In short
Rich Eisen’s Hour 2 covers NFL Week 12 stakes across the AFC and NFC, then shifts to a Bills-themed Hallmark movie promotion with guest Luke Russert.
Topic
Week 12 playoff positioning and “wide-open” Super Bowl outlook. Key claims include: the AFC’s 8th-place Texans and 9th-place Chiefs (9 straight division titles; second-best record since 2023) are in playoff sniffing range; the 10th-place Ravens have the third-best record over the same span; and the NFC’s 8th-place Lions (27-7 over 2023-24) show how open the conference is.
Notable examples
Bills vs Texans tonight at the site of Josh Allen’s first playoff appearance (overtime loss tied to a holding penalty); Chiefs vs Colts as a measuring stick; Eagles vs Cowboys with Jalen Hurts in the barrel; Bears (7-3) vs Steelers (Mason Rudolph/possible Aaron Rodgers scenario); and Vikings starting J.J. McCarthy.
Guests
Luke Russert, host/creative director of MSNBC Live; he promotes Hallmark’s Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story (premieres Saturday 8 p.m. ET). He discusses the film’s Buffalo community ties and cast, including Holland Roden, Matt Daddario, Joe Pantoliano (as “Uncle Tommy”), and Bills players like Deion Dawkins, Dawson Knox, Ray Davis, Reed Ferguson, plus Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, Steve Tasker, and Scott Norwood.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOIntroduction to the Show
0:30 to 1:30
Rich Eisen introduces the show and discusses its accessibility.
“That's like asking if all soccer players are the same.”
LeBron Appreciation Segment
1:30 to 2:00
A segment celebrating LeBron James and his impact on the NBA.
“There are 82 individuals on NBA rosters who started living after LeBron started playing.”
Guest Introductions
2:00 to 2:41
Rich introduces upcoming guests including Luke Russert and Vince Gilligan.
“on which week dozen of the National Football League 2025 season will kick off between the Bills and the Texans tonight on Prime Video.”
Previewing Bills vs. Texans
2:41 to 3:33
Discussion on the upcoming Bills and Texans game and its significance.
“I guess MS Now Live is what it's called.”
NFL Week 12 Analysis
3:33 to 9:50
Rich analyzes the stakes and key matchups for NFL Week 12.
“I assume he doesn't work as blue as he did on The Sopranos and Midnight Run.”
NFC Playoff Picture and Key Games
9:50 to 14:01
Discussion about the NFC playoff picture and pivotal upcoming games.
“Remember I mentioned to you that the current 9th and 10th seeded teams in the AFC have the best 2nd and 3rd best records over the previous two years combined?”
NFL Week 12 Analysis: Stakes and Predictions
14:01 to 16:42
An in-depth look at the stakes for various NFL teams in Week 12.
“Now it's a got to have it because Minnesota, laugh all you want.”
Introducing Bills Superfan Luke Russert
17:45 to 18:31
Host Rich Eisen welcomes Bills superfan Luke Russert to discuss his new Hallmark movie.
“Back here on the Rich Eisen Show, it's ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance, along with Disney Plus, and also our ESPN app.”
Luke Russert's Hallmark Movie Insights
18:31 to 19:40
Luke shares details about his role in the Hallmark movie and its connection to Bills fans.
“Because I'm seeing the Hallmark gear you got on right now.”
Behind the Scenes: Filming with an All-Star Cast
19:40 to 22:42
Luke recounts his experiences filming with notable actors and the challenges faced.
“And we heard about it when it was in development.”
Show all 22 chapters
Buffalo Bills Season Outlook and Player Insights
22:42 to 28:00
Discussion on the current status of the Bills, player performances, and season outlook.
“And that's going to be on this Saturday.”
Buffalo Bills' Playoff Prospects
28:00 to 28:52
Discussion on the Bills' potential in the playoffs and current team dynamics.
“The media says that your run defense is terrible.”
Wedding Cake and Bills Love Story
28:52 to 30:06
Lighthearted commentary on a wedding cake inspired by Bills fandom.
“I wish you the best of luck, man, for a victory for your Bills tonight because what a double dip.”
Luke Russert's Exit
30:06 to 30:34
Farewell segment with Luke Russert and his support for the Bills.
“was made of inside do we recall what is inside a marble and ganache okay by the way by the way a great uh crime fighting team on tnt marble and ganache old school right okay thanks luke you You'd be welcome.”
Higher Register Conversations
30:34 to 31:36
Discussion about humor and tone in sports commentary.
“How many times did he go higher register in that conversation?”
Michigan State vs. Kentucky Recap
31:36 to 33:45
Rich discusses a recent Michigan State win and Tom Izzo's remarks.
“you've now discovered how you can tell when somebody is full of it i pointed out all the time whether i'm listening to podcasts or watching shows or just talking with people like oh they You want to hire a register?”
Michigan State vs. Kentucky Recap
33:48 to 34:51
Rich discusses a recent Michigan State win and Tom Izzo's remarks.
“It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks.”
Michigan State vs. Kentucky Recap
34:57 to 35:30
Rich discusses a recent Michigan State win and Tom Izzo's remarks.
“If you're listening to music, if you're watching a game, it makes you feel like you're at a concert or at the game.”
Sonos Speakers Discussion
35:30 to 36:21
Conversation about the benefits of Sonos speakers for holiday gatherings.
