Seahawks-Rams Showdown, Holiday Mailbag and the End for Tua?

19:32Colleen Wolfe:Because she's so big. I'm flying coach. I always fly coach home. I'm paying for it. I'm in 32D. Okay. Good way to spread it. She's with the people. That makes more sense. I love the people. The people are my people. I'm the people. here's the thing about these Christmas games being bad it actually makes it easier to just catch up with them later so you can't flex them and I know everyone you know here it's a big day for the NFL like the ratings are enormous on Christmas and it's a big deal for Netflix but they just happen to strike out that the Cowboys are going to be eliminated by then and they're playing the commanders lions vikings it's okay um it matters for the lions and the vikings are certainly watchable so that that's certainly better and then you get the broncos and the chiefs which is interesting but it's going to be gardner minshu versus the broncos and like why are chiefs fans showing up so you can just you know to me christmas is a step too far for the nfl i don't think it's i don't think that's out of bounds aren't you the one who famously wanted a game on every single day of the week.

20:45I did. I always think there's never enough NFL. Spread it out. But I think Christmas that's a little too much. Or just do one game. Or it's just on in the background while you're doing your things. But to me that's Thanksgiving. We already have that holiday. I know. I already did my Christmas. Rosenthal Christmas was Saturday. It's always a little strange because the rest of the world doesn't know it's Rosenthal Christmas so all the stores are open you can still go out for like a nice dinner that's kind of fun that's smart planning actually what about you

21:20Jourdan Rodrigue:I'm working because I have two features coming out for those next two weeks and please go look for them at that time my family will be leaving this Thursday night after we do our live YouTube show and recap of Ram Seahawks that I'm driving to the airport and saying goodbye. So I think I'll probably be hanging out with Mr. Anthony Jeselnik, my other family-less friend in LA. Yeah, I'll be here. We'll probably see an inappropriate movie. Oh, yeah. Really cool. Once we saw Cats, and then once we saw Zone of Interest. Zone of Interest. I was like, yeah, remember that one. It's one or the other. Is Tyler Shuck the best quarterback in this class?

22:03Asks Saints guy. And then connected to that Mia Wong on Blue Sky. Great follow. Will Rattler be a starter next year somewhere in the NFL? I'm going to answer the second one first. I can't imagine another team giving up a pick for Rattler to be their starter. If the Saints, for some reason, want to get rid of him because they didn't like the vibe in the room, they could certainly get a pick for Spencer Rattler, who could just be a solid backup or a 1B. But I don't see why they would do that. They have a great backup, which is unfortunate for Spencer Rattler, behind a guy who's had a lot of injuries in his life, Tyler Shuck.

22:44So that seems like a great situation for Rattler. On the Shuck question, the other options, Cam, I mean, Colleen,

22:50Colleen Wolfe:would be Cam Ward and Jackson Dart. I think those are really the top two. Similar athleticism. I've seen Colleen on ice skates. That's true. Great movement. You have. Ability. I think that Shuck, I mean, what? he probably has more passing yards than either of Cam. Wow. In terms of per game, yeah. Yeah, he definitely has that, and I like that he has good decision-making and he looks good in the pocket. It's just tough because the teams surrounding both quarterbacks are so different and they're not that great, so it is hard to evaluate them under these circumstances. But I guess Shuck would be above Cam.

23:34Jourdan Rodrigue:I put him at two. I put Cam Ward still at one, but I put Shuck at two over Jackson Dart. Yes. Yeah. I think they're all closer than Titans fans would want to feel. But I say that, and I would strongly still go with Ward long term. He's a lot younger. He's a lot more talented. I think if you put Cam Ward in the Saints situation, he would look a lot better. What, the Tyler Shuck age-shaming? I mean, I just you age shame him every chance. Well, no, I just what you usually say is and we know he's seen a lot of football. I'm just saying if you're betting on someone that's 23 or 26, Ward's situation is so bad.

24:18The problem is I don't know when that's going to change. I do think you got to give Kellen Moore some credit, which I haven't done much on this show, that he's made both these young quarterbacks. I think play pretty close to like their ceiling. If you hired him to be kind of a quarterback's tutor, whisper, I think their results are pretty good. Maybe that's his ceiling. Kellen Moore. Oh, yeah. But even that would feel like a win for them, even if he only lasts there two or three years and he helps Tyler Shuck become like a real deal franchise quarterback. I think he has a chance. Man, that's tough.

