23. NFL Stats & Rivers Sacks with Allie Anthony: Week 14 in Football

0:22It's Victoria and Giovanna. The game's on. Welcome back to another episode of your favorite football podcast, the game by the girls for everyone. We have our four downs in Stats Town episode today, and we are so excited to have our first guest on our stats based episode. Today, we have Allie Anthony, who is previously a news reporter and now a content creator. She creates so much good content about the NFL and college football. She has really great takes. She knows what she's talking about. She knows the NFL and college football in and out. So this episode was such a pleasure to record. We talk a lot about stats.

1:07We also talk a little bit about pop culture and things that are going on. Please note that this episode was recorded right when the news of Philip Rivers going to actually be officially signed to the Colts was happening. So you'll hear a little bit of our discourse about it before we got the official news, which we got towards the end of the episode. We hope you enjoy. We love you. Let's get into it. We have our four downs today, our stats episode, and we are so excited to have a guest for the first time on our stats episode, Allie Anthony. Welcome to the game. I'm the first guest on the stats episode.

1:44Yes. This is such an honor, girls. I'm so glad to be here. We're so happy to have you because you have such good takes on TikTok. You know your stuff. I feel like the way that you speak about players feel similar to the way that we do and the way that you approach your talking about football, both college and the NFL. And so I was like, we have to have her on. And what a more perfect way than to show your expertise. So I was like, we have to get her on. And this episode felt right, which I'm excited about because we have so much to talk about today. Yeah, we have so much to talk about. It's been a crazy week.

2:24Buh-buh! First down! Let's go. Let's go! This is like new heights, you guys. Exactly. Exactly. That's what we're going for. But cute. Yeah, everyone just starts yelling at random times. But cute. But aesthetic and like good outfits. I know, right? And pretty faces. So funny. Oh, my gosh. Okay, so let's get right into it. We're starting out with our first down. Who's dominating the league right now? Spotlight on a player that is statistically owning the league. So today we are talking about Miles Garrett. He's the current sack leader in the NFL defensive end number 95 on the Browns, which the Browns have been talked about, obviously, so much for their quarterback room.

3:15much to do through for over 350 yards here in week 14. But Miles Garrett is really a standout in the league. He's on a four year,$160 million contract extension that he signed in the beginning of this year, keeping him through 2030. And when he signed it, making him the highest non-paid quarterback at the time with one 23 0.5 million dollars guaranteed and a no trade clause because because he did put in that he was looking for a trade. So they have a no trade clause in his contract. First overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Browns. And he's been there ever since. His birthday is actually December 29th.

3:56So coming up. Wait, so what is that? A Sagittarius? Yeah, I believe that's a Sagittarius. I'm so bad at the signs, guys. How old is he? How old is Miles Garrett? He's like, so 2017, he'd be. He's 29. he's 29. I was going to say, I thought it was 30. Yeah. So he's about to have his 30th birthday on the 29th. And I also have some new dating information on Miles Garrett before we get more into his. Yes, I love this. I was going to bring this up, so I'm so glad you're bringing this up. Wait, did you call them break up? No, no, no, no, no. No, it's just... They're still together. Yeah, but they're like in week 12, so I guess we're two weeks behind.

4:39But we have broke the news on here. Sorry. I thought we were getting excited because like, yay, Miles Garrett's single. And I'm like, no, I don't want that because I love them together. I think they're the cutest ever. They are really cute. Yeah. So if you didn't know, which I didn't until today, so I guess I'm the one who's behind the ball that Miles Garrett is dating Olympic snowboarder, two-time medalist, Chloe Kim. They were seen week 12 kissing on the sidelines. And I love an athlete to athlete couple. like Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens. Like we love the celebs, the singers, all of that.

5:16But I just feel like a girl, female athlete Olympian is so hot. Nobody gets it like an athlete to athlete relationship. I feel like as someone who's not an athlete, like the most unathletic human being in the world, like my brother's an athlete. So I kind of get that life and stuff. But I feel like athletes, when they're working towards similar goals. They're just like on the same page about everything. And she is so fucking cute. I love her so much, you guys. Like she is, she's well-dressed and I don't know if you guys saw this. So I made a video about this like a while ago in the, in the off season, but Chloe Kim and Miles Garrett, like the first time they were seen out together.