“Luke Russert went higher register a little bit every now and then.”
College Football and Basketball Dynamics
36:21 to 42:06
Analysis of college football and basketball trends, focusing on coaching and player development.
“before Ohio State makes the college football playoffs and maybe wins the whole damn thing anyway just like last year.”
Future of College Sports: Divisions and Relegation
42:06 to 45:31
Discussion on the potential structure and financial implications of future college sports leagues.
“I just, I bet soundbite just kind of hit me.”
Consulting on College Sports Structure
45:31 to 46:48
Ideas on restructuring college sports conferences and their management.
“I understand, but how big is the division, though?”
Transcript
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0:37Take Messi, the most decorated player ever. Is there any other player who has achieved that? No, just him. Now take Duracell. Is there any other battery with Power Boost ingredients inside? No, just Duracell. Goats only trust goats, because they're built different. And Messi only trusts Duracell.
1:00Rich Eisen: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. 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. This is the Rich Eisen Show. This is a LeBron appreciation segment. There are 82 individuals on NBA rosters who started living after LeBron started playing. The Rich Eisen Show. Earlier on the show. NBC Sports Boston Patriots insider Tom Curran.
1:48Rich Eisen:Coming up. Host and creative director of MSNBC Live, Luke Russert. Four-time Emmy winner, Vince Gilligan. And now it's Rich Eisen. Our number two of the Rich Eisen show on this Thursday, on which week dozen of the National Football League 2025 season will kick off between the Bills and the Texans tonight on Prime Video. No C.J. Stroud. Yes, Josh Allen. And if you recall, this is where Josh Allen's first career playoff game took place in this building, a game in which he took Deshaun Watson and the Texans to overtime only to have some weird holding penalty blow up their season. Am I correct, Mike Hoskins?
2:31Rich Eisen:Did I get this correct? Yes, he can confirm. Bill's Mafia's Rich Eisen Show coordinating producer Mike Hoskins was quick to confirm. Our next guest coming up in 20 minutes' time would also confirm it. Luke Russert is going to join us. I guess MS Now Live is what it's called. The host and creative director of that show. is going to be joining us in support of Hallmark's holiday touchdown film that premieres this Saturday. It's a Bill's love story, don't you know? I don't know. I'll ask him. Is Matt Milano playing Cupid? Is that what's going on? I don't know. There's a lot of rumors out there that Haley Steinfeld is with child.
3:11Oh. Are we really trafficking that sort of thing? I don't know. I'm just saying I saw some pictures and everyone were like, oh, that's a dress that's covering up a baby bump. Wait a second.
3:19Rich Eisen:Is that the story, the news we're going to ask Luke Russett to confirm? Are we really trafficking in that? We talk about Travis and Taylor all the time. So, yeah, I think we do kind of traffic in that area. Okay. Slightly. I don't know. It's out there. Maybe news. At any rate. Oh, you know who's in the movie? He's Joey Pants. Oh, yeah. Oh, no way. I assume he doesn't work as blue as he did on The Sopranos and Midnight Run. Why not? That would be a plot twist. I don't think Hallmark is there. Cody's Bales Bond's not in the movie. Joey Pants. Can we get him on the show in support of this, too? Yes.
3:50Rich Eisen:By all means necessary. Let's get Joe Pantz here, man. Joe Pantoliano, you know what I'd talk with him about as well? I'd talk about within the Hugh Hefner roast I sat next to him and watched on the dais. He was to my right, and to my left was Friars Club member Patty Hearst. Don't ask. What a night that was. Two weeks after the city opened up after the 9-11 disaster. Joey Pan's character name in this Bill's love story is Uncle Tommy. Uncle Tommy. You just spoke to Tom Curran, but they don't say a Tommy in Western New York. Tommy. All right. Disney Plus audience, hello. ESPN app, hello. Also, ESPN radio presented by Progressive Insurance.
4:34Rich Eisen:Hello. Salud to you and Sirius XM channel Eddie and all of our podcast listeners. So let's discuss what's at stake in week 12. And it starts tonight. the New England Patriots who we just spoke about at length in hour one with Tommy Kern of NBC Sports Boston. They need to win this game to keep pace with the Patriots team who are taking on the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati against potentially Joe Burrow. That'd be wild if he just like, to heck with Thanksgiving, I'm coming back a few days before. Yeah, apparently Albert said that he'd be surprised if he doesn't play. Albert Breer? Yeah. Okay, baby.
5:17Rich Eisen:So, it would behoove the Bills to follow up their big six-touchdown performance-fueled win from Josh Allen to go eight and three and send the Texans into a little bit of a spin because the Texans have gotten back to 500 after their dreadful start of the season. And Davis Mills is coming in like Mac Jones and keeping the season afloat and alive. And this is a big game, man. And the Texans kind of are helping me set up what is at stake this weekend because it's a wide-open league. I can't recall the last time entering a weak dozen of a season where you're like, it could be anybody who wins the Super Bowl that's right now in a playoff spot who are potentially in the AFC sniffing it.