24:53Shudder erasure here, but I don't think Shudder is quite there with those three.

24:57Jourdan Rodrigue:But I think in a year or two, this is when we see Shudor really ascend into his division. Well, that's kind of what it's asking, though. If you're taking it long-term, and that's why I feel like Ward's career, I'm taking. But I got to say, Shuck might be a safer pick than Jackson Dart, which seems crazy.

25:16Colleen Wolfe:Yeah. Yeah, I think it's two different answers if you're going short-term versus long-term. Dart, to be fair, I can hear the Giants fans saying, he's even a year younger than Ward. So he is a young quarterback. Let's go to our next one. Gift bags or boxes? What is your rap game like? This is from Christman Gilchrist. Gift bags because all you have to do is throw some tissue paper in there. I do a bag. Throw a card in there. You know, when I used to have time. You can reuse them. Less waste. Yeah, that's true. I do love that. Like the recycling situation is great. But before I worked at the NFL, when I had extra time to do things, I used to really go crazy with wrap.

26:02Colleen Wolfe:And I would collect pine cones. Oh, my gosh. And I would spray paint them. My mom does that. I love it so much. Ribbons. And then when we try to open things, and then she's like, don't mess up the wrapping. And it's like, wait a second. Like, what? Now you're lucky if you get a gift. But then she saves it, all the trappings and fixing. Yeah. She saves them to use again. So it is sustainable. Repurposing. Yeah. My rapping is horrific and I get mocked for it, but I think that adds some like real, like why does it have to look all pretty? You know what I mean? Sure. It adds some real humanity to it.

26:36Colleen Wolfe:Greg's doing art. This next question was so offensive. I just thought I would throw it out as some red meat to you guys. From Blue Sky. Am I wrong or is Troy Aikman, the worst color guy alive? You are wrong. Wow. So you couldn't be more wrong. What is going on? I love Troy. He's number one. I literally talked about him for like a half hour straight last night, praising him. Yeah, this was a crazy take. I'm surprised because like, what is it about Troy Aikman? I think that would bother someone right now, unless you just like love NFL officials. Like I don't, then you would hate Troy Aikman. I don't know.

27:16Oh, I thought that was one of, I mean, that was one of their best games. They were being so cute to each other. and then Troy was just like letting the officiating have it and then he was singing at one point. He was really letting the Dolphins have it. Like one of the reasons why I think they got a lot of grief is... Joe and Troy are among my favorite booths. They're probably one of... I think they're my favorite. They're icons. And he's at the point, he always wasn't this good, where he just lets it fly. He does his homework. He lets it fly. He doesn't like care what the league office thinks, what the players think.

27:51He's not trying to cultivate relationships. He has relationships, but he's going to just speak his mind. And most importantly, he knows ball. And I think you have to do a little bit of studying to keep up with knowing ball. And he really knows ball. Who is up in the Terry McCauley? Is that the guy up in the booth with him? Is that the right name? I think it's Terry.

28:10Jourdan Rodrigue:It's one of them. Was that on Thursday? He goes, yeah, that's why I can't remember which one it is. But he'll ask Terry or whoever the rules guy is. He'll ask and then he'll be like, oh, I disagree. Bree, I think that's a bad call. I don't see that. And, like, why did you let the other guy speak?

28:28Colleen Wolfe:You were just going to shit on him. Oh, man. Like, doesn't he even try and softball it at all? So good. How did you guys like my Troy Aikman? That was good. I'm going to maybe try one here. I didn't really tuck the chin. Ten out of ten. Which NFL announcer would you want reciting the blessing of the menorah?

28:47Jourdan Rodrigue:Kevin Harlan. Oh, my God. That's definitely it. No brainer. Kevin Harlan. 100%. Baruch Atan Anoy. Melahelu Melaholom. Kedeshir Kedeshanu. The guy is drunk. Bar Mitzvah So. Fitz Ivanu. Lahadnik Dier. Shal Hanukkah. Oh, he's a big man with a lot of hair. Yes. Sorry to all the Jewish people out there, because I probably butchered that. I've never been to Temple. What? I've never really celebrated Hanukkah until I was about 11 or 12, though. The one thing that my mom especially wanted to just keep of some tradition, even though they were kind of anti-religion in general, was doing Hanukkah as a kid.

