Hour 1: Off the Bandwagon

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0:45Fuel to start whatever's next. Quaker, official sponsor of FIFA World Cup 26. I-O, let's go! I-O, let's go! 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. Missed the show? We've got a podcast so you can listen anytime. But 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. Oh, my God. You guys are my favorites. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Rich Eisen. I know what I'm talking about.

1:33That's the headline. The Rich Eisen Show. With guest host, Brian Weber. I mean, honestly, he's brilliant. Brian Weber. I've got a long resume. Google me, it saves time. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. And now, sitting in for Rich, it's Brian Weber. Weber.

1:56Welcome to the program. Always a pleasure to sit in for Rich ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance. The NFL now owns Christmas, even if its games were less than spectacular. We're going to jump right in momentarily, focusing on the Broncos moving closer to clinching the top seat in the AFC. The Lions imploded. Six. Count of six turnovers, five coming from Jared Goff in a absolutely abysmal loss to the Minnesota Vikings, knocking Detroit out of playoff contention as the playoff field in the NFC is almost set. It was wall-to-wall basketball. Do the Spurs now officially have the cheat code to beat the Thunder?

2:42San Antonio taking down OKC again yesterday as they did earlier this week and for the third time in a dozen days. And while you were sleeping, and I'll be transparent, I did not stick around for overtime, even though it is arguably my job and I'm based on the West Coast. The Joker had a game for the ages. All the details are on the way. The phone number is iconic, but it's not frequently used when I'm in the chair, especially because this is my last shift of the year trying to defend Rich's impeccable brand. 888-SAY-ESPN. If you want to have a conversation, your best path to achieving that goal is to hit me up on the X platform.

3:26B.W. Weber. Weber with two B's. I never overwhelm you with guests. Probably that's because blindly, I think I'm just that compelling. Just me and you in the first hour of the program. In fact, we will not have an outside voice unless I sprinkle in a phone call until 1.20 Eastern time. NBA analysis provided by Eric Pincus, national hoops rider for Bleacher Report, final hour, 2.20 Eastern Time. Good friend of mine and a former broadcast partner, Nick Ferguson, former NFL safety, spent a decade in the league, played for the Broncos, now covers the Broncos on KOA Radio in Denver. If you had to endure my self-important approach prior to Christmas, and I hope you had a great holiday.

4:15I skipped the foreplay. I hope you had a lot of time with your family. I hope you were able to separate yourself from the tube. After all, it's supposed to be a celebration of family and friends, but we know in our world it's all about sports. And as I was reflecting on the X platform as a lonely man, B.W. Weber, Weber with two Bs, as recently as the 80s, and I know that's a lifetime ago, but back in the day, we had the blue-gray all-star game in college football in front of 47 people in Montgomery, Alabama, and one NBA game on CBS. So now it's an embarrassment of riches. And even though my heart still leans towards the NBA, I'm not a fool.

5:02We know the NFL drives everything, not only in sports media, but across this great country of ours. So let's talk about what happened yesterday across the National Football League. If I was going to be more journalistically sound, I would start with the Lions. But due to our formatics, I want to save myself a lot of time to go in depth on the team that, in my estimation, is undeniably the biggest disappointment in all of football. We will put the focus on the Motor City coming up in 15 minutes, and we'll take you through how the NFC playoff picture is almost locked and get you set for the big games coming up.

5:45A reminder, and I know we're all in a blur, today is Friday. I could do Belichick. Today is Tuesday. Today is Friday, and I hope you're not working. Supersize the long holiday weekend. NFL doubleheader tomorrow than all the games on Sunday, obviously. Monday Night Football on ABC, ESPN, across the ESPN, the family of networks, the Rams, and the Falcons. Yesterday, heading into the matchup, we knew it was going to be mid in terms of the teams that were dialed into the matchups. And if I'm thinking about the future of football on Christmas Day, and we know it's not going anywhere because even though the games were lackluster overall it's going to generate gargantuan ratings there's nothing the nba can do their stars showed up the knicks had a magnificent comeback you got to credit say the tenacity of jalen brunson luka donchich who've been banged up recently both prioritizing getting on the floor still none of that is going to matter the nfl could put up The Shield logo, just that, just the picture, and we would huddle around our screens hoping to see football, but we knew heading into yesterday that four of the six teams had already been eliminated from playoff consideration.