6:10Rich Eisen:because currently in the category of sniffing it in the AFC, you have the team in the eighth spot, the Houston Texans, who have won the AFC South more often than not. And then in ninth place, you have a Chiefs team that's won. Interesting that they have a nine seed. They've won the last nine AFC West division titles, nine in a row. and they have had the second best record in the NFL since the beginning of 2023 all the way to the beginning of this season. Again, you include the 2023 season and the 2024 season combined. The current nine seed has had the second best record in that time period. You know who's had the third best record?
6:55Rich Eisen:The team that's 10th in the AFC right now in the Ravens. I was going to say. and they're currently the 10 seed they were 25 and 9 the last two seasons the Chiefs 26 and 8 they're 9 and 10 now the Ravens are at home against the Jets team starting to Rod Taylor and it sure looks like the Ravens are in position to go above 500 for the first time this year that's massively at stake certainly if you're thinking the Steelers could be starting Mason Rudolph or a potentially, you know, injured and thus less than productive in turn quarterback in Aaron Rodgers in Chicago, taking on a 7-3 Bears team. We'll get to the NFC in a second.
7:45Rich Eisen:So by the end of this week, the Ravens could be tied in the division that Vegas was saying they were going to win when they were 1-5 because we were seeing the way that the Steelers are beginning to struggle. And then you've got the Chiefs taking on currently the third-seeded Indianapolis Colts. Coming off of their bye, last we saw, Jonathan Taylor running all over the Falcons to the tune of 19 ,000 yards in one game. And the Colts and the Chiefs is a massive measuring stick for Indianapolis and where rubber is going to meet the road for the Chiefs because they have currently lost, if you put the AFC standings up one more time, they have lost to the team that's in first place in division and currently the one seed in conference.
8:39Rich Eisen:They just lost to the Broncos. They've lost to the Bills, Chargers, and Jaguars, your five, six, and seven seeds. And that would just now add the third-seeded AFC team to that list. It's just tough. It's tough to overcome conference records when you need them for tie breaks. It's tough to overcome, obviously, head-to-heads when they don't go in your favor. What a big game for Kansas City. A measuring stick for them to come back and say, guess what, Colts? Welcome back from your bye. Welcome to Arrowhead. We're beginning to flip the switch, and it starts with you. What a massive game that is. As the Broncos sit on their bye week with their hands back, and then the Bills tonight, The Jacksonville Jaguars coming off of that nice win over the Los Angeles Chargers, who are on a bye.
9:27Rich Eisen:The Jacksonville Jaguars are in Arizona after Jake Brisket threw for, what, 90 attempts and connected on 89 of them, something like that? I like it. So, Jaguars could keep on keeping on, or at 6-5, here come the Ravens, here come the Texans, here come the Chiefs. That's all at stake. right now. And then you talk about the NFC. Remember I mentioned to you that the current 9th and 10th seeded teams in the AFC have the best 2nd and 3rd best records over the previous two years combined? Do you know it's the best record from 2023 and 2024? It's currently the NFC team if you put the standings up 8th.
10:15Rich Eisen:The Lions. The Lions had the best regular season record of the two previous years combined. They were 27-7. They're sniffing it. This gives you an idea of just how wide open everything is. And the Eagles, who just beat the Packers and the Lions, are now trying to sweep the Dallas Cowboys. Game number one, as we all know, Dallas could have gone into Philadelphia had it not been for a drop pass here and there from CeeDee Lamb and some unfortunate storm that stopped the game for about an hour. Unfortunate for the Cowboys who had some nice momentum going. And also unfortunate for those who flew 12 hours to Brazil trying to stay awake for it.
11:02Rich Eisen:The Eagles and the Cowboys is a big game, especially with Jalen Hurts now being the one in the barrel with media reports and things that are being said. What a big game. I mentioned the Bears. There they are, 7-3. There they are, leading the division alone in first place. Half game in front of the 6-3-1 Packers. Full game in front of the Lions. Bears have yet to play the Packers at all. So winning this game against the Pittsburgh Steelers team that has beaten, as you know, Indianapolis, an 8-2 team. The Bears win this one. They're 8-3. That means they would go into Thanksgiving week. Their Friday game after Thanksgiving in Philadelphia, they'd go into that game leading the division no matter what.
11:56Rich Eisen:Because the Lions are trying to rebound after that loss in Philadelphia, taking on a Giants team that, as you know, I've counseled to sit Jackson Dart, Jameis coming in. Either way, Lions have got to come up with that win. And then the Green Bay Packers, will they have Josh Jacobs? He has now officially gone from week to week to day to day, which is a nice improvement, but they're taking on a Minnesota Vikings team that will be starting J.J. McCarthy, who, as we all know, is a guy who has struggled, but not on the road in division, which the Vikings are right now, and rubbers meet in the road.
12:44Rich Eisen:Cement is drying, to use the phrase that Kevin O 'Connell said, that all the cement that they were pouring around this quarterback roster-wise and also footwork and all the things they were trying to work on with J.J. McCarthy once he got back healthy to break him down and then build him back up in the manner in which Kevin O 'Connell has built up so many quarterbacks. Kevin O 'Connell said on Paul Allen's show locally in Minnesota that it's time for that cement to dry. Well, J.J. McCarthy used a different analogy going into this big game against Green Bay. I feel like, for me, I kind of make the analogy of just like, you know, a cork about to come off a bottle.
13:28Just understanding that it's, you know, one to three little things that I need to change about my game that is going to make a huge difference in the outcome of every single drive in the game. So, yeah, I feel like it's really close, but it all comes down to the consistency of the fundamentals and the little details.