5:59This is so funny. They were at an anime convention. Of course, Miles Garrett's on an anime convention. So Miles Garrett. So Miles Garrett. This guy is the biggest nerd of all. He's a beast, like you said. I mean, I think he's 2.5 sacks away from breaking the NFL sack record in a season. He is next level, top tier athlete. But he's literally just like a big little boy. He loves Dungeons and Dragons It's an anime. And like the fact that he found someone who's one, an athlete, but two, like gets that side of him and is okay with it and like participates in it is so insanely perfect to me. Like I can't even, I can't even, I just think they're so, they're OTP.

6:41I'm obsessed. They are. Wait, don't, don't, what's OTP? One true pair. Like they're, they're OTP. Like I, I ship them for life. They're everything. Oh, okay. I agree.

6:58yeah I think they're so cute and um they also in the week 12 you know kind of announcement of their relationship they were also talking about all the video games that they play together and how like Chloe was saying that Miles super good at Mario Kart and it's so I love I do love seeing like a true, like, yeah, one true. Okay. I get it. Yeah. Because they're like fully a match in every capacity and yeah. Athlete to athlete, like, and like top athlete to top athlete. Yeah. You know, because then there's not like a power dynamic or like anything going on in that regard because they're both like at the top of what they do.

7:43Right. And the winter Olympics, you guys. They're coming up. So we're going to like see her soon, right? Yeah. Yeah. I got to be honest. I don't totally follow women's snowboarding, but like, I think what she does is so sick. Just, I don't know if she's competing. If she is like, that would be insane because it's February 6th through 22nd. So we might see him go support her, which would be everything because like we've seen her go to his games and stuff. And I just said lines. Yeah. Yeah. Like I think Could we interview him as a wag for the Winter Olympics? Oh my God, yes. Oh my God, yes. Wouldn't it be like a bag?

8:21Yeah, a hag. A hag. Husband and boyfriend. A hab. A hab. A hab. A hab. A hab. Sidebar, have y 'all seen pictures of Miles Garrett in college? Yeah. No. Yeah. Bro, he's already a big guy, but in college, he was a monster. Like his body compared to other people. Oh my gosh. It was insane. Especially, I mean, he went to A &M, so. It's like, maybe we just feel that way because everyone else is so much smaller in college, but he literally looked like a beast. He's just different. He's different. Yeah. He's so cute though. And I love this for him. I love that he's on track to break a record. I think obviously, you know, being on the Browns is not an ideal situation for a guy that's so elite, right?

9:15Like a team that just can't win and like literally they get close and they can't. And I think while there's like a lot of changes happening and I really like Shador being on there and like trying to change it, change it up in that way. Like it's just been a tough road for a guy that is so good. and it honestly sucks because like he loves this team and I do think he's like I do think he loves the Browns I think he loves Cleveland and I think he likes being there but it's just like dude at what cost like this sucks he's he's so capable of being like impactful honest caliber winning team and because and it's interesting because we've brought up like the drama a little bit around him wanting to be traded and him wanting to leave Cleveland, not because he doesn't love the city, doesn't love this team, but the Browns have been a dumpster fire up until late.

10:07And we're talking about in first down, Miles Garrett leading in sacks, but you mentioned Shadur Sanders. I brought this up in our episode earlier this week, but Shadur Sanders, players have thrown for 354 yards in their career. It is Shadur Sanders and Tom Brady. So that alone kind of, and talk about Tom Brady comparisons before too. Not comparing Shadir and Tom Brady together because you can't compare apples to oranges, but considering that Shadir has set them to this new quarterback run role for the Browns, hopefully it'll change a little bit with the team dynamic. I'm not sure with Stefanski and the play calling over there, what's going to happen, but hopefully Miles will be a little bit happier in Cleveland in the years to come once Shadir at quarterback.