7:07We knew the quarterbacking situation, and I'm trying to be upbeat, especially because I'm only a guest host. I'm Brian Weber, in for rich. Hop aboard at 888-SAY-ESPN or the conversation never stops on the X platform. That is B.W. Weber, Weber with two Bs. So with diminished expectations, and I hope you notice, jot this down at 6 past the hour, over the course of our remaining three hours together, I am not talking about the Dallas Cowboys. Now, I'm probably committing some sort of professional Harry Carey because the fill-in handbook says go towards the team with the star on their helmet. And if I was really Haki Magoo, more so than I normally am, I would try to contrive a topic like, based on the offensive fireworks we saw again from Dallas beating up Washington, what needs to change in the offseason for this team to be a Super Bowl contender?

8:08A reminder, they haven't played in the NFC title game in three decades. Since all of my references are that stale, I remember when they were relevant and the team to talk about in the NFL. But that game was largely unwatchable. And it gets us back to the quarterbacking conversation. And I appreciate anybody who could hang around. But it is an indictment of the state of quarterback play that Josh Johnson was the best the commanders had to offer. And he wasn't terrible yesterday. We will get to Max Brosmer coming up. One of the most incredible statistical developments based on his horrendous individual play connected to somehow the Vikings winning that game.

8:57That's coming up in 15 minutes. If you were just looking for something to watch, OK, that game was fine. And that's all I'm going to talk about. connected to the quote-unquote renewal of the rivalry, because if you could find the game, and I hope by now, after all of the flipping around, you stumble across the fact that all three games were on streamers, and I'm going to tread lightly because I know when Rich is back on Monday, you're going to enjoy the simulcast streaming exclusively on the ESPN app and Disney+. But I'll tell you one thing I didn't need in either of the first two games. Why did the powers that be, and we know they have unlimited resources, why did that streaming platform decide to turn those games into a talk show?

9:42Now, I'm hammering the fact that Dallas and Washington was irrelevant. Absolutely no playoff meaning. But as much as I love Emmitt Smith, because I've established I'm ancient, I did not need a cumbersome Zoom call in the middle of the game. Maybe it's a reflection of how little the folks who were producing that game cared about the action on the field. but it was just an unnecessary distraction. The nightcap, also on a streamer, was surprisingly competitive, unless you have doubts the way I do, about the Denver Broncos. Now, I would be a lunatic to continue my bashing of Bo Nix because he won that game last night almost single-handedly.

10:27If you went to bed, I can understand, especially on the East Coast, with Stormwatch underway. heading in we knew that KC was down to their third string quarterback the name I say very slowly and phonetically Chris Holodokin he was not awful now if you're just gonna look at the raw numbers but I'm not an accountant I'm not here to spit digits way 66 passing yards still if you took the time to watch the game he did not look as atrocious as I thought he would be now Now, what does that say about Denver's quote-unquote stellar defense? If you've been paying attention, there have been far more defensive lapses as of late in the Mile High City.

11:10I know the gaudy numbers, their overwhelming force up front with the front seven and all the sacks that they generate. But if you go back to their loss to Jacksonville on Sunday, in addition to Bo Nix being inefficient and coughing it up a couple times, Despite the fact that they were able to consistently get pressure on Trevor Lawrence with a handful of sacks, he still burned them for four touchdowns. So if you're a Bronco fan continuing your march towards the top seed, I am not here to troll you. In fact, I've already reached out and already forward promoted. I'm having one of your own on the program in the final hour of the show.

