too much. Uh, thanks guys. Um, and I will see you later on in the week ahead of the games on Sunday. Um, but until then, hail.
james_1_01-19-2026_200337:Hail.
ledders_1_01-19-2026_140340:Hail.