10:49Yeah. And it's funny because we're like at what cost, but he is one of the highest paid non-quarterbacks in the league. So like the price is right. Very much right. And I think he's still getting to play at his top caliber. Obviously he's like 2.5 sacks away from the all-time sack record in the NFL. 39 solo tackles and three forced fumbles this year. Browns are the second in sacks, only second to the Broncos. The Broncos are at 55, which is 11 over the Browns who are at 44, but nearly half of their sacks are miles Garrett. And so I do think that like his willingness to be on this team and like, just take it is boating well for him because he's still playing at a top caliber, even if the rest of his team isn't.

11:43And yeah, so it is like a bummer for him, but he's also getting the shine. Like, does he like being a big fish in a small pond? Is that why he signed ended up signing the contract? because some people like that. You know, some people don't want to be next to an Aiden Hutchinson or, you know, on a team of animal defense. The Browns defense is 17th in the league in rankings right now. So they're not totally at the bottom. They're not near the top either. But they're like fine. Which if I'm a top player, being on a fine one is better than like being on the Saints or the Titans. Right. No, I agree.

12:16Yeah. I think it's just, I think it's an interesting thing to see him on this team. I think it's going to be an interesting season next year to see like what the Browns can do just as an organization. It really like starts from the top. Yeah. And like you can get a great quarterback who you don't start till like, you know, two thirds into the season. The season's over. It's over. But you can have a great quarterback and you can have a Miles Garrett. But it's like this is a this is a team sport. And like he's going to be a Hall of Famer 100 percent. but it makes me wonder like is he gonna go down with the chris joneses of the the world like when we think about the nfl 30 years from now we're gonna remember chris jones are we gonna remember how epic miles garrett was because like at the end of the day he's probably not gonna win a super bowl maybe he does soon he's still young like he has years to go and i would love to see him win a super bowl but i don't know those those browns rookies are coming to play harold fanon is a dog and he's been really impactful on this team and david njoku like harold pan is coming for your swap my guy not to mention quenjon junkins like i think they're if they develop him the right way he could be really impactful for the browns too so i don't know they have some really good rookie talent and i think if like you said ali if they can start at the top and you get the coaching and play calling a little right and you develop these guys the young guys you have with and a leader like Myles Garrett, the Browns could be really good.

13:43Mind you, their defense hasn't been bad this season. Yeah. Yeah. And he was first overall pick in 2017. So he also knew going in with the Browns that he was at like the beginning of something, which I think management of expectations over time is also probably why he's happy because he didn't go on to like the Chiefs being like, we're going to the Super Bowl. He's like, this team is trash. Yeah. And I got to do something. Speaking of Christians. I mean, that was 2017. You would think by 2025, like this organization could turn it around. It's just like the Browns, dude. Like, I don't know what's going on over there.

14:22I don't really know like front office what's going on with that organization, but it's just like, this is a mess. Yeah. And something needs to change, especially like, I don't know what pick they're getting in the draft this year. I don't really know what's going on there, but they need to take advantage of whatever draft pick they can get and like make some organizational changes so that they can do something with this team because they have the talent. It's just like things fall through with Cleveland all the time. All the time. All the time. I do like thinking about Miles Garrett and Shadour in the same room.

14:57Same. Like I just kind of like their vibes together. Like I feel like Shadour is a little unhinged and Miles Garrett is like just a cutie boy, like a little nerd. and I feel like them together just feels like a cute pair. Also, okay. So do you know Hi Frankie Allie? Yeah. Yeah. The app. Okay. So we interviewed Isabel, but I use her app all the time. And Miles's picture on here. Oh my God. Part of my screen is so cute. I'm obsessed with him. You guys, he is so, he's one of those people that you just like, you want the best for him. Truly. Yeah. You want him to win. He's a good guy. Like, yeah. You know, you just want him to be happy.

15:37you want the best for him. And like, you know, I just hope the Browns can pull something together for him so that he can really be like one of those, not just like, you know, Hall of Famers, but like a true legend that everyone remembers. Like that's what he is. Yeah. I would love to see him like smash this all-time sack record. I mean, he's already at 20. He has, you know, at least four games to go. I'd love to see him at like 25 because that will also kind of like secure his legacy if he can hold on to that for like multiple years to come. And then anytime anybody even gets close to that, we're hearing Miles Garrett's name, which I think will like secure his legacy.

