Hour 1: 49ers-Eagles Reactions, Caleb’s Latest Comeback, LaFleur’s Packers Future

0:01The world moves fast. Your workday? Even faster. Pitching products, drafting reports, analyzing data. Microsoft 365 Copilot is your AI assistant for work. Built into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 apps you use. Helping you quickly write, analyze, create, and summarize. So you can cut through clutter and clear a path to your best work. Learn more at Microsoft.com slash m365copilot. Score more with the college branded Venmo debit card and earn up to 5 % cash back with Venmo stash. Got paid back? With the Venmo debit card you can instantly access your balance and spend on what you want.

0:40Like game day snacks, gear, tickets and more. The more you do, the more cash back you can earn. Plus there's no monthly fee or minimum balance. Sign up now at Venmo.com slash college card. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. Select schools available. Venmo stash terms and exclusions apply at Venmo.me slash stash terms. Max$100 cash back per month. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody. Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck. You can find us everywhere. Watch us weekdays on Disney Plus from noon to 3 Eastern. Miss the show? We've got a podcast so you can listen anytime.

1:17But here's the best part. Our YouTube channel. Subscribe at youtube.com slash richeisenshow and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show. This is the Rich Eisen Show Definitely now's not the time Touchdown Bears! They've taken the lead on the Packers Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles Knocked away by Eric Kendricks And Allen's got it, not to be denied, he's still going On today's show, complete wildcard weekend recap Latest head coaching news, your phone calls and more And now, it's Rich Eisen.

2:00Rich Eisen:Well, that was a weekend, huh? Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show. Everybody, live on Disney +, the ESPN app, ESPN radio, everywhere. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial. Boy, are we going to have a conversation with you. We're wide open because I am sure there are five fan bases that are really pissed and five that are ecstatic. There are two more that are on pins and needles tonight in the Steelers and the Texans for Monday Night Football. And then there are two fan bases in Seattle and Denver saying, thank goodness we had a bye week because this past wildcard weekend, anything happened, everything happened.

2:38And I am glad to be that my team was out of that fray. And then Indiana curb stomped Oregon to start the whole thing off to set up a Miami and Indiana national championship game one week from tonight. So there is a ton going on in the neighborhood. Good to see you over there, Christopher Brockman. How are you? Rich, I am excellent. How are you, my friend? I am doing well. Mike Teltufo, DJ Mikey D. Good morning, Rich. He's nuts. Good to see you. TJ Jefferson, the candle does appear to be lit over there. How are you? It was great to be able to relax and not have to worry about your team playing football.

3:11Rich Eisen:Because they didn't make it. You didn't have all the stress. I highly recommend it for anyone. No, you're good. Did you go golfing? I guess there's one way that two teams that were out of the fray, happy to not be in that fray, are happy to now have their teams back in the mix in Seattle and also in Denver. And there's tons of other fan bases that wish their teams could have actually been in the mix. As I mentioned, 844-204-RICH is the number to dial. Get in, baby. We start today's show with the fact that Wild Card Weekend comes and goes and has a Monday night football game still to go. And we know as we sit here, there will be a new champion crowned in the National Football League.

3:56We will have a new Super Bowl champ because the San Francisco 49ers went into Philadelphia and did what Green Bay fans know they could do, what Dallas fans know they could do, which is come into your house and end your season, despite it being filled with hope and desires, except for the fact in Philadelphia, from what I heard from many fans there in Philadelphia, there was no hope. There was no hope pretty much from the very beginning because they were all wondering what was going on with this offense, even on an opening night win against the Dallas Cowboys,

4:35Rich Eisen:and then a week two win in Kansas City. there was always an undercurrent of this isn't working out. I counseled Eagles fans throughout the months of November and December to relax, to chill out, that things were going to go at least well enough that you'd make the playoffs, and then you'd have a chance. And in this playoff game, the Philadelphia Eagles led throughout much of it. they led at halftime. They didn't lead after the first quarter, but pretty much quarters two and three, you were winning. You had a chance at home, except for the fact that that undercurrent of the season where the defense was going to show up and show out and ball out, could the offense pull it together well enough?