29:36So that's the one blessing or prayer that it stuck in my head from doing it until I was about 11 years old. So I still didn't know it. But we never actually went to a temple. and around 11 or 12 we just had a talk with my parents and said like the christmas format's just so much better we used to do both like we used to do both but we just kind of half-assed hanukkah the most greg thing i've ever and we negotiated just doing christmas as a 12 year old negotiated yeah well yeah my brother was a little older but i did most of the negotiating everything i learn

30:07Jourdan Rodrigue:about you greg equally does not surprise me and delights me oh i'll take that as a compliment That's true. My mom's negotiating back was like, we're not getting a tree, but we'll get a little like fake bush. And we're not calling it Christmas. Wow. Phrasing. And we'll just call it family day. So we called it family day. That's good.

30:31Colleen Wolfe:I went to my first Hanukkah night and heard the prayer the other, like, what, two nights ago? Because is tonight night two or three? We're in the middle. We're in the middle. Yeah. And it was cool. They sang the song and they did three prayers. And I didn't really know what was going on, but it was cool. It's lovely. I think reasonable minds could disagree about which format is better. It's like you're getting something cool or a few things cool for eight straight days. Or like one big. But as a kid, I. Do both. Yeah. That's what they do. Trimmed a tree and then lit the menorah. That is what we did back in the day.

31:05By the way, I heard that. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing this. that our love of Kevin Harlan on Sunday actually got passed on to Kevin Harlan. No way! From her daughter. I hope he hears this one, too. Yes, Olivia. We love you, Kevin. We love you, Kevin. And Olivia. Yeah, we love Olivia Harlan-Decker, too, who does a great job with Sky Sports, who I've worked with before.

31:29Jourdan Rodrigue:Amazing. Appreciate her. Appreciate her passing that on, because he is the best. This is a question. There's not a right answer to this. It was who would be Wes's favorite player. So for relatively new listeners here, Chris Wesseling, who this podcast is, the studio is named after. Of course, we did the Around the NFL podcast with him for years, one of our great friends. And I picked it out probably because I love talking about Wes anytime. But because watching that Chargers-Chiefs game on Monday, when I actually got around to watching it, I did just think about how much we both loved watching Herbert's rookie year.

32:07And I did think he would really love this Herbert year because if you're a Herbert fan, it's like it feels like he's like his arms falling off and everything. But he's just like making those four really cool player plays every game around him. Sort of the opposite of what his reputation had been where he's like this pretty boy, but they lose in the end. But no, they're like gutting it out. And he's been a lot of fun to watch. So this question made me think of that.

32:32Colleen Wolfe:Good question. Such a tough. Yeah. Yeah, it's kind of an impossible one. Knowing what kind of players he liked, I'll give you a second to think. I also thought about Devon Achan because he liked a fast, versatile back. He loved speed demons at running backs who were very often his favorite type of players.

32:51Jourdan Rodrigue:You know, sometimes actually, when these really cool moments happen, I think it would be really cool to hear him talk about that, just like the old times. And the Philip Rivers thing, just like to hear. That's true, to come back. Just to hear how he would talk about that and what he would think of it and kind of just the delight and maybe just the craziness of what that was and little moments. I thought about it the other day. I was kind of thinking the Woody Marks launching himself at the end. Yes. Little flourishes, little moments like that. I think about that actually quite a bit. That's a great question.

33:28Colleen Wolfe:And I miss getting the analogies from the most unexpected random titles from books or movies or music or something that only Wes could pull in that very moment to make it kind of connect. I feel like Wes always was so good with just like making everything more digestible and relatable, but then also bringing in things that no one would ever think of. I think of basketball players too because as Wes would love to remind you basketball was his best sport he was a great basketball player and he was a great basketball fan and mine too so I would love to hear him talk about like Shea, Gildress, Alexander and like when the Celtics were on a run I kept wanting to hear what he would say about those teams because we talked a lot of basketball football was work although we talked a lot of football too

34:15Jourdan Rodrigue:I really want his take on Tom Brady all of what Tom Brady is right now including the dog cloning including the Like, I just want a good rant. I want a good rant. I want a good... I know. I think he'd get... I think he'd be... And I don't know. But I think he'd get to where I've gotten to now, which is that Tom Brady's gotten so much better at announcing games that...

