31. The Game Stats Lab: Derrick Henry, Brock Purdy, the AFC Race & Who's on MVP Pace

We kick off the new year with a stats-first run through Week 18 stakes, spotlighting Derrick Henry’s monster game, Brock Purdy’s surge, and the NFC and AFC seed swings that will define the bracket. We trade picks on Coach of the Year, make Super Bowl calls, and invite you into our growing community.

• Derrick Henry’s 36-carry explosion and milestone chase
• Brock Purdy’s late-season dominance and MVP implications
• Passing, rushing, receiving leaders and what they really prove
• NFC race: Seahawks vs 49ers for the top seed
• AFC race: Ravens vs Steelers and upset alerts
• Strength of schedule context for contenders and pretenders
• Lions coaching chemistry and coordinator impact
• Trey McBride’s tight end receptions record and role evolution
• First-round QB development questions since 2020
• Super Bowl predictions and MVP debate
• Community updates for our fantasy league and Substack

Use code the game for 10% off at CusoCuts.com or CusoCuts.com/thegame

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:22

I'm Victoria.

SPEAKER_02 0:24

I'm Giovanna.

SPEAKER_01 0:25

The game's on. Welcome back to another episode of your favorite football podcast by the girls for everyone, the game. It is our last episode of 2025, but you're getting this on the first day of 2026. So happy new year, Queens. We love you. Thank you for being here. If it's

New Year Welcome & Show Format

SPEAKER_01 0:45

your first time ever listening to us starting 2026 strong, we can't wait to have you. We're so happy you're here. You have stumbled upon our stats episode, which will continue through the Super Bowl where we talk about four downs in stats. We're talking more numbers than we do on our Tuesday episode, but we usually have a Tuesday episode as well, which is a little bit more yapping, kind of girly chat about the NFL. And then we have some interviews as well. So make sure that you tune in to any of those that feel exciting or good to you, and we'd love for you to test them all out. We did just complete Living in a Fantasy, our fantasy football league, and we will be back for a second season. So a lot of the girls in the chat are saying, Are we coming back? I'd love to do this again next year. We will have it again next year. We're looking to put you guys in the same league, so to re-up the leagues and then to add many, many more and to add better prizes, etc. next year. So make sure that you are following us on social or on Substack for all of those details as it comes out. But the good news is 2026 living in a fantasy girls' fantasy football league lives another year, and that's a promise. So we can't wait for that. Okay, so I posted on TikTok and I wanted to hear what you thought, Giovanna.

Fantasy League Plans For 2026

SPEAKER_01 2:01

But I posted, I don't know what made me think about this. But if you had to choose one active NFL player to be your bodyguard, who are you taking?

SPEAKER_02 2:11

I feel like immediately Miles Garrett just pops into my brain. And like, I don't know if it's like, what is that? Oh, like recency

NFL Players As “Bodyguards” Debate

SPEAKER_02 2:19

bias.

SPEAKER_00 2:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:20

But like, I don't know. I feel like I would trust that man with my life.

SPEAKER_01 2:25

Okay. What I like about Miles Garrett is I feel like he could like sweet talk us into like a good situation, you know. Like he doesn't seem like the bodyguard that like he doesn't look like he'd be bad, you know, but he totally is. I feel like same thing with like Jameer Gibbs. Like he could walk into a room and you'd be like, hey, what's up, man? Like super nice, and could like, you know, schmooze and stuff, but then he's an absolute dog. So I really love that for him. Okay. Some of the girls have said Matt Milano, which I love. Will Anderson Jr.'s girl Tiffany says Will Anderson Jr.'s sweet baby.

SPEAKER_02 3:09

Sweet baby is crazy.

unknown 3:12

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 3:12

I actually don't know who do you know Tristan Worfs is? I think he's like a defensive player.

SPEAKER_02 3:18

The name sounds so familiar.

SPEAKER_01 3:20

I'm gonna look it up. Yeah, so she said Tristan Wirfs, who is oh yeah, an offensive tackle on the books. Yeah. This guy offensive tackle.

unknown 3:30

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 3:31

Yep. This guy, bodyguard for sure. He's got quads for days.

SPEAKER_02 3:35

320. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 3:40

We got an Aiden Hutchinson, which I feel like Aiden Hutchinson is boyfriend material.

SPEAKER_02 3:45

Not like bodyguard material.

SPEAKER_01 3:48

But like he's like, he's like a Travis, you know, like he's looking around before you get in the car. And I feel like he would, he's gonna do that for whoever he dates, not only if it's like a Taylor stature girl. But I really hope that he gets with a nice, nice girl. Like I want him, if he dates anyone famous, I want him to get with like a sweetie girl, you know, like someone really just like warm. I just I just feel like he's a like he's cuddly. Another Will Anderson Jr. and then Cam Scattaboo.

SPEAKER_02 4:22

That is that takes the cake. That is a greener answer.