13:43Rich Eisen:Well, hopefully the cork comes off. Otherwise, the season's going to turn. Did you like that wine reference? Okay. Yes, I liked it. Thank you. The old joke about how to make a small fortune in the wine business. Start with the big fortune. Well, last year they had a big fortune. 14 wins with Sam Darnold. Now it's a got to have it because Minnesota, laugh all you want. I don't think anybody saw the Bears entering week 12 all alone in first place, seven and three. Minnesota's yet to play Green Bay. They have to play Chicago at home one more time and Detroit at home. And if J.J. McCarthy does pop open, wait a minute, vintage week one, J.J.
14:30Rich Eisen:Hold on a minute. You got this correct. And vintage week nine, which is winning on the road in division, They would be 3-0 on the road in division, which, as you know, is the best one can be because you only play on the road in division three times. And they have to visit Denver. It's a tough road going for Minnesota moving forward. Pardon me, I'm reading the wrong line. They have to visit Seattle after this game and then at Dallas. There are some winnable games left. It's got to start now. That's at stake. In week 12 as well. You call up the NFC standings one more time if you don't mind. You take a look at the other games.
15:15Rich Eisen:Tampa coming off of licking their wounds against the Buffalo Bills. Tampa is at the Rams on Sunday night football. The Rams currently your two seed at 8-2 because they lost to Philadelphia. Blew a game in which all they need to do is make one field goal in the fourth quarter. They win that one. Baker Mayfield coming back into the building where his career began to be resurrected with the Rams hey here's a playbook go win a Thursday night game okay coach gotcha yada yada yada here he comes back with the Buccaneers at 6-4 with the Panthers only a half game behind them because they just came up with a 400 yard game and essentially eliminating the Falcons from a conversation in the NFC South Carolina's got a Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers who are 7th seed What a monster week 12 finale that is.
16:06Rich Eisen:I don't think anybody saw it coming at all. While Seattle came so close. They have to feel good. Listen, not about losing. You never feel good about losing. Four turnovers, four field goals settled. They still had a field goal from 61 yards out to win it. And now they go to Tennessee to try and get back on track. that's pretty much what's at stake for week 12 844-204-RICH is the number to dial words i've never said before luke russer joining us in support of a hallmark movie that's coming up next because the bills you know what they do they bring people together right and then they break tables apart.
16:56Rich Eisen:Save$2 when you buy two cans of Superior Products Coverall tire dressing. Plus receive four times O rewards points now at O 'Reilly Auto Parts. Coverall delivers long-lasting shine. Visit your O 'Reilly Auto Parts store or OReillyAuto.com. While the world watches the stars of the FIFA World Cup, Hyundai has its eyes on the next generation of talent. Future stars who are already turning heads at age 14. Because Next doesn't wait for an invitation, and neither do we. Hyundai has always moved the future within reach. We did it when we made advanced safety standard on every vehicle and engineered EVs with ultra-fast charging capability.
17:33Rich Eisen:And we're still doing it every day. Because the future isn't some far-off concept. It's already here. Next starts now. Hyundai, an official partner of FIFA. The Rich Eisen Show podcast. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show, it's ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance, along with Disney Plus, and also our ESPN app. Listen. Oh, Hoskins, I just thought of this one. Get it ready. Because I think Mike Hoskins showed us a wedding cake of a wedding that he went to. Yep, yep. Of two Bills fans. Get that ready, because we have to, at some point, bring that up with our next guest, the host and creative director of MS Now Live, and also an individual associated.
18:19Rich Eisen:I believe he's in Holiday Touchdown, a Bill's Love Story that premieres this Saturday, 8 p.m. Eastern on Hallmark. Luke Russ, you're back on the Rich Eisen Show. Let's go. Rich, how are you, sir? I'm good. So have you been rebranded as well? Is that what's going on now? Because I'm seeing the Hallmark gear you got on right now. Have you been rebranded? Rich, the only thing more powerful in the United States than the NFL is the Hallmark Chan. It's great that both of them are coming together and when offered a part in it, are you kidding? How can you say no to that? The NFL Hallmark in Buffalo, New York for the Bills, America's team?
18:59110 % said yes. I'm so excited to be a part of it. I have some speaking roles. I have an IMBD page now because of it. I mean, I'm getting there, Rich. I'm getting there.
19:09Rich Eisen:By the way, I'm sorry, Luke, because you're a man of details, certainly coming from the family that you come from. It's IMDB, not IMBD. I think, by the way, for IMBD, there may be something you consult your doctor for if that's what you suffer from. What's the old line from Happy Gilmore? Green jacket, gold jacket. Who gives it? Yeah, who gives it? Yet another line that won't be on the Hallmark Channel this Saturday. What's the movie about, Luke? What do we got here? And we heard about it when it was in development. Well, what's it about? It's a great film. It is essentially a love story where the two leads who've had a little, there they are right there, that's Holland Roden and Matt Daddario, lovely people, very nice.
19:58They've had sparks because they've lived next door to each other their entire lives. They've gone to the Bills games their entire lives. But then they have to figure out who a secret Santa is. And in the course of trying to figure out who that secret Santa is, their relationship might blossom. You have to tune in on Saturday to see it. But it's a wonderful film. And what they did such a great job of is a few things. One, they nailed Buffalo. They really did a great job about how much the team and the community are intertwined. People call the players by their first names in Buffalo. They nailed that.