34:35Colleen Wolfe:The growth alone is like... I really respect that. I really respect that. He's just gotten more natural, but he also is putting in the work. And now I got to say I'm enjoying Tom much more. Shout out to Chris. I always think about him this time of year. Why does everyone line up for ham in Los Angeles? This is not something I knew happened. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So this is more of just a tip. I think Los Angeles, because of the mass of people and the amount of volume of holiday dinners that are happening here, it's every holiday. It's not just ham is particular to Christmas. But outsourcing holiday meals is a pretty good way to go.

35:16That's true. And there's like a million great places in LA. So I'm just saying that. I threw that question in. But this is like ham at a grocery store? No, there's a couple famous ham spots. But in general, that's true on Thanksgiving and stuff. I've lined up for brisket. Yeah, if you can outsource it. Why not do it? Would you rather, this is a totally random one that's more towards the end, but I like it. Would you rather take on one Will Campbell-sized duck or 100 duck-sized Will Campbells? What are they trying to do? Are they angry? The fact that it said, would you rather take on... Are we fighting them?

35:56The ducks in general are, you know...

35:58Colleen Wolfe:Like swans are mean. They're pretty mean, like if you come at them. So it's saying, would you take on one Will Campbell-sized duck sounds... Just one. Ferocious. Give me one rather than a hundred little ones. A hundred little Will Campbells? Well, and they're duck-sized Will Campbells. Just hunt them. Now, Will Campbell famously said he would die. Die. Yep. But if it was 100... Fight and die. If it was 100 Will Campbells that actually had the fight of a duck or a Will Campbell, I think that's actually a tougher one. One duck that's Will Campbell size, you got to figure you can outsmart him in some way and just get a shot to the neck at some point.

36:41Colleen Wolfe:It's just one. I'm taking that all day. I famously pick the worst case scenario in these types of things. I'm still waiting on Miles Garrett to show up out of nowhere. Will Aaron Rodgers play football next year? This is from Mr. Mojo Doza.

37:00Jourdan Rodrigue:No. I don't think so, in my opinion. I think he's done. I think you could tell. You see these shots of him after these wins, and he's just looking around, and he almost looks like he's on the verge of tears. And he stays on the field when it's 9 degrees to hug and take pictures with everybody. It's one of those things. I saw it with Aaron Donald, too. like staying just soaking in the little moments a little bit more just understanding this might be

37:25Colleen Wolfe:it I that's my opinion I thought that after the game when during the interview and all of the players were coming up to him and he was asked about that and prior to that question in the interview I felt like he was just sort of on autopilot and then that sort of triggered him to go into a deeper sort of more reflective answer and he was being introspective about it and kind of like just he had this like I don't even know the word for it but it felt like he was really relishing in the moment and trying to pause and take it all in and that contrast against him walking in to the game arriving with this like hoodie on and he looked so miserable and cold Yeah, but I don't think he's going to play next year.

38:14I've gotten the feeling lately that he will play next year. That he probably believes it's his last season, but the reason I think that is because I think there'll be a job for him. And if there's a job for him, history tells us they usually take it in the end. So we'll see. It kind of depends on how this ends. I'm just getting this vibe that someone's going to give him a decent enough job, whether they should or not. I think it could happen. All right, last one. Aside from personal favorites, Pats, Rams, or Eagles. I like that the Rams is just accepted as your favorite. I am seeing. Who would you want to see win the Super Bowl?

38:49The Bills. Texans. I think Chargers would be my first pick. Really? That'd be great. Herbert. Yeah.

38:57Colleen Wolfe:No. I love an underdog, and they're underdogs in their own building. I'm not saying that ownership is the best going and that they're the ones I'm happy for, but like the Chargers fans who have just been like made fun of forever. Like, do they even exist? Like, well, the ones that they have, like that would, I don't know. It would be cool. That would be cool. I think that would be good for, for Los Angeles overall. Sure. Yeah. I guess I'm just a bills. I'm down guy. Bills or Broncos. Broncos would be cool too. Oh, Broncos would be so cool. Yeah. Okay. Now that you say Broncos, I know we got to take a break.