16:14So I think if he can like keep doing what he's doing right now, essentially, two sacks per game, then he's going to have 26 or 28. And we'll get to hear about him even if the Browns can never pull anything together for him. Last note on Miles Garrett, he's Capricorn. Oh, he's a Capricorn. I don't know anything about Capricorns at all. I also do not. Yeah. So go to Hi Frankie and learn more about Miles Garrett's star sign. He did have a 10.0 rating on Hi Frankie last week and he did get two sacks in the game. So that's pretty epic. Gold star for you. Yeah. Gold. Yay. Yay. Call us if you want to do an interview during the Olympics.

17:03Miles. Oh, I'll be in his DMs. Don't you worry. We'll be in there. Yeah. Can we get a press pass? Who do I know? I actually do know one pro snowboarder. Okay. It's like a real estate client. Okay. Well, almost client. Let's see what happens. Yeah. We'll see what we can do. We'll just like gently, gently figure it out. Gently put. Okay. Moving on our second down on conference check-in NFC versus AFC who's separating who's slipping and what this means for the playoffs do you have on you want to start us off on this one yeah and I want to start right with Ali's list if you haven't followed her TikTok we'll drop her TikTok on all of our socials but she posts a bunch of sports takes and I have to talk about your NFC playoff picture you posted this video not too long ago and i'm curious to see if it's changed so in the nfc ali currently has the packers that won fought by the rams eagles bucks seahawks 49ers and ali said there's a four way tie for seventh but she said the cowboys you guys slide i have like i am a delusional Cowboys fan.

18:18I get it. I know it. I've been this way like every year. I don't hate it either because I was just about to say, so I made a little updated, like just thinking about it. Cause I knew we were going to talk about this and I knew somebody was going to bring up this list. I knew it was because this was so controversial. Okay. So I think I stay with, obviously the Packers will get in the Rams will get in. I'm going to go, the bucks will get in and then the Eagles and then Seahawks and Niners feel like a lock to me still the thing is the Eagles if they keep losing and we keep winning we could take the NFC East like if the Cowboys keep winning and the Eagles keep sucking like Jalen Hurts did last night like there's a there's a chance you guys I was watching the Eagles last night and I'm like y 'all are a mess like I don't know they're a dumpster fire and it's like how do you go from being Super Bowl champions to this like this it literally looked the Chargers defense versus the Eagles offense looked like a high school team versus a college team like it was not we weren't on the same level something wasn't clicking like their offense is off in so many ways finally they're giving the ball to AJ Brown I think that's a great thing keep feeding him but it's like something is off something is not good Saquon's not playing the way he was playing last year like things are things are not clicking so there's a world where the Cowboys sneak in or take the NFC East I kind of think after watching last night that the Cowboys will take the NFC East because they're only a win and a half away yeah from overtaking the Eagles like 1.5 games and I know like 0.5, whatever.

20:07But like, there's four games to go. The Cowboys do have one of the best offenses in the league. Dak Prescott is doing an insanely good job, staying insanely poised in games. He came back against the Eagles, which although the Eagles are kind of trashed right now, still to like go 24 points unanswered. Like the amount of like focus and quality play that that takes to mentally overcome that and then to actually do it and then to see how the Eagles are playing now, like who do you trust more like the Eagles offense to do anything or the Cowboys offense to pull out three of their next games as wins like I would put my money on the Cowboys especially at this point and just because the Eagles won the Super Bowl like unfortunately they're playing so badly that we can't even like rely on that anymore and we just saw the Chiefs essentially plummet you know and everybody all year's been saying well it's Patrick Mahomes and he's gonna do it And they're like, well, it's Jalen Hurts and it's Saquon.