SPEAKER_01 4:27

Cam Scataboo as a bodyguard, so unhinged, like you would be safe, and you know that if something happens to you, like that guy's getting cooked. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:38

He's gonna catch a grenade for you, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_01 4:42

Yeah. So, Cam, if you're looking for a second job, because I was thinking when NFL players retire, they really should go for bodyguard positions. You know, like they already know high-profile people, so they're already comfortable in like high-profile places. They're super strong, they're super fast. It gives them like something to train for. So it's like, is Taylor, is Taylor like looking for more bodyguards from the NFL because they're like have a connection, something like that. Okay, speaking of Taylor, really quick, which this is a stats episode, but I did have to say this. Apparently, Taylor and Travis on Christmas Day, which, if you heard me, what, three weeks, two weeks ago, last week, I don't know. But I said that like I think that Christmas Day games are controversial because of the thousands of people who have to work on Christmas Day who maybe would want to be with their family. Taylor and Travis went around and gave stadium workers in

Taylor, Travis, And Holiday Game Workers

SPEAKER_01 5:37

Arrowhead $600. Just said, like, thank you so much for working, thank you so much for working. It was just like handing them money. And I'm like, Queen behavior, queen behavior.

SPEAKER_02 5:48

Yeah, the cowboys actually do that every year. They the like, I saw that this year the video came out, but Daff was like in their meeting room and they get together, they actually write out bonuses for every single worker that works on Christmas Day for them. Which I feel like for the Cowboys, it's kind of like expected because we already play Thanksgiving, and then like now with the NFL ramping up these Christmas games, like the Cowboys organization is used to it, so it's like a little bit more part of our culture versus like a team, maybe like the Lions that were already had some things to say about playing on Christmas. But yeah, it is really sweet to see that like they care about everyone that has to be involved.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

Yeah, because I feel like if you're like a player, it's a little bit different than if you're like working as a janitor, working like in the booths, you know, like depending on what job you have, going to work on that day might feel very, very different for you. I do have to say though, if you guys ever go to Petco Park, which is Padre Stadium, which is San Diego's Major League Baseball team, they're workers. Like, I don't know what they pay them or what they feed them, but they're always so happy and so kind. Even if it's a front, like they're so nice. Okay, we have to get into our stats. So my pick for my bodyguard, first of all, is Derek Henry. Because I my first thought when I was thinking about this was if somebody stole my purse, what running back would I want to go after them? And I was like, it's gonna get there. Get there. I was like, Derek Henry's got my bag. He has got my bag.

SPEAKER_02 7:22

And he is quite

First Down: Derrick Henry’s Dominance

SPEAKER_02 7:23

in his bag right now.

SPEAKER_01 7:25

Yeah. Yeah, I love what you did there. So let's talk about Derrick Henry, the absolute king. So, first down, we're talking about who's dominating right now. Spotlight on a player whose stats are just absolutely lights out. So, Derek Henry in week 17, 36 carries. Okay, yards aside, 36 carries in one game. You guys, the game is an hour. One hour. I mean, I know it's like three hours, but like one hour of playtime, 36 carries. Did anyone else play in this game? Like, were was there anyone else there? I watched it and I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 8:06

I watched it and I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 8:09

216 yards and four touchdowns. Insane.

SPEAKER_02 8:15

Crazy. Which it's kind of funny because like I was thinking like who would even come close. And it kind of reminded me of like the Falcons Rams game that we saw on Monday night football with Bijan Robinson. Also, girls, Victoria talked about our fantasy teams being on the outs. I almost came back. I was dead with Dijon Robinson. I almost came back because it'd be I lost by a point, but I was up in the matchup and I was like, oh my gosh, am I gonna win fantasy? And then of course they put I needed literally like three yards from him to win. And like at the end of the game, they put Tyler Alger Algier in the backup running back. But in that game, he attempted 22 carries, he had 195 yards, and then he was just on a tear that game. So shout out to Bichon. I'm getting a jersey because he almost saved my fan. Uh honestly, he did. He gave me hopes, and I kind of wish it's kind of the worst way to lose when you lose by one point. I kind of wish I just lost by a blowout, but still, it was it was a fun game to watch because I was like, oh my god, am I gonna win fantasy?

SPEAKER_01 9:15

So, anyways, dang. Yeah, Bijan, there was he there was like a meme, and it said it was like Bijan, and it said, You're welcome for winning all your fantasy championships.

SPEAKER_00 9:25

Yeah, yeah, literally, literally, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:28

Okay, back to Derrick Henry. He goes into week 18, needing only 21 rushing yards to have a back-to-back season with 1,500 plus rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. Of course, this is the stat at 30 or older. No other player, no other player above 30 has done this what even one time. So if you're over 30 and you have 1500 yards, 15 touchdowns, he's in a league of his own, which we already knew. Also, though, I kind of feel like 30 is the peak. I feel like 30 is kind of peak for NFL players because people always say, like, always 30, we shouldn't. But I'm like, at 30, you're so much smarter. You have so much more info. Like, unless you're injury ridden, like 30 is a pretty hot age in the NFL. Okay, let's keep going on Derrick Henry, top 17 weak performer in the rushing category. And next week they are playing the Steelers, which does have playoff implications. So that's gonna be a huge, huge game. I had the Ravens, Derek Henry, and even Lamar on my ins list this week. So we'll see what if he if he's working with momentum off of last week, it should be a pretty good game. If the momentum has somehow fallen off, we'll see. Hopefully, he's not going out for New Year's. Hopefully he's in bed, Tara gunning his legs or doing whatever NFL players do to get ready for the game.