20:31And they also did a great job about how familial it all is, about how families literally do go to these bill games their entire lives and people grow up with it. And that's how they know each other, especially on the holidays. So just hats off to them. Great job. And it's an all star cast. You know, Joe Pantolonio is in it. Yes. Steve Schierpa from the from the Sopranos. Oh, he is. You know, Caroline Aaron from Marvelous Miss Maisel. So there's some big time actors in this movie. And it was very humbling because the role that I had, Rich, actually was at the stadium at the 50 yard line. There was about 4000 extras in the stands.
21:08And it all started. Yeah, they're right. It all started with my line. And that's about as close as I'll ever get to playing quarterback for the Buffalo. You know, television, which you and I work in, is kind of controlled chaos. Yes, sir. A little bit of leeway to improv. and you can kind of get by, you know, faking it. Acting, can't do that. And when you have 4 ,000 people that are literally waiting for you to go, that's a different level of anxiety and nerves I've never experienced in front of the camera before. But I did a decent job at it, thankfully. I chanted my own Josh Allen.
21:42Rich Eisen:So in terms of the cast, Holland Roden, we'll see her. Matt Daddario, with all due respect to him, wrong Daddario. Very wrong Daddario. Great point, Rich. I mean, but let's keep it Hallmark. And not one, but two Sopranos alums. Two? Bobby Bacala, Joey Pants. Come on now. So Joe, I was working directly with him in my scene. And obviously, you know, The Matrix, The Fugitive. I mean, he is a big deal. Midnight Run. Midnight Run. And he could not have been a nicer guy. And I had in the course of the film, I had to pronounce this Italian last name. And my mother, who's Italian, would never let me down if I mispronounced it.
22:29So I got to it a number of times. And Joe is like, you're pronouncing the Italian name perfectly. What the hell happened to you? I said, thank you, sir. Thank you. So he's just a great, great guy and a huge get for the movie.
22:42Rich Eisen:All right. Very good. I like it. I like all of it. And that's going to be on this Saturday. November 2nd, 8 p.m. Eastern on a Hallmark holiday touchdown, a Bill's love story. So are there any bills in it? Do we get any bills in it? Yes. What do we got? We got Deion Dawkins is in it. Dawson Knox has a great cameo. Ray Davis is in it. Reed Ferguson is in it. And the Hall of Famers are in it. We got Jim Kelly. We got Andre Reid. We got Thurman Thomas. We got Steve Tasker, who should be in the Hall of Fame. by the way. Nice. Those committees out there watching, put him in the hall, please. And Scott Norwood is in the film, and we love Scott.
23:25We want Scott. So nice to see him in the movie. He did a great job as well. Scott Norwood gets his hallmark.
23:32Rich Eisen:Okay. I like it. So, Ray Davis, this makes sense because we're expecting James Cook and we get Ray Davis instead, right? That makes complete sense. Right? You know, some guys... Just like the Bills offense, right? Other guys, it was filmed in... So they're on vacation. It's all good. Okay. You know, Josh allegedly wanted to be in the film, but he had some business to take care of. Oh, he was still— Getting married to a stunning Hollywood actress. No, I know that. You know, it takes us all away from our Hallmark duties. It really does. I'm still stuck on the James Cook line. I'm trying to follow up on it.
24:05Rich Eisen:Wait for it. Hold on a second. So, story about unrequited love, which is James Cook in the football, sometimes, in this Bill's offense. Right, Luke? Am I wrong? Come on now. Yeah, I think you're cooking on that one. You're cooking, not baking. I'm saying let James Cook, man. Let James Cook. What do you think, Luke? Let's talk about your bills. Got to get the running lanes open for James Cook. If the running lanes are there, he's doing a great job. He has been a real component of the offense. We saw what Josh did last week. But remember, I think it's James Cook that has gotten us here overall. Yeah, so I'm a big Cook fan.
24:43I'm a big Cook fan.
24:44Rich Eisen:All right. I'm sorry. I don't mean to drag you down to my level. um uh in the few minutes i have left here what would your dad say about josh allen luke oh i you know one of the things that i really miss is the opportunity to watch a guy like josh allen my late father i mean he was such a diehard bills fan frank uh luckily i got to watch jim kelly yes i got to watch doug flutie boston college's own uh drew blundson had some good years there uh my dad i think we ended up on the jp lossman train although jp lossman is the last guy to win in Houston for the Buffalo Bills back in 2006. So if we can channel 2006 J.P.
Read the full transcript
25:23Lossman tonight against the Texans, I'll be very happy. But what Josh has meant to the city and just embracing the city, making it part of his entire persona, has just been fantastic. And I think my father would be so grateful for that because some people come to Buffalo, they don't act like they want to be there. They don't embrace the town and community. He has done it wholeheartedly to the point of where his family farm melons are a hot seller in local Buffalo supermarkets, which goes to show you dedication of Bill's mafia. If you are in the agricultural business and you come play for the Buffalo Bills, you will have some sales in our local supermarkets, I promise.