39:29This is the last one. Oh, cause you don't want to hear for fantasy. No, there is another Bo Nix question. And I'm adding it. Is Bo Nix just Shane Steichen-led Jalen Hurts? This is a compliment. He throws the deep ball outside the numbers well. He's athletic and mobile and pretty smart with the ball. Great play caller, top O-line, and a great defense. Don't see why he can't make the Super Bowl. First of all, pretty good player comp. Definitely some strengths and weaknesses that are different. I think Bo is much more willing to take chances than Jalen Hurts is and better throwing. I think he's a better just pure playmaker throwing the ball than probably Hurts although Hurts has had his moment

40:10Jourdan Rodrigue:but I do like they're very efficient when it's working very efficient and the risk averse thing is a good flag too because Bo Nix is not risk averse Jalen Hurts is risk averse when it works it really really works

40:21Colleen Wolfe:and does that come with age though too

40:23Jourdan Rodrigue:and I think with Bo it's maybe a higher ceiling lower floor I mean we saw Jalen Hurts his floor obviously I don't think I think that's an outlier. And I also think coaching really matters with this, and you've seen it certainly with Bo Nix, too.

40:40Colleen Wolfe:I just can't get out of my head Sean Payton saying that we're starting the year against San Francisco, going to San Francisco in the preseason, that was, their first preseason game, and he wanted to end the season, his last game, in San Francisco as well for the Super Bowl. The question's from an account here for Fantasy, and the point that like, why couldn't he make the Super Bowl? Oh, yeah. He could. I mean, they are, if they're not the closest thing to a favorite the AFC has, like they're right there. And I think the recipe is there. We've seen quarterbacks lesser than Bo Nix go on runs. That's the thing.

41:17You got to do it, though. Jalen Hurts has played his very best. Like two of the best games he's ever played in his whole life were in the Super Bowl. Maybe the two best. So that's what you want. We'll see if Bo can get it done. Let's take a break and let's talk about two great quarterbacks from this year. Yes, that's right. Sam Darnold and Matthew Stafford in the Thursday night game of the year. Maybe the Thursday night game of all time.

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45:05It's not forever. It is the first Thursday night game of all time where both teams have at least 11 wins. So in terms of a big game this late in the season, it's hard to imagine a bigger game than the two teams, I believe, are the two best teams in the NFL going against each other. And one of them is going to be in a position where they're likely to have to win three road games in the playoffs to make it. and the other is in a position where they're in the driver's seat to go get that one seat. So that's a big game, Jordan. Yes, it is, Greg. And my comment was more aligned to your penchant for hyperbole than it was in this game.

45:42I know, but I'm saying this isn't hyperbole. It's a stat.

45:47Jourdan Rodrigue:I asked you if I could take this game with you, and I am so excited about this because this has huge potential. Huge. Huge potential. I cannot wait. This is, it was such a weird game last time. It was, you know, Seattle outgaining Los Angeles 414 yards to 249 yards. But Sam Darnold having four interceptions and based a lot on some of the simulated pressure that the Rams were bringing at the time that really messed him up and kind of sent him on this course that he's on now. And can he bring it back to the Sam Darnold that we saw at the beginning of the season? And the stakes are so high, even though the Rams made the playoffs.

46:28Jourdan Rodrigue:This is a game they absolutely want to have for their playoff seating. It's just so much fun.

46:34Colleen Wolfe:Yeah, I think about those four interceptions because that isn't the only thing psychologically that Sam Darnold is approaching this game with because when you go back to the previous season when he was with the Vikings and which defense was it that took him down? It was the Rams and he was sacked I don't even know how many times in that game. They were all over him. And that, I feel like, plays such a big role in just a quarterback's mindset. If he throws an interception early or loses the ball early, then does that start to kind of play into his head? Because I'm furiously vamping so I can look for the number right here.

47:13Colleen Wolfe:But it was the wild card game last year. He was sacked nine times. That was the season-ending loss, obviously, for them. So I just am wondering how he'll be in the pocket in this one. And it's interesting to think about the two quarterbacks in this game because Sam Darnold, everyone is watching how he's done in Ryan Grubb's offense. And how, you know, is he the guy that we saw all year with the Vikings? Or is he the guy that we saw against the Rams when he was with the Vikings and this year with the Seahawks? And then on the other side, you have Matthew Stafford, who's on this MVP campaign. So the two narratives, even just at the quarterback position, so interesting.