5:34Rich Eisen:Could a switch be flipped somehow? And whose fault is it? And I'll say this, with the finger of blame coming out in the month of January, as it always does. Hit that bad boy, TJ. As it always does for the 18 teams that don't make the playoffs and then the six teams that get bounced in the first weekend of the playoffs, The finger of blame in Philadelphia goes all throughout that offensive room, 100%. You could say it's the offensive coordinator. Kevin Petulo has been the scourge of the Philadelphia Eagles offensive problems as far as the fans go. It's been his problem coordinating. He doesn't scheme it up very well.

6:29Rich Eisen:and you could point a finger at A.J. Brown who dropped a ton of passes yesterday. Devontae Smith had one goal off his hands. Even the great Saquon Barkley on third down dropped a pass on Jalen Hurts. You could point the finger of blame at Jalen Hurts himself and you could point it all in the fact that it all came together in one big mosh pit called the final play of the game and the final play of the season for the Philadelphia Eagles offense. Fourth down. What play are you going to call? Well, first thing you're going to do is call timeout to talk about it, even though you might need all those timeouts to try and get the ball back for one last shot at a Hail Mary or setting up something, you know like say uh what we saw Ole Miss had against Miami on Thursday night last week is a shot maybe from the 30 yard line 35 yard line but instead they fire off a timeout and Eagles fans I mean I I know that that moment is when you got most nervous not just because the season was on the line, but the three guys that you probably trusted the least on the offensive side of the ball were all putting their heads together.

7:55And then, you know, again, body language. That's all we're reading about the Philadelphia Eagles today and what was being said on the sideline because it's a Philadelphia Eagles story about what's said on the sideline, which we'll get to in a second. It's Petulo talking it out with Hertz, who then looks at the coach who gives this. so like what do you think now listen they've made a statue of moments like this out in front of philadelphia that's true okay doug peterson chopping it up with with nick foals right

8:27Rich Eisen:and that coach got fired and uh what came out of this was uh whatever the opposite of the philly special is and you know you look at all the all 22 folks on the socials that's funny talking about whatever came out it was um not the most imaginative play and then the quarterback might have thrown it in the worst possible spot right in the middle of the field surrounded by the most 49ers and then at the end of the day they don't throw at the very least a 50 50 ball to A.J. Brown so A.J. Brown when he's targeted didn't catch a lot of him and or didn't catch enough to drive people crazy. And then in the last play, they dial something up and the quarterback doesn't throw it to A.J.

9:18Brown. And at the end of the day, it's going to wind up on the coach's lap because that's what happens in the National Football League. It winds up on the lap of Nick Sirianni about what to do. and at the end of the day the Eagles are done the defense did enough against the 49ers and then the Eagles couldn't do enough on offense to overcome whatever doldrums hit this season and it's everywhere you're hearing it everywhere Jalen Hurts can't do it Jalen Hurts won't do it Kevin Petulo can't do it. A.J.

10:02Rich Eisen:Brown won't do it. Can't do it. The offensive line, Lane Johnson didn't play yesterday. Offensive line was totally different. They couldn't go through Saquon, so they had to do something else, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. And then there's that A.J. Brown moment on the sideline with Sirianni. That's just, again, listen, after the game, do we have that sound bite? Is that the first thing that we have queued up once again, Mike Hoskins? We all know there was a moment where A.J. Brown didn't grab a pass that did hit him in the hands. And he comes off the field and Sirianni's yelling at him. This is what Sirianni said after the game, what it was about.