11:50Nick Ferguson, the former Broncos safety. But I think it does point out what we've known to be true for the entirety of this year, filled with parity. After all, it is the focus of the business model of professional football. It's designed to have competitive ballots. Every year, 21 the last 22 seasons, somebody goes from worst to first, seeing it again with the Patriots in line to win their division. San Francisco somehow, some way, can not only win the rugged NFC West, they can still be the top seed in the NFC. Both those teams, as you recall, were the dregs last year. But if I'm trying to come up with reasons to firmly believe in the Broncos, I have to wrap my head around what they're doing in one score games.

12:37Because last night was 20 to 13, and it came down to the two-minute warning. And I'm still wondering where Chris Jones was mentally. Fourth and two, game tied, two-minute warning. Broncos at the KC9. They line up. I don't know if they were just going to go hard count, but it worked. And part of me was thinking, especially when you could try to say someone a little bit more conservative like Sean Payton to Dan Campbell, who's out of his mind. And we're going to get there with his unbelievably risky decisions. Now less than 10 minutes. I thought Denver was just going through the cadence to get the result.

13:14They ultimately nailed down. But I was wondering why you're not going to kick the field goal. They're still at work. They win by seven. They're now 11 and two in one score games. And think about how many dramatic comebacks they've needed along the way. Still, you are what you consistently do. And they're finding a way to win just like the Bears. I believe in the Bears more than the Broncos because I have more faith in Caleb Williams than I do Bo Nix. And I'm not sitting here just trying to come up with straw man arguments to knock down Bo. He was better last night and he was their co-leading rusher because the offense was stagnant against the KC defense loaded with backups.

13:59As we wind down our Bronco analysis, I'll leave you with this thought. We'll pick it up as the program continues. Clearly, the Broncos' best player is Patrick Sertan II. Give me the instances over the last quarter century. You want to go old school? Go back to the steel curtain since I've now mired in the 1970s and 80s. Give me an example of a team that wins the Super Bowl when their premier player is a defensive player. And in Denver, you're yelling at the radio right now, hey, Vaughn Miller, about 10 years ago. Okay. But it's been a decade. You can argue the Rams won it all when Aaron Donna was their best player.

14:37I want to see more consistency out of Bo Nix. I want to see him, especially in high leverage situations, come up with the throws. Although I can't in any way hammer him for Courtland Sutton dropping the TD pass. And now it's all in front of Denver. But a reminder, one of their losses came against the L.A. Chargers, their opponent next week to wrap up the regular season. I'll take you through the different paths to the top seat in the AFC as New England has the most favorable strength of schedule. Why? Because they were in last place last year and because the AFC East has imploded once more with games coming up against the Jets and the Dolphins.

15:19I'm Brian Weber in for Rich. 888-SAY-ESB on the number to call. Hit me up on social media, BWWeber, Weber with two Bs. I'm going to fight my instincts and delay the NBA talk. We're going to hit the hardwood in a half hour. Up next, the Lions lost to somebody named Max Brosmer. I know who Max is. He started his career in New Hampshire, went to Minnesota. Undrafted rookie, and Detroit snuffed out their playoff hopes as they were rolled over by an avalanche of turnovers as the championship window closed in Michigan. Just getting warmed up on a jam-packed Friday. Always a blast to fill in for Rich and the guys.

16:01I'm Brian Weber, in for Rich. It's the Regisen Show on ESPN Radio. Most protein drinks ask you to choose between results and taste. Bucked Up decided that's a ridiculous trade-off. Bucked Up makes lightly carbonated protein drinks, 25 grams of protein per can, clear protein, not milky or thick, and they taste so good that 25 grams of protein almost feels like a bonus. is bucked up is so confident you'll love their drinks they're giving away an island vacation just to prove it that's the kind of brand this is no purchase necessary giveaway ends may 30th enter and find your closest bucked up at buckedupenergy.com grab a bucked up and feel like a million bucks rich eisen here you ever notice what happens when something big rolls into your city a major tournament a can't miss concert a high stakes playoff game suddenly fans are everywhere It feels like everyone's trying to get in.