SPEAKER_02 11:06

I would just say they all like have like Willow New Year's parties with themselves. I'm sure like they're inviting like each other over like to their houses and like celebrating and like discussing game plan, you know. Like, I feel like that might be a thing. Maybe it's like something we have to ask like the Wags next time.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

We do need to ask the Wags

Honorable Mention: Brock Purdy Surge

SPEAKER_01 11:24

next time. I also kind of think that the players drink during the season. Like in my head, I was like, they don't drink at all, but I think they do. You think those Halloween parties were dry? Because I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 11:35

Yeah, just a little sum some here and there. A little sum.

SPEAKER_01 11:38

And you know what? They know what they're doing, okay? Okay, honorable mention for our player of the week, Brock Purdy, since week 15. Insane. Lights out. The 49ers were probably the biggest or one of the biggest shocks of the season, I would say, because they've been so had so many injuries. And what I love about them is that we don't even have to use the excuse of their injuries because they've played so well. So since week 15, so the last two weeks, since Brock Purdy came back from his ick of a toe injury, uh, nine. I don't want to hear about your feet. I just don't. 976 total yards first in the NFL, 13 total touchdowns, first in the NFL, 63 total first downs, first in the NFL. And yeah, I mean, he's just playing as the best quarterback in the league coming back. Does that put him? I mean, does that put him anywhere near the MVP? If MVP went further into playoffs, I think Brock Brady's name would be in there at this point. But because it ends after week 18, I don't think we're gonna hear it. But this is like kind of calls for it.

SPEAKER_02 12:56

Yeah, it's that's because to your point, I think because of the ick of the injury and like he missed too many, too much time. Unfortunately, he probably won't be included in that conversation. But I mean, if he kept this up and he played the whole entire season, 100%. I mean, not to mention that game against the Bears, which was a huge game. And the 49ers were playing, and I know like it's not fun to mention the injuries, but like they were not playing with they were playing without Trent Williams, George Kittle, Brandon Nayuk, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, a lot of key players on defense and offense. And, you know, it was a good freaking game in that game alone. Rock completed 24 out of 33 passes. He had 303 yards, three touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns. So he was hooping and we saw it because it was a really good game against another really good team in the NFL. So to your point, yes, if he played the whole entire season, I think he 1000% would have been included if he was playing at the level he's playing, you know, since week 15.

SPEAKER_01 13:58

Yeah, I agree. Yeah, and then we have some updated season leaders as well. So passing leader goes, it went away from Dak Prescott last week. We're back to Dak Prescott this week. 4,482 yards, which it's just crazy to me that you can be like, okay, I always say that it's literally never one guy, and people love to talk about it being one guy. But if it was one guy, and if it was truly

Season Leaders And QB Value Debate

SPEAKER_01 14:27

one guy, then the Cowboys would be in the playoffs. Because if you have your top passing leader, Indact Prescott, week after week after week after week, and truly a quarterback was the only thing that you needed to go to the playoffs or win the Super Bowl, then the Cowboys would be in the playoffs, and the Cowboys would be going to the Super Bowl. And so I didn't even think about this before, but this really proves my point that like we put way too much emphasis on one person at a time when stats-wise and facts-wise, that doesn't check out at all. So that's all I have to say about that. Uh and I guess the second one proves my point as well because the rushing leader is James Cook with 1606 yards. That's honestly insane. Because Derrick Henry needs 31 more yards to get to 15. So he's over 130 yards behind. Yeah, he's 137 yards behind James Cook.

SPEAKER_02 15:24

Crazy.

SPEAKER_01 15:25

People say Josh Allen's the only reason why the Bills are good, but obviously not.

SPEAKER_02 15:28

It's no, but like to your point about the back thing, like yes, has Josh Allen been playing hero ball day in, day out? Yeah, but like the Bills' defense, I said it a couple weeks ago, but they actually like fixed their some of their issues, and like that's kind of why they got that big win over the Patriots, stopping Jake May. So, yes, you know, a lot of the team relies on the quarterback, but it's definitely not all of them.

SPEAKER_01 15:51

I love it. And then receiving leader on the Seahawks, Jackson Smith and Jigwa, 1,709 yards. Wow. That's all I gotta say about that.

SPEAKER_00 16:05

Crazy.

SPEAKER_01 16:08

Okay, let's go into our second down conference check-in, NFC versus AFC, one playoff spot available in both conferences. I don't think anybody expected this season to look the way this season looks. We're talking who's separating, who's slipping, and what that means for the playoffs.

SPEAKER_02 16:28

Yeah, let's start in the NFC. Let's take a look at the current playoff bracket. Now we're gonna talk about some playoff games coming up in week 18 that will change around the seeding of things. Because as it