10:46Yeah, you know, I was trying to get him off the field, you know, because we were about to punt, and that was really it. So I love A.J. I think he knows how I feel about him. have a special relationship with him we've we've probably went through every emotion you can possibly have together uh we've laughed together we've cried together we've yelled at each other um you know we're both emotional i was trying to get him off the field and you know you never want you know that happens in this game that happens in this game and but i love him yeah i i know it's called the city of brotherly love but i don't think the folks in Philadelphia care about any of the love between them right now and again Sirianni knows the way it works in the NFL when you're that demonstrative on a sideline and Fox has 90 million cameras on you to the point where they once upon a time caught the wide receiver in question reading on the sidelines that they've got it everywhere it's going to be interpreted as something completely different but that's just the way this guy is that's the way he coaches and when you win hey that's a Philly thing you know he's just putting it on his sleeve and he's being brass just like the city and when it you lose it's just like can we maybe do without the drama can we dial it back down a little bit but that's the way things go in Philadelphia that's the way it works for him or it worked last year this year just did not and um they're done they're out and I have a feeling that changes are coming on the offensive side of the ball which means hey Jalen Hurts you're about to get a new offensive coordinator for the umpteenth time in your life.

12:25He was asked about his thoughts on Kevin Petullo and how everything went this season with his new OC after the game. Can you address how things went with Kevin Petullo in your first season together? Did you grow together? Did it get better? Did it ever stagnate? and do you think it has a future? I think I'm always growing. I'm always taking in my experiences and learning from everything that we go through. I think it's tough to single out one individual, especially in a moment like this. We all got to improve, and that's how I look at everything that we go through. Yeah, you're not going to get anything out of Jalen Hurts.

13:10It's going to be bulletin board material or it's something like he's pissed, this, that, the other thing, and it's going to just take a fire that's already at 10 and put it to spinal tap 11. Like, that's just not going to happen. You're not going to get that. You're not going to get the answers you're looking for. Philadelphia, the answers are going to come from the head coach who's not going anywhere, nor should he. The last time, by the way, Sirianni did a self-scout after a one-and-done in the playoffs, they won the Super Bowl the next year. Okay? So now in their title defense, which ain't easy, it doesn't go your way.

13:43I don't know if A.J. Brown's going to be back either. And for Hurts, in terms of a new offensive coordinator, I know that's the last thing they want to do. It's the last thing that they want to do. I've got the list here. In college at Alabama, he had Lane Kiffin and Sark in 2016, and then they left. Dayball and Loxley come in, they left. Loxley actually stayed. He got promoted. Josh Gaddis comes in in 2018. Lincoln Riley was his guy in 2019 because he left and went to Oklahoma. different guys every year four years then he comes to the Eagles it's Doug Peterson his first year Shane Steichen the only guy I had back-to-back years with as his offensive coordinator before Brian Johnson comes in he gets the gate they bring in Kellen Moore they win the Super Bowl he gets hired somewhere else and here comes Petulo and I think here comes another guy

14:30so I know I told Eagles fans to relax and their response to me would be I told you so Rich this is why we didn't relax because we knew this would happen in the playoffs I'll be honest with you Anything's happening in these playoffs. Anything's happening.

14:41Rich Eisen:You just take a look at the rest of this weekend, how anything could have happened. And the one thing that was not the same is everything else. I guess what's not the same? Josh Allen doing Josh Allen things, that's still the same, right? Yeah. I guess, you know, Matthew Stafford pulling it out of his orifice at the end, the Bears doing that to the Packers again. That's not the same. No, that's not. Listen, I understand. I think changes are going to have to come in Philadelphia as much as they don't want to do it. And the thing about the Eagles that makes things more difficult for them to realize that the offense isn't imaginative enough or something's not working is to be bounced by the San Francisco 49ers doing everything that they've done without the guys that they usually have.

15:35kittle goes down again my god george kittle wherever you are man i'll send you a bottle tequila as well did you hear that i heard he drank the whole thing well why wouldn't he diana was reporting um you know wanted a bottle of tequila sent to the the locker room after he blows out his achilles in this game and it's just hey football gods can you just stop taking people like him off the field can we can we stop this sort of thing for real um he goes out and now he's done for the rest of the campaign and the Niners just keep on chugging okay the again the

16:11Rich Eisen:Eagles are like we're running it back we got the same guys these are the same guys and it's no longer working for some reason and we don't know why we can't put the finger on it fans can't get an answer and the Niners are like okay no Brock Purdy will bring in Mac Jones you know Ayuk never showed up yep yeah pierce all can't stay healthy juan jennings the first month of the season in and out of the lineup here comes kendrick bourne for 19 million yards demarcus robinson if you had on your bingo card that he would come up with 63 of the first 76 yards on the opening drive for a touchdown including his grab to start the scoring in philadelphia anybody have that on their bingo card Bueller?