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18:50over 20 minutes. Gonna talk hoops. The Dr. James A. Naismith in me desperately wanted to lead with strong thermonuclear takes about the Knicks and the Thunder and the Spurs, but I will, as always, follow the money, and I realize I am not that naive. whenever the ratings come out, the NBA is going to get crushed head-to-head by the NFL. Does it make it right? As you heard Charles Barkley say yesterday on Inside the NBA, Roger Goodell and the National Football League got greedy, but why does anybody do anything, as the saying goes? Because they can. There's money to be made, and I'm not opposed to football being on Christmas Day.

19:39I didn't need the third game if I'm going to be totally transparent with you. And then finally, I just prefer the aesthetics of basketball with the stars. But I know I'm a guy yelling at windmills by myself. And speaking of yelling, now let me get back into character here. Because I got to get a rant revved up about the Lions. And this is not an anti-Detroit perspective. If you care about my background at all, my old man went to school at Michigan State. So I've been connected to going to Detroit since the early 80s as he would drag me up to East Lansing. The freeze might took us off. I have great respect for the fan base, and I appreciate their passion.

20:24And if we were listening to say the ticket in Detroit or any great sports talk outlet in Michigan, not a lot of holiday cheer being thrown the direction of Dan Campbell. I am not saying Dan Campbell should be on the hot seat. I'm not saying Dan Campbell should be looking over his shoulder, because if you think about the arc of this franchise, where were they for decades and decades and decades and decades? My old bit used to be before the Lions made it to the NFC Championship game a couple years ago, which now feels like was the beginning of the slow slide to what we saw yesterday with rock bottom.

21:08You could rattle off, when's the last time the Lions won a playoff game? 1991, last championship, 1957. And then Dan Campbell showed up, talked about biting kneecaps, changed the culture, got complete buy-in. And I think Brad Holmes is a very skilled GM. I've also been a Jared Goff defender. Well, I'm out of that business today. I can no longer prop up somebody who, unfortunately, because I want to be equitable with my evaluations. I'm Brian Weber, in for Rich. It's 888-SAY-ESPN. And you can also get chippy if you want to and try to keep it at least above board on social media. And I know that's a big ask.

21:55B.W. Weber, Weber with two Bs, 15 minutes from now, we're talking about San Antonio and their continued head-to-head dominance over the Thunder. Jared Goff looked like Sam Darnold yesterday. And Sam, by the way, a pro bowler if you care. Jared Goff has done that way too often, and it's not recency bias in any way just to come in here and obliterate him on a big word Friday. Jared Goff, not too long ago, last year to be specific, threw five interceptions in the game against Houston and won. Jared Goff yesterday could not even do basic things like take the snap from center. Now, the last turnover, if we're going to be fair and objective with our assessment, the last one coming out of the shotgun, I'm not going to put on him.

22:48That was on the center. But also, because we never give defense credit, and somehow now I'm trying to be Mike Singletary, two thoughts about Minnesota. If Brian Flores does not get hired by somebody, and I realize it was a bad run in Miami, and if the allegations from Tua Tunga-Vailoa about how Brian treated him are accurate, perhaps that is disqualifying from becoming a head coach again. But Josh McDaniels got another shot. Didn't work because he's not cut out to be a head coach. We're seeing how brilliant he is as a play caller coaching up Drake May. some guys just don't have the management skills nor the temperament to be a head coach.

23:30I don't know Brian Flores, and I do give him credit for being candid and apologizing for what he did that Tua found to be borderline bullying. But if we're just talking about the ability to coach up a defense and find a schematic advantage, as I'm now looking at the All-22 two film here who's better on defense than brian flores and we saw it yesterday so two things can be equally true he's a defensive mastermind vikings defense is legit but you knew that at the same time when you have to win the game coming off a season in which you were the top Pepsi won 15 games, came off the bye, and got embarrassed at home by the commanders.

24:20And if you don't have a firm recollection of that game, that's what my job is. Jared Goff had four turnovers against Washington with three picks. You sense the pattern here? So, again, I just want to be grounded in rational thought. But I am not going to throw out the topic about should the Lions move on from Jared Goff. No, because I remember where they were before him. And I understand Matthew Stafford is looking a lot better here in Southern California. As I come to you from our Regal Studios in downtown L.A., ESPN L.A., flagship station of the L.A. Lakers. We'll talk Laker basketball. J.J.