Second Down: NFC Playoff Stakes

SPEAKER_02 16:41

currently stands, the Seahawks are in the number one seed, followed by the Bears. Then it goes into the Eagles at number three, Panthers at number four, Stanford at number five, Rams at number six, and Green Bay at seven. As it stands right now, five will play four. So 49ers will play the Panthers, three will play six, Eagles will play the Rams, and then two will play seven, Bears will play Green Bay, and then obviously, because you have the number one seed with the Seahawks right now, they have the first round by. So that's kind of what's going on as right now in the NFC. However, Seahawks 49ers in week 18, the Seahawks number one seed can easily be snatched. And we just talked about Roth Curdy's dominance right now and how he's been playing at an elite level. If the Seahawks win, they will you know get the number one seed. If the 49ers win, they will get the number one seed. So winner takes all of this game, winner gets the NFC number one spot in home field advantage through the playoffs, which is interesting because if the 49ers pull up this win against the Seahawks, this means that they will play at home every single game up until the Super Bowl, if they make it that far. And not to mention the Super Bowl is at their home stadium this year. So I'm expecting the 49ers to come into this game and absolutely dominate because they're going to want to have the home field advantage and be at home for the entirety of the postseason and have the environment of all the 49ers fans, getting them to the Super Bowl. It's kind of like, I don't know, is it written in the stars for the 49ers? The Seahawks have an incredible defense, but we've seen them struggle a lot against some really good teams and some really bad teams. So huge game out of the Seahawks and 49ers. Other playoff implications in the NFC. Bears will get the number two seed in the NFC with a win or an Eagles loss, and Eagles will get the number one seed with a win and a Bears loss. So lots of things going on. We'll see.

SPEAKER_01 18:54

I cannot believe that like the 49ers could be at home through the Super Bowl, but like I think they deserve it. And I think I said that I think I said this like over and over, but I do think that they are a team who like actually deserves it. They've played super hard. They haven't had any like have they had any like horrible blowout losses to horrible teams? Like they haven't lost to the Raiders, have they?

SPEAKER_02 19:26

Not really. And it's it's funny because you would think that they would, especially with Brock Purdy not playing for the for the majority of the season. But I mean, looking at their schedule, they haven't really lost to any bad teams. They had a loss to the Jaguars, which we we look we're looking at the Jaguars right now, really good. They had a loss

Seahawks vs 49ers For No. 1 Seed

SPEAKER_02 19:46

to the Texans, which looking at the Texans defense really good. And they did lose to the Rams. So all of their losses have been to teams.

SPEAKER_00 19:56

Top teams.

SPEAKER_02 19:57

Top teams. The Rams loss is a little difficult. 42-26.

SPEAKER_00 20:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:02

But they also beat the Rams this season as well. So I don't know. It's gonna be it's interesting. They've they did play the Seahawks back in November and they won that game 31-13. And they also played them in December the 10th, won that game as well, 28 to 16.

SPEAKER_01 20:21

Yeah, I think this the 49ers are sneaking in to be a a Super Bowl favorite for me at this time of someone who I would be like happy to watch. But one thing that I do love, like when I was a gymnast and I would compete, and somebody who was really good would be hurt or not competing, and I won. I would feel like it'd be like, yes, I won, but it's like a bummer that that person didn't get to compete because you you want to win on everyone's best day. You don't want to win when like people are falling all over the place or have the flu or like have an injury. Like you want to win when everybody's at the top of their game because that means that you like really won and you're like genuinely truly the best. And you can fight the argument, like, oh well, like you know, you can't control injuries and blah, blah, blah, which is like very true and stuff like that. But I do think that whoever wins the Super Bowl this year, this will be like one of the biggest years of pride for winning the Super Bowl because it's so hot at the top, it's so, so hot at the top. But I think the 49ers losses, losing to the Rams, the Rams are so good. So, yeah, I mean, I'm I'm curious to see if they can do it. I mean, I can't believe that they're up there with even with Brock being out, and I can't believe how well Brock came back because we've seen Joe Burrow come back and be okay across the board, you know, and like we love Joe Burrow and we want him to win and we want him to be successful, but you know, Joe Burrow and and Brock Purdy are in kind of the same, they're like kind of in the same level in my head, and Brock Purdy has like escalated himself essentially out of that level with how he's come back. And I think watching the two of them side by side in a comeback really shows how well Brock Purdy has has done. So we will see. I also think it's crazy that the Bears Packers have to play each other. That feels really inconvenient for the Bears. Like, that's just so I mean, that's if that's how it ends up shaking out, but like, how annoying is that? Like the Bears have tooth and nailed themselves out of a 5 and 12 season last season to now being the number one seed in the NFC, and then to have to play a division rival who hate you. I don't

Bears, Packers, And Home-Field Talk

SPEAKER_01 22:44

want to like the Packers fan base in the playoffs, the Packers girls super rape. Like, I love all of the Packers girls. So if you're a Packers girl, don't take this personally because I literally love you and I think you're fabulous. But like the Packers are like scary as a fan base to me. Interesting. I just, I just feel like they're la I don't know. They just make it's probably because I'm a Lions fan, so I'm scared of them. But one thing that we can't go without saying about the Packers is the rise of the cheese grater hat is one of the most iconic things. Whoever, whoever made the cheese grater hat is probably a millionaire.

SPEAKER_02 23:19

Do you know the story? I don't think so. The the person that made the cheese grater hat, there was either like a lawsuit or like a cease and desist or something from him making the cheese head hats.

SPEAKER_01 23:33

So then he made the cheese grater.

SPEAKER_02 23:35

So then he made the cheese grater hats and is now running it up.

SPEAKER_01 23:40

Oh my god. I hope everyone's buying direct from him. And also, this is a reminder to buy direct from small businesses and don't just go on like Timu or Shein or whatever. Like, buy direct because you're changing this person's life and they're so funny and they deserve it. Same thing with art. Don't buy art from Timu, buy art from artists. Anyway, let me get off my soapbox. Everyone buy a cheese creator hat. If it's bears or packers, I'm I'm with the Bears because of Benny J. Okay, let's go to the AFC Ravens Steelers. Winner takes AFC North. I know, Giovanni, you have a bunch of people that you want to run into, so let's let's do it.