47:51I mean, it's Stafford's MVP moment. He has a huge game in this game. He wins the MVP likely, especially with the conversation. Yes. Big for Patrick. It's huge for the conversation. I guess you never know if Allen went supernova and Stafford then stubbed his toe in the final two weeks with really good matchups, Atlanta and Arizona. You can't just write it in. But if he has a good game on Thursday night, he is now going to be like a heavy, heavy favorite. and he didn't look great in that game. They had 130 yards, something like that, passing the 12 first downs. And Seattle, what they do defensively, gave them a lot of problems.

48:34We've talked a lot about the 13 personnel. You were way ahead of that in terms of the three tight ends that the Rams like to put on the field and how that's really helped them unlock their offense. Well, the Seahawks shut that down when the two of them played. They played that personnel grouping better than any team all year by far to the point where they kind of just stranglehold did the Rams in that game. And yet the last two weeks, the Rams have used that more than ever, way more over the last two weeks and more effectively than ever. So how will that line up? Sean McVay talked during the week just about the challenges of playing Mike McDonald.

49:08They play really good defense. They're connected on all three levels. They got great players, great scheme. They got great flexibility and fluidity, you know, on a week to week basis. And, um, you know, and then when they get, when they get you in some, you know, bad spots, I mean, they attack and, um, and they feast on that kind of stuff. And so, uh, whatever Mike said, I totally agree with, and there's nothing but a ton of respect for this coaching staff and these players. And, uh, and really this football team as a whole, not exclusive to the defense, their defense is unbelievable, but they're excellent on offense.

49:39They're excellent in the kicking game. There's no weakness. This This is as complete of a football team as there is.

49:43Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah, he's right. Also, he's exhausted. His wife just had their second child yesterday. Oh, my God. And going on to a short week. But, yeah, Mike McDonald. J.J. McCarthy did not do well when, you know, he had a kid right before the game. That could be a factor here. Yeah. You know, he's actually not having the child, so I think he's going to be fine. But Mike McDonald is so – when I talk to coaches on both of these staffs, they compare the two coaches to each other because Mike McDonald is so good at these adjustments. And so he's expecting the changeup pitch that Sean McVay threw when 13 personnel was being defended so well, as we predicted it would be because Seattle is built to be this multiple where they can defend it, was trying to get into more 11 personnel because it's the same route combinations.

50:33Jourdan Rodrigue:It's just using smaller, faster players. The problem is Devontae Adams might not be available because of the hamstring injury. So you can't as easily go back and forth between 13 and 11 personnel in the way that they would prefer to because you don't know if he's going to play. And then you're relying on, yes, Pukunuku is having another unreal season. Then also, Kanate Mumphil, Jordan Whittington, and again, a lot of pass-catching tight ends. And the interesting thing about this game to me is that even though we've seen, And I think this is the perfect fit between Clint Kubiak and Sam Darnold.

51:08Jourdan Rodrigue:And I think that it's the perfect, like modern throwback of an offense. The Rams are really going to, I think, miss Quentin Lake, having Quentin Lake in this game, because having somebody who can command the middle of the field, the way that Quentin Lake did, and he's injured now, having him able to take up that space and help dictate some of their coverage, but also dictate some of their pressures, because the Rams are not getting a lot of sacks on their pressures. They're actually under league average at converting pressure to sacks right now, according to NextGenStats. But they're forcing turnovers.

51:38Jourdan Rodrigue:They have the highest number of turnovers forced from pressure in the NFL this year. And a lot of that is what happened to Sam Darnold in the last game. But a lot of that was because they could move Quentin Lake, like what I mentioned, in some of these simulated pressures where you look like you're going to come in on a blitz, but then you're dropping back and making the zone very cloudy and murky, which made Sam Darnold not really understand where he was throwing the ball. So this is where I think this is an absolute necessity to, A, have Chris Shula design some different types of looks this time, but then also for Sam Darnold to potentially be able to attack the middle of the field.

52:15Yeah, and they have added a dimension to their offense with Rashid Shahid. I think they really needed that to have, like, different layers. But since that Rams game, basically every opponent has taken some of that playbook and sent a ton of pressure. Minnesota would do it in any week, but they did it at Sam Darnold. Atlanta, it worked for a half until it didn't. And Indianapolis played an awesome defensive game against Seattle last week. And they got back, Jake Sundell, their center last week. Their offensive line has not had the development, I think, that they would like over the course of the season.