26:09Rich Eisen:So and so they're they're U.S. made. So there's no tariffs, right? I don't believe so. See, I just drawed a little bit of that lane. Right across Route 66 and hunk up up to Buffalo. Shuffle off up to Buffalo. Right there. I just slid into the other lane real quick. Now let's go back. Let's get Vir back in. Go back in the lane. Okay, so tonight is a big game. It is. And it's the site of Josh Allen's first playoff appearance. It was a loss. I agree. It was a terrible penalty. It shouldn't have cost you. You should have won that game. should beaten Deshaun Watson, yada, yada, yada, but it's all part of the journey.
26:46Rich Eisen:This year, deep down, concern level for your bills to actually make you die happy, to use the phrase that everybody keeps using in Western New York, Luke. Well, tonight, I am concerned. McDermott's 0-3 in Houston. However, Josh is undefeated on Thursday night football, so something has to give. That Houston Texans defense is lights out, but our offense is lights out. So it's a great game. I wish it wasn't on a Thursday. No team should have to play two Thursday night games. I'm sorry I said that NFL, but it's just how I feel. All that being said, I think the Bills pulled off tonight because they have a lot of good momentum.
27:25Now, on the macro level, you and I talked on your show two years ago when the Jets looked like they were going to win the division. That didn't quite happen. I'm so sorry.
27:36Rich Eisen:Keep it hallmark, pal. Come on now. Keep it nice and light. But I will say this. New England's on the ascendancy. I like Mike Vrabel. I think he's done a great job over there. Bill's right now looking like a wild card team. I don't mind that. I would like to see Josh Allen go into the playoffs as a more mature guy, almost 30 years old, without having the pressure and expectations of him of winning the division and having that home field advantage. Come in as a wild card. Play with some house money. The media says that your run defense is terrible. You don't have a number one wide receiver. Go in there and see what happens.
28:11Because I can tell you this, nobody would want to draw the Buffalo Bills in the first round. No one would want to draw them as a wild card. That is not a fun team to play the first round. So I think we're in good position. We've got a long way to go. Still a few more tough games on the schedule. We have New England again. We have the Eagles again. So we've got some work to do. But I like this team. I think this team could surprise a few people. And if we could get Ed Oliver back for a playoff run, the defense might just get where it needs to be. But you know what? Look, Colts in 2006 had a bad defense.
28:44The Chiefs in 2022 had a bad defense. It can be done. It can be done. If your quarterback can get six touchdowns a game.
28:51Rich Eisen:That helps too, yeah. I wish you the best of luck, man, for a victory for your Bills tonight because what a double dip. A Bills Thursday night win and holiday touchdown, a Bills love story, which answers the age-old question, what happens when a pediatric doctor and the Bills VP of Stadium Development find love after just being lifelong friends that's we're going to get the answer to that question tonight and and if they you know if there is a sequel again and no spoiler alert that they get married uh here's the wedding cake right there what do you think oh my gosh i got married last year and my wife would not allow me to do a cake like that i want her to she's going to watch this today and she's going to see that and we're just you know honey look what we missed out on look what we could have had yeah i mean just stunning artistic it's creation there that's beautiful now i guess what what's your favorite part of this is it the the zuba the zuba zuba mine is it's the red it's the red drinking cups the solo cups this you know the solo cups you know obviously the broken table on top instead of the bride and groom obviously the old school tatanka on the on the top level and then of course the fact that it's a multi-level wedding cake i mean there's many things to like here hoskins do we know what it was made of inside do we recall what is inside a marble and ganache okay by the way by the way a great uh crime fighting team on tnt marble and ganache old school right okay thanks luke you You'd be welcome.
30:27Rich, always a pleasure. I really appreciate it. You got it. You got it. Luke Bressard, everybody. Go Bills. Go Bills. Holiday touchdown.
30:34Rich Eisen:All right. So good. Marble and Ganache. That's a great game. They fought crime, right? Oh, 100%. On right after Rizzo. Rizzo and the House. Yeah. And Franklin and Bash. Crockett and Tubbs. Who is Franklin and Bash again? Why am I blanking on it? It was Zach Morris and Breckenmeyer. That's right. Breckenmeyer and Marble and Ganache. Mark Pogasor, obviously. By the way, we could keep going here. Oh, yeah. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial. Marble and Ganache. Dude. Oh, my God. I should be careful. Suze is in the green room right now. Yeah. But it is the wrong to Dario. Oh, I mean, come on. All due respect to Matt.
31:18Rich Eisen:How many times did he go higher register in that conversation? The one for sure. We could win this. that's a lot of higher register there an awful lot of higher register discovering higher register was great sorry when you guys first discovered higher register with yourselves the best part about it is when you as a fan walking around with your friends you do it you've now discovered how you can tell when somebody is full of it i pointed out all the time whether i'm listening to podcasts or watching shows or just talking with people like oh they You want to hire a register? I got to be honest with you.
31:52Rich Eisen:I do a lot of things to make myself laugh. I'm very proud of saying that this mirrors real life where you're expecting James Cook to get Ray Davis instead. With all due respect to Ray Davis. With all due respect to Ray Davis. 844-204-RICH, number two dollars. While we're slamming on, I guess, Kentucky Wildcats, did you hear what Tom Izzo had to say after Michigan State beat Kentucky this week? I did not. Oh, it's just so great. I can't get enough of this guy. That's coming up next. Your phone call is 844-204-RICH-HIGHER-REGISTER. And, yeah, we go from Hallmark Channel to Apple TV's Pluribus with Vince Gilligan stopping by in hour three.