SPEAKER_02 24:16

Yeah, Ravens versus Steelers. That is

AFC Scenarios And Week 18 Traps

SPEAKER_02 24:20

a huge game. And it it's hard for me because I feel like Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers and Mike Tomlin after last week's loss against the Browns are going to come into this game fighting tooth and nail. But similarly for the Ravens, not having Lamar, having Derrick Henry have the breakout huge game he had last week, I'm expecting the Ravens coming into this game trying to fight tooth and nail. So this is a huge, arguably, maybe my game of the week in week 18, in week 18. And I'm hoping it's going to be a really good game. Broncos will be the number one seed with a win or a Patriots and Jaguars loss. So if they don't win, they will need a little help from the Patriots and the Jags. The Patriots can be the number one seed with a win and a Broncos loss. The Jags will win the AFC South with a win or a Texans loss. And they can also be the number one seed with a win and losses by both the Broncos or the Patriots. So basically the Jags are preying on the Broncos and Patriots downfall. The Patriots are preying on the Broncos downfall, and the Broncos are kind of hoping that they just win out. Or if they don't win out, they're preying on the Patriots and the Jags' downfall, which seems kind of unlikely. So a lot of scenarios there.

SPEAKER_01 25:42

Yeah, the Broncos do have to win. And you're like, yeah, the Broncos can win, but the Broncos are playing the Chargers. And the Chargers have been playing pretty freaking well lately. So I feel like if that game is probably gonna be a way better game than we think. And I think that the Chargers could get a win. I don't think that game. I agree. Like I think that's gonna be a very, very close game. Patriots are playing the Dolphins, so I think the Patriots losing feels unlikely, but we've seen crazier things, but not with this Patriots team. Like the Patriots are another team who haven't lost to a horrible team, right?

SPEAKER_02 26:19

No, they've lost too many horrible teams. Oh they have yeah, and that's that's that's that's that's the um issue with the Patriots. I actually have a stat to share about their schedule. But okay, so easiest strength of schedule this season. The Patriots are clearly in the number one spot on their second in the AFC, but you know, their opponent win percentage is a 0.391. So that percentage is based on how many games that they're the opponent that they're playing is winning, and it's under 500. So being at 500 is like your middle of the pack, right? So to be at a 0.391, that means you stuck, like really stuck when you're not winning games. And that's the kind of teams the Patriots are playing. Second on this list actually is the Broncos, their opponent win percent percentage is a 0.413. So I can't go too far and say that the Patriots are terrible because there is something to be said about not only yeah, nothing's gonna be, but they're when you look at how the Patriots are playing, yes, they're playing bad teams, but there's something about the way that they're winning games and the dominance and like the faction that they're winning games. And I think that's important to note. However, as I always say, I have questions, and I'm excited to see what they do. So this Chargers game is going to be interesting because I think the Chargers could go in and pull. I don't even know. I guess it would be considered an upset. Um Chargers aren't in the playoffs, so they kind of don't really have anything to play for. But we saw that with the Falcons on Monday Night Football, and they went in there and and defeated a really good team and MVP caliber quarterback and Matthews Pafford.

SPEAKER_01 28:10

So anything could happen. It's kind of insane to me, though, that the the Ravens and the Steelers could get to the playoffs, but the Chargers couldn't. Like it just feels wrong. Like on the vibes, the vibes are off.

SPEAKER_02 28:23

The vibes are down.

SPEAKER_01 28:26

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Sponsor Message: Cuso Cuts

SPEAKER_01 28:49

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Patriots, Chargers, And Strength Of Schedule

SPEAKER_01 30:12

then they lose to the Bills. So they had two bad losses in the beginning of the season, but other than that, they haven't lost to any bad teams. And week one to three is completely irrelevant based on the season that we've had, other than if you got the W or the L and that affected your playoff chances. So I think that the Patriots should should have an easy time beating the Dolphins. I don't I can't imagine that going any other way, but again, it's the season of insanity. So I guess we'll see what happens there. Also, it is sad to me. I'm just thinking about the Chargers not being in the playoffs. And every time I think about Justin Herbert, I think about when he went to the game with Madison Beer and he blocked the basketball with his hand. Like that's so hot.

SPEAKER_02 30:52

No, literally. We'll see. It'll be interesting. Interesting week 18 for us.

SPEAKER_01 30:58

Yeah, you think that the your game of the week is the Raven Steelers?

SPEAKER_02 31:04

Yeah, because I just feel like there's so much for both of those teams at stake. Not only like playoff implications aside, like I feel like Aaron is is playing for his career at this point, you know. And you know, his career is going to be determined by what seating there are in the playoffs. And so I feel like him and not to mention head coach Mike Mike Tomlin for the Steelers, you know, he's always, always on the hot seat. And and for the Ravens too, their coach is kind of on the hot seat. So there's a lot of things outside of playoff implications that are riding on this game. And that's why, you know, I'm kind of interested to see how this game turns out and calling it my game of the week.