52:54The run game, which I was hoping had kind of turned a corner, has maybe taken a little bit of a step back the last two games for Seattle. And they're not really protecting Darnold well.

53:03Colleen Wolfe:Their left tackle, Charles Cross, he got hurt in the last game. So he might not go. So in the most important game of the year, it might be decided by the backup left tackle in terms of how much time Darnold is going to have. Can JSN get enough separation? Jared Burst needs a big game. He needs a big game.

53:23Jourdan Rodrigue:He's dying for a big game.

53:25Colleen Wolfe:And not only that, but the Seahawks, they've started so unbelievably slow, especially in these last five games. I think they've only scored something like 12 points in the last first quarters over their last five games. And it's just the complete opposite of what the Rams do. The Rams come out and they try and score as quickly as possible. So things could really start lopsided fast.

53:51Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah. And the other thing that I think is like maybe the sneaky, no pun intended element of this matchup is I warned about this before Matthew Stafford played in Carolina. Matthew Stafford in the rain. if this rain if it rains like it usually is in Seattle Matthew Stafford had a real issue one of the interceptions was a freak thing but had a real issue he lost a fumble this defense is is going to get after him and the elements are not going to be fun and Pukunakua who's like I said but unbelievable he's also had one big drop over the last couple I don't automatically give the edge to the Rams offense in elements like that.

54:31Jourdan Rodrigue:Now, if they run the ball the way they've been running it, they'll be okay. But, you know, it's Sean McVay, and he's gotten so used to just having Seattle's number when Pete Carroll was there. He's going to want to throw the hell out of the ball.

54:45Colleen Wolfe:Jason Myers is going to kick, like, seven field goals. Yeah, that could be an advantage. We haven't really seen the thick kicker, Harrison Mevis, who's not really that thick anyways. It's like, calm down with the thick kicker. I've never seen a forecast like this it says definite rain I mean it's just no it does not definite rain so I'm just saying definite

55:08Jourdan Rodrigue:darkly chaotic Matthew Stafford and there's nothing worse than cold rain because it's going to be a little too warm for it to be snow but it's going to be in the low 40s maybe high 30s that's a great call out and you mentioned Devante Adams just to update that our insider Ian Rapoport at NFL Network said initially week to week, which means he's out, according to Rapoport, at least as of Monday. But the chamber has showed up. The immortal chamber is on site. McVay said, we're going to try to take it all the way up to game time. It could be a game time decision. But when Puka Nakua spoke to the media, he just talked about how it's going to be important for Mumfield and these younger receivers to step up, talking as if he already knew Devontae Adams is not playing in this game.

55:54So I would be surprised if Devontae Adams plays.

55:58Colleen Wolfe:And they just use him as like a decoy. That's a big deal, though. Like they don't have I know Colby Parkinson's been awesome lately, and I kind of think he would be their number two receiver in this game. He has been the last few weeks. Right. Devontae Adams has seven hundred and eighty nine yards this year and 14 touchdowns. No one else on that team has over three hundred. Like it is. Someone pops up for a started right away between the two of them. Right. Yeah. They're incredible. And even last week, like that wasn't just all about him in the red zone. So it really does change things up. And then you've been talking about the weaknesses of the Rams all season.

56:31It's probably at cornerback and certainly has been lately. And you think about that game last week where Emmanuel Forbes and Durant are giving up a lot of big plays. And I do think this is where, again, it could be a big Shahid game because they haven't had enough elements, the Seahawks, that is, maybe to be a dominant offense. But Shahid has been getting in the mix on just normal plays over the last few weeks. He's been like four for 76, and it can't just be all JSN. So is it an A.J. Barner game? He's been really good for them at tight end. Is it a Shahid game? That's one where I think the defenses kind of have the edge on both sides.

57:07They are the top two defenses in the entire NFL in success rate since Week 12. So they are coming down the home stretch, playing the best defense. And with this weather, it might not be the greatest MVP showcase, But as long as you make the play at the end, that's what Stafford needs to get that award. The biggest game in TNF history. So I hear. Yeah.