16:56Rich Eisen:No. And then of course in terms of in terms of imagination on offense the Niners having a tough time against this Eagles defense keeping Christian McCaffrey down and out of the end zone guy doesn't have a touchdown coming into the fourth quarter again coming into the fourth quarter in this game it's 16-10 the only touchdown the Niners have is their opening drive to Marcus Robinson So what does Kyle Shanahan dial up? He dials up a dipsy-doo where it's an end around to Sky Moore who then flips it to another guy coming from his left to his right in Jawan Jennings to find Christian McCaffrey in the end zone, Willie Mays style.

17:46See, I'm going San Francisco in a way. There you go. A Willie Mays catch in the end zone touchdown to start the fourth quarter. That's how it started. For the Niners to take the lead. And so one team's got an offensive coordinator or an offense collectively that can't do very much. And then when one team can't do very much, they got a guy that's like, oh, wait till you see this play. Oh, and then McCaffrey scores again later on. Two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Kyle Shanahan after the game on that play. It's called sky bang reverse pass. Last time we called it, it was called Debo Bang reverse pass.

18:29We ran it in New Orleans when Emmanuel threw to Raheem, kind of the same area of the field. We were trying to set it up a little bit. We got a jet sweep to Sky earlier in the game, and we had to be on the right hash for the play because Juwan's not left-handed. So we were just hoping to get it around there. Clay suggested it. It was a hell of a suggestion. And Juwan threw a perfect ball, which made me a little scared. I thought he should just throw in a bad ball and put it on him. So I thought it was a hell of a catch by Christian, and I didn't see it. But knowing that he got roughed up and stuff just shows what a G.

19:02Juwan is, high school quarterback. Yes, indeed. As a matter of fact, I did not know this. Did you know Juwan Jennings was a higher-rated quarterback coming out of high school than Joe Burrow? I just saw that. I just saw that, yeah. Yeah, he goes to the University of Tennessee. They're like, you're now a wide receiver. Yep. Oh, so they were going to set up the play later on, and then they uncorked the play because they see what hash they're on because he's not left-handed. He's right-handed. to let's throw to Christian McCaffrey for a touchdown. And the other team's like, here's what we're going to do on fourth down timeout.

19:29Let's come up with this play. We're just going to go and do hardly anything that's imaginative and have our quarterback thrown to quadruple coverage when the season's over. It doesn't help. I'm just pointing this all out as it doesn't help. And then you've got to give it up to the San Francisco 49ers, everybody. Soup to nuts. Coming into this season in which they've got a last-place schedule because last year went so poorly for them because Christian McCaffrey was hurt. Okay, much made, again, about coming into the season, was McCaffrey going to be anything? Right? Remember there was even that scare before the season where he's suddenly questionable on the injury report before week one, and you're like, uh-oh, because the last time that happened, the guy wound up with two Achilles problems and hardly did a damn thing.

20:20Well, coming into the season, the Niners also had a$90 million dead cap hit because it was time for so many of their moves over the last few years. It came time to pay the credit card reaper. And so you remember the non-playing season, the offseason as we call it, non-playing season at NFL Network? They lose Ward, Floyd, Collins, Debo, Hargrave, Hufanga, Greenlaw, Banks. Gone. See ya. And then the season starts and Nick Bosa goes and Fred Warner goes. Boom. Gone. See ya. Where's Ricky Pearsall throughout the season? Not around. Where's Purdy sometimes? Not around. Mack Jones is in. Okay. Where's Kittle sometimes?