SPEAKER_01 31:49

Yeah, honestly, I think that kind of is too. Like there's no other game that I'm really like, oh, Seahawks 49ers, Panthers, Bucks, and Raven Steelers are the ones that I'm really looking at. And um we have two Saturday games. So Panthers, Bucks, and Seahawks 49ers are both on Saturday. So make sure that you are locking in on Saturday for those don't forget that they're on, because those are probably two of the best games that we're gonna see this week with playoff implications in there. Okay, let's move on. What's interesting this week? Stats meet storylines. Oh, the Lions were on my outs this week, and I am wearing my Lions tank underneath my jacket today. But Dan Campbell's record with and without Ben Johnson, we saw this on the social 36 and 15. So 36 wins, 15 losses with Ben Johnson, without Ben Johnson, 11 wins, 21 losses, one tie without him. That is hard to replace. Because okay, don't come at me with the slides, girls. Is Dan Campbell

Lions Coaching Chemistry & Ben Johnson

SPEAKER_01 33:03

a personality hire?

SPEAKER_02 33:06

Low key? You're not wrong. You're not wrong.

SPEAKER_01 33:10

Because I know that I am a personality hire. I have good vibes, like I'm smart enough to like keep up, I'm smart enough to run stuff, but I don't care about the math as much. So, like is Dan Campbell like Dan Campbell was there to like revive the organization, and that he did. But he needs a Ben Johnson to execute. Ben Johnson was the executor on the Lions, and we're seeing him go over to the Bears, teach that execution to everyone, and he knows exactly how to improve the culture of a team because he watched Dan do it.

SPEAKER_02 33:51

Overnight, essentially, too. And uh like at some point, every head coach is kind of a personality higher, right? Because like you want your head coach to walk into an organization and like like you said, kind of revive the team. But I actually don't totally disagree with that at all because it's it's kind of true.

SPEAKER_01 34:11

Yeah, and like Dan Campbell's listen, Dan Campbell's a genius, and like I love Dan Campbell and I'm a Stan, and I think Dan Campbell's very smart. And I think that I think that he can figure this out. I just think that it's gonna be a lot easier time with Ben Johnson or a Ben Johnson, like a similar to Ben Johnson, but I also think that you're never gonna be able to replace Ben. So you have to figure out is there someone else with something special that you guys don't have? Because Ben Johnson is irreplaceable. And if you just try to find him a replacement, it's probably not gonna go that well because he is irreplaceable and he's proven that.

SPEAKER_02 34:50

Yeah. But fun fact about Ben Johnson, I actually saw this this morning. He was a double major in college, and he majored, one of them was in computer science. So he's like smart, smart.

SPEAKER_01 34:59

He's like a hot, okay. No, Ben Johnson is like an elite man because he's like hot, he's like has personality and charisma and like social, he's like socially apt. And he's he's like, he's a nerdy jock. Like, who doesn't want a smart jock? It's so hard. The whole package. He's he's the whole what's Ben Johnson's wife like. Is he married? He's married, right?

SPEAKER_02 35:26

Like, she'd be a great question. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 35:27

I'm sure she rocks.

SPEAKER_00 35:29

Let's see, Ben Johnson's wife. Okay. Yeah, she's cute as hell. We knew that.

SPEAKER_02 35:39

Does it say he's married?

SPEAKER_01 35:41

Because on okay, who is Bears head coach to Ben Johnson's wife, Jackson Jessica? Jessica. Okay. Apparently she used to date Chase Rice, the country music star. Oh, he used to date her in middle school. And Ben Johnson was the quarterback at his middle school, so they've known each other since they were young.

SPEAKER_02 36:10

Yeah, it says his high school sweetheart.

SPEAKER_01 36:13

Oh my gosh, that's so cute. Okay, obsessed. Wow. Honestly, Jessica. My first boyfriend in middle school is married with children. He's cool though. I don't think we should have unmarried, but he's cool. Okay, moving on. Tell us about the sad jets.

SPEAKER_02 36:35

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 36:35

We're gonna have the jets to have like one season of decency. It's so hard to talk about them. Like you're making it hard.

SPEAKER_02 36:42

It's it's really hard. We're gonna end on a high note and throw down, I promise. But the Jets in December, only looking

Jets Woes And Point Differential Lesson

SPEAKER_02 36:48

at the month of December, they have a negative 107 point differential, which is the worst in December in NFL history. And for all our earlies that are like coming to us for educational purposes, point differential is the total difference between a team's points scored and points allowed over a season or period calculated as total points scored minus total points allow, serving as a key tiebreaker in standings and a strong indicator of team's true strength beyond just wins and losses. So that's their point differential. They've lost all four games by at least 23 points, at least 23 points. And they have no interceptions. They would be the first team, a lot of NFL history, a lot of furs for the Jets, they would be the first team in NFL history to not record an interception, which is kind of why they fired their defensive coordinator. What was that like two weeks ago now? I'm like NFL, there's so much stuff that happens. I would check a time. But yeah, the Jets are sad.

SPEAKER_01 37:54

Okay, I do want to see the same stat for Ben Johnson with Aaron Glenn for the Lions and Dan Campbell, though, because I think that what made the Lions so great was the combination of the three of them together.

SPEAKER_00 38:05

For sure.

SPEAKER_01 38:06

And so I want to see that stat with just Aaron Glenn and then with all three of them together versus when one was not at the party. Um, I think that'd be super, super interesting. I we have to move on. It's too sad. I can't think about it. It's too sad.