57:27Jourdan Rodrigue:And this is going to be exciting because usually when everybody's talking about Matthew Stafford and he's trying to even quiet them from chanting it in the locker room postgame, chanting MVP in the locker room postgame, usually something very weird is about to happen. And I've seen too many of these to rule chaos out. But I do think that there are sneaky, like, edges and leverage points on both sides. Braden Fisk dealing with sort of a finicky ankle right now. That's a huge leverage point to me because you need to be able to rush the way that you want to rush. And then on the other side, like, I do think that it could be a big A.J.

58:08Jourdan Rodrigue:Barner game because they're going to have to try to cap the explosives and you're going to have to try to attack the middle of the underneath of those zones. And A.J. Barner minus Quentin Lake in the middle of the field is going to be that target.

58:19Colleen Wolfe:How many times will we hear Al Michaels talk about young geniuses in this game between Sean McVay and Mike McDonald? Do you think we'll get the picture of the Washington coaching staff? Can we just get a little more excitement if we have a game-winning field goal at the end? That's all I'm asking. You want excitement. You listen to me and Greg Rosenthal going live after the game. What a call. Do you want to make a pick? Because you famously don't like making predictions. And then you went hard on the preview show with your dolphins. And that thing crashed into the ground. So I don't know. I think the important part of being a takes woman is to keep making those takes.

59:01Keep making those picks.

59:02Jourdan Rodrigue:I'm not a takes woman. Well, now you are. Now that you're 0-1 with the dolphins. No, I'm kidding. You know I have to pick the Rams. You know I have to pick the Rams. It's like you'd be at, like, of course I have to pick the Rams.

59:15Colleen Wolfe:Yeah, are you looking at me? These are the two best teams in football. You can't go wrong with a pick here. Oh, gosh. The Rams are going to sweep them? If they don't. I think so. If they don't, they basically knock the Rams out of the division title because at that point, the Rams would be a game back and Seattle's magic number to eliminate the Rams from winning the division would be one. Now, Seattle finishes with two relatively tricky games at Carolina, at San Francisco. But all they would have to do is win one of those two in addition to beating the Rams. The sneaky bigger than people think possibility here is that the Seahawks win this game and that week 18 against the 49ers, if San Francisco could get there, could actually be for the one seed.

1:00:04Like the 49ers have a real chance.

1:00:07Jourdan Rodrigue:And they have a game up on Seattle. They have a lot of work, though, to do in the meantime. The 49ers do at the Colts and then home for the Bears. So their schedule is tough, too. But it is a three-team race that the Rams, like I said, they'll be in the driver's seat if they win. They almost certainly are out of the division race if they lose.

1:00:25Colleen Wolfe:I mean, the winner basically controls their own destiny for the one seed. I'll take the Rams. It worries me. So, yeah, that worries me that we're all taking the Rams. It does worry me how well the Seahawks played against them last time. Yeah. And when I watched a little bit about that game back, it's really their front, I think, is so deep and versatile and strong that I think they're better on defense in terms of their front than the Rams' offensive line, who's played really well this year. But it's a rare time where their offensive line might get in their way. I think the Rams find a way because of the running game.

1:00:58Better running game. Bad weather.

1:01:01Colleen Wolfe:let's go. Let's go Rams. Either way, I like both these teams. And I don't think...

1:01:05Jourdan Rodrigue:Yeah, these two teams, what a masterpiece all season from both of how they're built, what they did to try to fix previous issues, both sides, the coaching, the adjustments. Like, it's awesome. It's been fun. I'm pre-coping, and this actually undercuts my idea that this is the biggest Thursday night game of all time. Because these two teams are both so good. I do think they're the best two teams in the NFL that if either one of them is the five seed, I think they can make the Super Bowl still. I'm not crossing them off. Obviously, the chances are less than if you're the one seed, but I think they're both good enough.

1:01:38We've seen it happen a number of times before for a team to make the Super Bowl from that spot. It would be a team like the Seahawks or the Rams. So this isn't everything. Okay. All right. Can't wait. Again, yeah, we'll be live after that game, but we have more show in between. We've got a big-time preview show with Jordan Roderig and Patrick Claibon coming up on Wednesday. And Colleen's going to go stand in line for some ham. Yeah. You guys got to let me know the spots. Wait, we're not going to see you next Tuesday.

1:02:09Colleen Wolfe:Guys, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. Send those holiday cards out. 900 District Drive, Inglewood, California. Care of Colleen Wolf. We'll read them after Christmas. We'll see you then.

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