32:33Rich Eisen:Rich Eisen here. You can always tell when something big is happening in a city. I know what it's like when I'm traveling for big games and events. I remember being in Pittsburgh earlier this year and experiencing the beautiful architecture and passion those fans have for their home teams. that was so infectious. Now, it was a great trip. But you know what it's like dealing with the travel. The airport is packed, hotels are booked up, restaurants all busy. And when you have that kind of influx of visitors in your city, a lot of them are searching for a place that feels a little bit more like home during their trip.
33:05Rich Eisen:That's why this can be a smart time to think about listing your own space on Airbnb. If you've got plans to be away this summer, consider listing your space on Airbnb while you're gone and earn some extra cash. It's simple. You're already traveling, so your place doesn't just sit empty while your city is busy. And from my experience on the road, having a comfortable home base can change the whole experience of a trip. So whether it's a big sports weekend, a concert series, or a major event coming to your area, this could be the right time to list your space on Airbnb. Your home might be worth more than you think.
33:40Rich Eisen:Find out how much at Airbnb.com slash host. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome? That's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required, compatibility and availability varies 18+. You thought this was your Run Club era. Turns out, it was more of a thinking about Run Club era.
34:16The good news? Someone's marathon training is about to start. Sell your workout gear on Depop. Just snap a few photos and we'll take care of the rest. They get their race day fit and you get a payout for trying. Someone on Depop wants what you've got. Start selling now. Depop. Where taste recognizes taste. The Rich Eisen Show. The podcast.
34:45Rich Eisen:Back here on the Rich Eisen Show, 844-204-RICH is the number to dial. We're brought to you by Sonos, in part, and the holidays are all about connections, as you know. And the speakers make every moment sound amazing in your house. If you're listening to music, if you're watching a game, it makes you feel like you're at a concert or at the game. I'm serious. We have them all throughout our house. The it being the sound bars, the speakers, your favorite playlist flowing from room to room, movie nights that feel like the theater, the big game, fill in your living room with stadium quality sound. It's all there for you.
35:19Rich Eisen:The Sonos Black Friday sale is on now through December 1st at Sonos.com. Discover how easy it is to bring every room to life with Sonos. 844-204-RICH being the number to dial. Have a conversation with us here. It's a higher register Thursday. We'll get to that shortly. Let's do it. We've teased it. We've gone back and forth. Luke Russert went higher register a little bit every now and then. A few times. In that segment. College basketball is beginning to heat up a little bit. I mean, college football is obviously going to take center stage over the next six weeks. No doubt. Certainly as the games get more and more intense, the Michigan-Ohio State.
35:57Rich Eisen:Donnie Brooke is coming up in a couple of Saturdays. Ohio State will be first overall if Michigan doesn't stumble against Maryland. It will get closer to a top-ten team potentially, and we'll see if Michigan's hopes of going to the Big Ten championship game, which is extraneous now, will still be out there and a chance to win a couple more games and make the college football playoffs despite a lot of issues for it and maybe spoil an Ohio State party or two before Ohio State makes the college football playoffs and maybe wins the whole damn thing anyway just like last year. Yeah, Michigan 18 right now.
36:33Rich Eisen:The SEC, the Lane Kiffin stuff that's going on right now. the Heisman race so college football is going to start taking as it's the most wonderful time of the year it's coming up on the ESPN family of networks and things of that nature college basketball Michigan State just beat Kentucky the other night this sound bite escaped me until I saw it just a couple of hours ago Tom Izzo anytime again he's like just unvarnished we'll bring it to you now according to a lot of websites and those who calculate nil dollars that have been pledged and apparently paid kentucky apparently did you know leads college basketball in the highest payroll oh can you believe it or not we're saying these words for college.
37:33Rich Eisen:Apparently 22 million bucks. And Michigan State, which does NIL, but they don't do a lot of transfer portal stuff, as you know, beat them. And this was brought up to Izzo after they double digit smoked Kentucky the other night. And this was his response to a question about it. That seems to be the people that are getting the most credit. You know, the transfer portal recruitment is almost bigger than winning games. Not at Michigan State. Someday it could hurt me. I'm going to do what I got to do. But I'm also, I don't give up on the people I got. He added by saying it's called development. That's an old school notion, isn't it now?
38:23Rich Eisen:Right? And I kind of like, you know, it's all about terminology and the way you view things, but transfer portal in football is different than basketball because in football, you've got to have a quarterback room with three, four, five guys, right? You've got to have how many offensive linemen, right? In a way that it makes an NFL roster blush, right? 15 plus. Right? I mean, you dress so many players, people wear the same number. And, you know, if you have the benefit of not having your name on the back, you can do what USC does, which is run a fake punt with your quarterback because he's got the same number as the punter.
39:07Rich Eisen:And go, oh, did I do that? My bad. Oh, did I just go ahead and start playing a running back that we announced going into the game was out because we're out of running backs? Oh, can I do that? Oh, I'm my bad. Finest. But in college basketball, it is with such a small unit of people, if you transfer portal somebody in, you are basically telling somebody that you may have given a scholarship to, you're out. We're done developing you because we need to win games now. I don't have the time to develop you. I don't have the time to maybe honor my commitment to you to come on scholarship to this school.