25:01Redick venting once more. He must really feel like he's got a lot of job security. or probably more to the point he knows LeBron is gone next year, ripping the Lakers' lack of effort and defensive intensity as they got rocked by Houston. You watch that game much more one-sided than the final score would suggest. We will get into the fallout and what's wrong with the Lakers coming up in next hour, 120, when we chat with Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. Matthew Stafford being the favorite to win the MVP makes what Jared Goff has done lately look even worse. but let's get into more context. The offensive line has been a disaster.

25:40So it wasn't all Jared Goff wetting the bed yesterday. But when you have it all in front of you and you know you have a minute chance of making the playoffs and the first step is to handle your business against the Vikings led by Max Brosmore, as we all found out, Brosmer, not Brosmer. And I guess they just took him, remember, undrafted free agent rookie because he finished his college career not too far away at the University of Minnesota. Did you watch that game? I can't blame you if at a minimum you muted or you probably should have gone to the NBA. Through three quarters, when you factor in sacks and get to net passing yards, Max and the Vikings, negative three net passing yards.

26:33finished the game. At least he was on the right side of the ledger. A total of three net passing yards, and Minnesota won because the Lions turned it over six times. But when you are facing somebody who we saw, small sample size, but the tape doesn't lie, looked like he belonged in the Canadian Football League in his prior start on the road in Seattle. And again, you have to remember the level of competition. Seattle has a ferocious defense. That's why I think they're going to be the top seed. They're going to beat San Francisco next week in the regular season finale, avenge their loss to the Niners in Seattle week one.

27:12But if you are the Lions, you got to give me a better effort than what we saw yesterday. If I'm ever lucky enough to be on the simulcast, if you follow me on the X platform, I put the obligatory picture up. You see a lot of paper around me. and I'll give you something to think about heading into the new year. This is not just a dopey sports talk radio show after all. This is the Rich Eisen Show. If you write it down, you'll remember it. I know it feels like I'm churning butter. I don't have candles at my house. I'm part of this millennium, but when I write stuff down, you'll recall, in fact, I'll credit the Jesuit education.

27:55Fordham Prep from the Bronx back in the day. We had a guy come in and said, if you write it down, you're 14 times more likely to remember it. My problem is I can't read my terrible handwriting. But as I was taking notes during that hideous game, I wrote lethargic. And then I circled it and had an arrow to the Lions. Where was the energy? Where was the passion? And yes, props to the Vikings for terrorizing Jared God. But you got to win that game. Also, feel free, Detroit, and I am aware of all the injuries. What is going on in Detroit defensively with a slew of injuries the last two years? Look, we know the injury rate in the NFL is 100%, but did they do something to offend the football gods?

28:46Do they need a new medical practitioner? I don't know what's going on with this team, but they have gotten absolutely decimated by injuries once more, especially in the secondary. That didn't matter yesterday because Max wasn't going to throw it more than four yards if it could actually get the ball out. Still, when you have an opportunity to win the game and you see that jet sweep come in the direction of Jordan Addison, who played his college football here in Southern California at USC, feel free to tackle him. Before that 65-yard touchdown run, Minnesota had produced 76 yards of total offense the entire game.

29:24They finished with a buck 61 of overall offense. And they still won because Detroit just could not get out of their own way. So, Jared Goff is not going anywhere. But you know what he could use? A legitimate play caller. Compare and contrast Caleb Williams this year, coached by Ben Johnson, to how golf has looked, especially since Dan Campbell took over the play calling duties. Now it's going to sound like I'm a columnist writing the passive aggressive. I'm not saying Dan Campbell should get whacked, but push him out the door at the same time. Let me say this in a loud and clear voice. I don't think Dan Campbell's under any scrutiny right now, but it probably wouldn't hurt to get off to a quality start next season, considering how this team fell apart down the stretch with injuries being relevant.