21:06But at this point, week 14. I think it's so great. This season has been so exciting because the Giants of the NFL have fallen. Like we are seeing teams that haven't been relevant in years. Like they are the number one seed. We are so excited to see teams like even the Broncos who like, you know, they've been like consistently good, but they haven't been able to like finish. And like, this has been such a fun season for that. Exactly. Like I love to see the Chiefs not do great. My boyfriend is a huge Chiefs fan. He's going to be so upset that I say that, but it's like, I love to see it. I think it's good.

21:41Like let someone else come in. The NFL is not built to have dynasties. That's not what the NFL does. That's the whole draft picks and the orders of like the order of things. We're not supposed to have dynasties and it's okay if they don't make it to the playoff like one year. I'm happy about it actually. Yeah. Yeah. I know you're a college football girly too. And I feel like we're seeing that a little bit in college and maybe we'll like sprinkle some college talk into you. Cause I'm curious about your Heisman thoughts. But the last thing I will say about the Eagles, I fear QBR might be one of my favorite stats right now.

22:14Y 'all want to know what Jalen, Jalen Hurts QBR was last night. I read it. 70. 31.3. 31. That bad. Well, he had five picks, right? It was, he had five, turnovers um yeah although they weren't which it kind of sucks for a quarterback because like when you throw an interception and your receiver doesn't catch the ball like clearly it was your receiver's fault but that still was a knock on like your quarterback so there were a couple of moments in that game that like you know had some drops ager brown you mentioned him he actually had a drop in the end zone that was pretty interesting he said he had to play better yeah he he was kind of mad at himself.

22:59You can't be in the media and then be dropping it in the end zone. It's a bad. I know. Very bad. The worst part about that was he was like bawling. Like he was having a great game until that. And then it was like, until that point, it just went down. Dylan Hertz has five turnovers though. First player since 1978 to commit two turnovers in one play, which is when he threw that interception. Then it got fumbled. then Dylan Hurts picked it up but then it got fumbled again it was eventually recovered by the Chargers just a crazy play and like that's literally like been all over my Instagram my TikTok this morning it's just that play alone so I don't know the Eagles it's it's it's rough yeah and it will be interesting to see how they finish out the season I do feel like the Cowboys losing to the Lions was horrible.

23:52Very, very, very detrimental for our playoff chances. And we, there's like, there's no room for error for the Cowboys going forward if we're going to take our NFC division. So we'll see. Absolutely not. I mean, schedule-wise, I'm looking at it. Cowboys play the Vikings, the Chargers, Commanders, and Giants. The Giants, right? Yeah. And then the Eagles play Vegas, Washington, Buffalo, and Washington again. So I feel like they have a little bit of the easier schedule. but who knows what's going to happen with them. I mean, like if they can't figure it out, I could see them losing two of those games.

24:25Yeah. I mean, I can, I can as well. Like the Cowboys should be able to beat the Vikings. Like I know the Vikings are on a chaos train. No idea what's going on over there, but it's entertaining. So Vikings are kind of a toss up, but I think if the Cowboys, like the Cowboys beat the last two Superbowl contenders. So I feel like the Cowboys can beat the Vikings. yeah chargers is gonna be a crazy game because but the chargers offensive line is is not that strong they're so beat up you guys it's and so like they have some good things going but i don't know if they're good enough to beat the cowboys right now especially like a smooth like the cowboys offense is like a smooth running operation like it's doing its job it's moving along like Like they're pretty clean over there and the chargers are definitely not clean commanders and giants.

25:23Like if the Cowboys can't beat the commanders and giants, they don't deserve to go to the playoffs. No, no, definitely not. So it's like, I mean, the next two will be, are like the important ones. And then, yeah, they don't deserve it. If they can't beat the last two. Absolutely. I think a team that's been so fun to watch this year in the NFC is, is the Niners. I think what they've been able to do with such an injured roster, they're going to get a spot as a wild card. I'm like so certain of it. Like I really do feel like they're going to win out and there. I mean, I just think this team, I admire them.