SPEAKER_02 38:19

It's too sad. On a high note, Trey McBride broke the record for receptions by a tight end in a single season. Trey McBride McBride is a tight end for the Arizona Cardinals. He had 117 plus receptions. He passed Zach Ertz, which is the tight end on the Washington Commanders. I don't know if he was on the Commanders when he had this record, but that was back in 2018 when Ertz had that record. So shout out to Trey McBride.

Trey McBride’s Tight End Record

SPEAKER_02 38:43

This was a little interesting to me though, because there's a lot of good tight ends in the league now. But I said this early on in our season. I feel like we're seeing tight ends being used more as like blockers and key kind of like play interrupters in the NFL now more than they're being utilized as like a wide receiver or like a like a short receiver.

SPEAKER_00 39:05

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 39:06

Yeah. So I really like this. And not only that, there's a lot of really talented rookie tight ends and veteran tight ends in the NFL. So the fact that Trey McBride broke this receptions record for his position was really cool to me. So Trey McBride.

SPEAKER_01 39:24

If you don't know Trey McBride, he's on the Cardinals. He's 26 and is a Cardinals tight end. Yeah, a lot of teams have been playing like three tight ends on the field, which is pretty wild. Like I think that if you're a tight end, and even frankly, if you're a running back and your play isn't for you, like your job has changed. What I love about tight ends is they're so big. Like, if you want like a big man who's also like agile, get a tight end.

SPEAKER_02 39:50

Get a tight end.

SPEAKER_01 39:52

The Raiders are getting the first number, first overall pick in the draft with a lost. The Chiefs in week 18. So, you know, we always talk about people tanking the season. I don't know. The Chiefs are a disaster. So we'll see what's going on, what happens there. Raiders or Chiefs. Is it a pride game? Kind of feels like it for both teams.

Raiders Draft Position And QB Watch

SPEAKER_01 40:15

Like the Chiefs don't want to go out like that, but neither do the Raiders.

SPEAKER_02 40:19

I think the Raiders are probably, I think the Raiders are gonna go out like that. And we'll probably talk about this a lot in the offseason. We'll kind of keep an updated where people are possibly going out of college. Maybe talk about some players that are gonna be, you know, declaring for the draft and coming out of college. But the Raiders get the number one pick. It's looking like they were probably gonna draft a quarterback because they have to address a lot of problems at that position. And you know, GM Smith was at the quarterback for the Raiders this season, didn't play the greatest. Obviously, the record reflects that, but they're probably looking at Fernando Mendoza. And I only mention him because he is the Heisman trophy winner coming out of college this year. Um, he plays for Indiana currently. And mind you, Indiana had an undefeated season in college football this year. They're in the college football playoffs. So that'll be interesting to see where Fernando Mendoza takes their team. And if they win a Natty, then you know Fernando will be even greater on his accolades. He's 6'5, 225 pounds. Um, he had 2,980 passing yards in college this season and 33 touchdowns, which was second um in college football. So going to be very, very interesting to see who the Raiders end up selecting because I think they'll they'll end up with that first pick.

SPEAKER_01 41:32

Yeah, yeah. We'll see what happens. Can't wait to talk about that more as the draft kind of gets near. I know you wanted to talk about first round quarterback lists. So you want to run through those?

SPEAKER_02 41:42

Yes. So this was interesting to me because I had a conversation about you know quarterbacks, and I feel like the NFL is struggling with a little bit of a developmental problem. So first round quarterbacks since 2020. Tua Tucobalilla, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Mac Jones, Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett, and Anthony

First-Round QB Development Questions

SPEAKER_02 42:06

Richardson. The only person on this list that is a starting quarterback currently is Bryce Young. Obviously, the Tugo who was starting earlier this season, now has gotten the bench. For other reasons, you know, NFL, the Dolphins are trying to see what they have in Quin Yu's and there's other things going on. But these are first round quarterbacks that are getting drafted. And, you know, there's implications on the college side with NIL and how that's affecting these quarterbacks coming into the draft. And that's a totally different conversation that I think needs to be had that we can talk about in the offseason. But there's a lot to say about the caliber of talent. Like Matt Jones, we saw come in for Brock Party this season and did not play that. He played very good. But what steps are teams taking for these quarterbacks that get drafted in the first round to actually develop their talent? And is it a little bit of a waste for them to get drafted in the first round and getting benched?

SPEAKER_01 43:07

So yeah, yeah, I think this is super interesting. I think once the draft happens this year, we can also kind of dive into like, yeah, what does it look like if you actually get drafted? And like, is seeing these stats gonna force more college guys to decide to retire instead of declaring for the draft? Probably not, but maybe. So ponder that over the next couple of weeks or months until we talk about it on the next one. Okay, let's go. Who do we think is gonna be the coach of the year and what are our Super Bowl predictions to close out today's episode?

SPEAKER_02 43:37

Coach of the year, I'm solidifying my ballot for Liam Cohen Duval. Solely because he is the first rookie head coach in NFL history to win 12 close games after inheriting a team with four or few victories of the year prior. We talked about Mike Rabble, head coach of the Patriots.