21:05Not around. Hey, fans of Seattle, they know. Niners fans know too. Folks who think that, you know, Kittle's gone, they're effed. look up who scored the game-winning touchdown in week one in Seattle, where they're going back in week 20. Jake Tonjes. And again, Ayuk never shows. He's best known this year for speeding by the stadium rather than inside it. Got to give it up, man. Got to give it up. Kyle Shanahan, what a job he did this year. And again, it also helps to have Brock Purdy come back from injury, have back-to-back games with accounting for five or more touchdowns on a Monday nighter in Indianapolis and then against a Bears team who who knows they might see again in a couple weeks.

21:59Purdy now has five career playoff wins, his fourth career game winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime. Guess who that breaks a tie with for now the most such playoff game-winning drives in the history of the San Francisco 49ers. He now has Brock Purdy more game-winning fourth quarter and overtime drives in the playoffs than Joe Montana. That's it.

22:26Rich Eisen:Can't get any better than that. Maybe ever, let alone for the San Francisco 49ers. And this is what Shanahan had to say about his QB afterwards. So impressed because there were two mistakes he'd love to take back. But to play like he did on that last drive, especially after two throws like that, he was unbelievable. I mean, he kept letting a rip. The guy was not scared to fail at all, which he can't be to make some of those plays. And they weren't easy plays either. It wasn't like he was always number one or anything like that. He was going through some progressions with a really good pass rush.

22:57And I thought the touchdown to Juice Arithin was probably the most impressive. Yeah, I mean, and also, you know, McCaffrey getting his seventh career playoff game with 100 or more scrimmage yards and a touchdown, even with nothing happening through the first three quarters for him. He's tied for third most all time in that regard. Tied with Terrell Davis, Jerry Rice, Thurman Thomas, their own Hall fan. And you know who's only two behind now? Franco. And three behind Emmett. That's some good company. And they're going to Seattle. Kudos to them. Unbelievable performance. They did it again. They did it to Dallas.

23:37They've done it to Green Bay. Now they've done it to Philadelphia. And Seattle knows it can be done to it as well, despite how well they curb stomped them a couple of Saturdays ago. Give it up. And again, like I said, a team that comes into the season, cap hamstrung and then injury hamstrung, and it doesn't matter and they're the ones who won and done a Philadelphia team that pretty much has everyone back, everyone gets injured, it's going to be tough to swallow in Philadelphia. Understandably. We're off and running here. We'll talk about Bears-Packers. Obviously, the Bills win over the Jaguars.

24:19The Patriots win is also highly impressive. The Rams pulling it out on the Panthers. We're off and running on this Monday Rich Eisen Show.

24:29The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.

24:36Rich Eisen:O 'Reilly Auto Parts can help take the guesswork out of your check engine, ABS, or maintenance light with O 'Reilly Veriscan. The service is free and provides a report with solutions verified by ASE certified master technicians. O 'Reilly Veriscan can identify the most likely problem with just one scan. If you need help, O 'Reilly Auto Parts can recommend a shop for you. don't ignore a check engine abs or maintenance light ask for o'reilly veriscan today a free service exclusively at o'reilly auto parts in my line of work i'm fortunate enough to travel quite a bit covering the biggest moments through the football season while i'm on the road i sometimes miss the comforts of home which is why when i travel with my family we always check airbnb for places to stay it's our home away from home providing the comfort and safety that allows us to wind down and relax.

25:30Rich Eisen:Families like mine are looking for homes that fit their needs to make new memories in, and your home may be exactly what they're looking for. If you're looking to save up for a new addition to your house or a once-in-a-lifetime trip to see your favorite band in another country, for instance, hosting your house on Airbnb could help you reach those goals. It's easy to list your home for short trips or extended periods of time, allowing your house to earn you some extra money. Make your home work for you while you're away and enjoy the benefits of hosting on Airbnb. Your home may be worth more than you think.

26:03Rich Eisen:Find out how much at airbnb.com slash host. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional-grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by.

26:42Back here on The Rich Eisen Show is a simulcast. Everybody, radio with TV and streaming, and hello. Okay. Okay,

26:52Bears-Packers. Oh, Bears. Part three. After games one and two, how could this one be any better? Well, hold on.