25:58I obviously don't like them because I'm a Cowboys fan, but I admire what they're able to do with so many injured players. It's, it's incredible. Yeah. and yeah like the switching out of players and like inconsistency like you know we've been talking a lot about it coming from the top but whatever system they have in place is a system that like i don't think any other team has because they just are like plugging and playing yeah they're literally just like dropping in little avatars of people and saying like your turn now now you know what system they have christian mccaffrey that's their system yeah and who i think is like just elite when it comes to coaching.

26:40I think he's been able... I mean, this team over so many years has been in this position where so many people are injured with different rosters. And it's like, how do they keep finding a play? It's amazing. It's amazing. Last night I was talking about the Cowboys. You have to keep in mind CDLM is in concussion protocol. I know. That was a lot of them. The hands. As soon as I saw the hands, I'm like, he's out. he's out um but can we talk about another team that is uh on the trouble bus and they actually started off the season very very hot and i'm talking about the colts news broke yesterday this is my i've been i'm so excited to talk about this they have reached out to 44 year old philip rivers to come out of retirement we don't know if he's gonna play because riley leonard Their backup right now is day-to-day.

27:36So I still don't know what that's going to look like for the Colts. But Daniel Jones out for the season after he went down this past season. Anthony Richardson has been, I can't even talk about that. But, I mean, this man's a grandfather. Granddaddy. We're going to see some granddaddy here. Grandfather. Some little notes about Phillip Rivers. I mean, he played for the Chargers and the Colts. He wasn't terrible his overall passing yards. He was at 63 ,440 passing yards and 421 touchdowns. He had 240 career starts. So he's not like terrible. He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, 2013 NFL comeback player of the year, Little League in passing touchdowns in 2008 and 2010.

28:20So, I mean, not terrible, but he's 44 years old. However, this is the year of the unk. No, it's the ear of the unk. I'm obsessed. It's such the ear of the unk. So I fear he might like come in and like go crazy. But I'm just waiting on the Colts to call back Joe Flacco because Joe Flacco is obviously his job is done with Bengals. But I don't think Joe Flacco would go back to the Colts. I don't think the Colts would call Joe Flacco back. So I don't know. I don't think Joe Flacco played well enough with the Bengals for the Colts to want. Like the Colts are like, we're either going to rock with what we have or we're going to bring in someone.

28:56And Joe Flacco led the league in passing yards when he played with the Bengals. And they still don't win anything. Well, I fear that might've been more about the Bengals, not about Joe Flacco. That's probably true. You're right. So my thing with Phillip Rivers, just like out of curiosity, do either of you know what the protocol is when you're retired 44 years old? Like, is he training? Like what, like what is what is he doing on a day-to-day basis and like how does how is he gonna jump back in to an NFL game at 44 he's a grandpa like I don't understand what you do on a day-to-day to like just jump back in the game right his last game was like 2020 right yeah his last game was 2020 with the Colts they apparently brought him in for like some like I don't think it was like an official full practice but yeah they brought him in for a workout one day though like give me seven days and I would still be like, wait, I'm so like, I have sea legs.

29:58Like, I don't know what I'm doing. I feel like that is just such a crazy thing to be able to like not play for five years and then jump back into it. It's just, that's all I can think about with him. I'm like, this is going to be such a weird thing for him. I mean, I guess when you start and would you say like 250 games, you kind of know what you're doing at that point, but, but can you imagine your first sack at 44 the first sack back is gonna be horrible i know if he comes in you better be wearing a guardian cap that's all i have to say guys get this the colts play the texans oh i know i know play the texans yeah yeah cannot wait to see that i honestly put him in put him in put him in it's going to be great TV.

30:47It's going to be great TV. Seeing the downfall of the Colts has been such a like disheartening thing for me because I loved their whole like, you know, I love the whole thing. The whole thing of them just like being good. Jonathan Taylor is I'm obsessed with everything he does. He's so talented. Danny Dimes having this like resurgence and like coming in and playing so well and now having like two pretty much broken legs. Like the whole thing has just been so sad and I really hope that this wasn't just like a a moment in time like I hope they can come back next season I don't know what they're gonna do with the quarterback situation because like yeah I don't know if they're gonna want to pay Daniel Jones like if he's injured and but they also this is tea when they traded for sauce Gardner they gave away two first round picks.