Coach Of The Year And Super Bowl Picks

SPEAKER_02 43:55

We talked about Ben Johnson a lot in this episode and previously, but I think what Liam Cohen has done for the Jacksonville Jaguars and what I just said kind of kind of makes me solidify Liam in that's in that spot, just because the Jaguars before this season, like the Bears are the number one pick in Caleb Williams. The Patriots have a lot going for them. Nobody was looking at the Jacksonville Jaguars. So I think that's why I'm giving it to Liam Cohen.

SPEAKER_01 44:25

Yeah. So Liam Cohen and Mike Vrabel then both have are tied for the first coach ever to get to 12 wins, or is it that the Jags hit it first? Because Patriots are also four losses or four wins last season.

SPEAKER_02 44:38

I will I think it's something like first rookie head coach. Because it was Mike.

SPEAKER_01 44:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 44:43

Maybe that's what it was because it's yeah, maybe it's C.

SPEAKER_01 44:46

Yeah. Okay, while we're getting that info, mine is Ben Johnson. I just think that the hype about Ben Johnson leaving the Lions, like that was such news last year after the Lions season. I mean, I think what he's been able to do with the Bears, like, like I've said, I don't think that a quarterback can win a game on his own. I proved that in some capacity in this episode. So I think that even having the number one pick, if you don't have a good coach to lead the number one pick, then it's basically useless. So I think that's why I feel like Ben Johnson is coach of the year. But I also love Mike Frabel and I especially like Mike Frabel after talking to Alexandra Francisco, who works on the media team at the Patriots. So if you haven't seen that episode yet or listened yet, uh definitely listen in because it's a really great episode. And she just has such good things to say about Mike in general. She's with him in the same room with him, like very, very often. And we love a girl. Like, if a girl says, like, if a cool girl says, you know what, this guy is it, is like actually worth the hype, then we believe them. So I like Mike Ray Well, but I think mine's Ben Johnson, probably because I'm a Lions fan and I've really liked watching the bears come to come to life. My Super Bowl predictions. I don't know, 49ers. I still kind of want to see the Bills in it because I don't want to have the same conversation about the Bills again next year. I think it's like it's time for the Bills to either go or no go, just like it was time for the Lions to go or no go and the Lions no-goed. So I think seeing the Bills get this far and then not go is gonna be really sad. And I don't necessarily want to like have that heartbreak again for them next year, at least if the Lions go next year, like this year was trash, and then they can like it's like another come up, versus I don't want to see the same storyline for a third time with the Bills. So I'd like to see the Bills go. Do I think the Bills could beat the 49ers? I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 46:38

I I mean that you mentioned that because my super predictions, I've I'm taking the Bills out of the AFC and I'm taking the 49ers out of the NFC.

SPEAKER_00 46:46

Okay, okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 46:47

So, well, that's kind of my Super Bowl, and like that's a little bit of a favoritism favoritism bias. Not actually looking at the capability of these teams, but that would probably be my Super Bowl prediction.

SPEAKER_01 47:00

Yeah, I do think though, if the Bills play the 49ers, I think the 49ers would win, which would feel really sad, but at least the Bills would go. So I guess that's our prediction. Um, any closing thoughts?

unknown 47:13

Oh.

SPEAKER_02 47:14

So MVP predictions. Oh, I have a question to ask you. I don't know if you watched the whole Falcons-Rams game, but everyone's kind of talking about, you know, Matthew Stafford was, I I said it Matthew Stafford was my MVP of this season. But after his performance against the Falcons, Drake May has kind of surpassed him in the MVP race conversation. So do you think that's valid enough for Drake May to surpass Matthew Stafford by that performance alone?

SPEAKER_01 47:50

So we're an MVP. I kind of think that the MVP can't have an end-of-season flop. And so I think that was a really sad game, but I I think that an end-of-season flop to a bad team really is bad. Like I think it looks really bad. So I also just love the idea. Well, I don't know, because I don't I'm not a believer that like younger is always better. And I think that our society like champions like young people, like Forbes, 30 under 30, for like people who have billions of dollars before they're 30, and they do this before they're 40, and blah, blah, blah. And so, like, I just think that we get better with age, and I think our society has this like really hot ticket on people being really young and doing things rather, really young. But as I've gotten older, I just feel like I get better with age and I get more graceful and kinder and smarter. And so I feel like with that, I'd like to see Matt Stafford win. Has Matt Stafford ever won before? No, yeah. I think for that, I would like to see Matt Stafford win. And I think that if Matt Stafford wins in week 18, this will be erased and the conversation will be over and he'll still win it. If he loses in week 18, it will be Drake May. But I do think this last game and how he plays in it matters because he didn't throw a pick until this last game, and there's no other quarterback in the league that did that.

SPEAKER_00 49:05

So we shall see.

SPEAKER_01 49:08

We shall see. Well, I think that's all we have for you guys. Happy New Year! Thank you so much for listening to the game, for being a part of our community, for chatting with us on Substack all year long. If you were in the fantasy

MVP Race: Stafford vs Drake May

SPEAKER_01 49:21

football and you haven't joined the Substack chat, that's where we'll be all postseason and through the summer. We love you. This has been the highlight of my year, 150%. So thanks for being here. Thanks for listening to us here at the game. Happy New Year. Way more to come in 2026. Yay! So that's all we have. Love you bye.

SPEAKER_02 49:44

Bye. You a batty baby. You gotta own it on a scaling of grace.

unknown 49:53

You better own it.