39:50Rich Eisen:That's at least the way Tom Izzo is terming it. he's in a unique position where he's not coaching for his job week to week year to year one doesn't think no he is who he is you don't think well you hold a minute i don't know this by the way i totally get what you're saying and how you're coming at it i'm just going to give you a different point of view um you don't think there's a single soul in the michigan state side of things maybe in charge of a whatever collective, right, that thinks Izzo's doing the wrong thing and that he's a dinosaur and we got to go get ourselves somebody. Sure, obviously.
40:33Rich Eisen:You don't think there's a single political headwind in East Lansing for him? No, I would imagine there's one or two. Okay, right. But I understand what you're saying, that he's a goat, he's a legend, but sometimes legends get pushed out. That's true. If he doesn't win. if he doesn't win he's getting he you know the clock ticks for everyone but he's got a way of doing it and it just seems like it's there's fewer and fewer of them no well it's well it's the Saban thing where he just didn't want to deal with he saw the way the sport was going college football and was like this is not for me I'm out I don't want to deal with kids coming to my office all the time asking for more money etc etc and just got out you know it doesn't seem like Izzo's at that point yet, but it seems like he's getting close.
41:18Rich Eisen:Well, your guy in Georgia this week said, you know, players just want paychecks. They don't want the physical nature of what comes with asking for the paycheck in football. I don't think Kirby is wrong. Neither do I. Neither do I. We were on the air the day that NIL started. Remember that? It was July 1st, what, three years ago now? I think. Something like that. And it's just like, everyone's just like, okay okay now what because nobody planned for it because as we all know the people who might be in charge of planning for it there's nobody there's nobody home in indianapolis on that front right but um i just find i found that soundbite interesting and the only thing that kills me about it is i have to like somebody from michigan state but he knows that already he knows that already and and i say this as a michigan wolverine who is jacked about my college basketball team this year with a bunch of guys that dusty may brings in portal it's a lot of portals and michigan can change around their fortunes in a heartbeat but is those the guys like i'm gonna come your home not like dusty may doesn't do it but i'm gonna knock on your door i'm going to sit down and look, you know, mom and dad in the eye or whomever in the eye and say, you got my commitment and I'm not transfer portaling this kid out with somebody in.
42:53Rich Eisen:I just, I bet soundbite just kind of hit me. I'm just wondering what the future is going to look like, you know, because there will be at some point, what a 60 team college football division, and there will be someone who runs that are they going to institute a 10 15 20 million dollar hard cap and now you have to work inside of that or is there going to be the same thing for college basketball that's a question because you know i mean uh word is the big 10 is forwarding a 2014 playoff system right which seems like i don't know what are we doing but but but it's all about revenue accrual and and having rights that TV partners are eager to have because that is outside of having television, radio, simulcasts that have sports guests and celebrities on, what most streamers and sports streamers are looking for these days.
43:46Rich Eisen:So it kind of makes sense to try and expand that. But the question of you pointing out is interesting is how would college basketball be brought in? Is it just like CFP, college football playoffs is its own entity and then the rest of it is up to you to figure out as a football only or do the football schools that you bring in it's also basketball too i don't think basketball i think football is gonna be tough enough to figure out who's in the boat who's not who gets relegated who doesn't because that is the super league model that got rejected in two days flat by our friends across the pond but if you do exactly the models what we talk about set up like a premier league situation where they have the levels of levels of soccer and you know each year a dozen teams are elevated or regulated like that would be kind of interesting how about this separate separate for football something separate for basketball and everything else goes back to like it's 1950 all over again it would be probably the most efficient model where we're soccer teams and lacrosse teams and tennis teams and golf teams and softball teams do not have to go coast to coast here yep because the atlantic coast conference now is the both coast conferences no it's the like it's a quote-unquote olympic sports right yeah do that it's also a way to save kind of the olympic the olympic development here in this country yeah but football is not going back to that time it's not going back to the times where you're traveling by train and you're having guys carried off the field because they were offsides.
45:19Rich Eisen:You know? Wow. Yeah. I mean, Rich. An unnecessary Rudy shot there. Oh, no, no, no. It's necessary. It's rich. It's necessary. Move on. He still wants to fight you. I know he does. Move on, Rich. Fighting words. They're ahead of you. But what's the perfect number? Great question. For that Super Football Conference. Well, how many NFL teams are there? 32. You want to double it? Double it. 64. Yeah, there you go. Are you into the relegation idea? Yeah. Boom. Come up with 32 others. That's a league. What else do you need? Next. We're like speed fixing college sports. What else? Consulting. What's the basketball number?
45:54Like 150 or something? It's got to be more.
45:57Rich Eisen:The tournament's perfect. I wouldn't touch it. I'm already what you're here. I understand, but how big is the division, though? How many teams are you inviting? As many as you want. Who do I care? a lot of basketball courts around the country that's true many as you want you get a team you get a team not bad but close to it what do i care and then the rest of them it's just like let's let's let's reconstitute the pack 12 for the smaller for the olympic sports yeah and the big 10 and just let's go back to what it was because right now because it's fixed the way it is because everybody's following the same football boat it doesn't work it makes no sense and is greg senke in charge of all this?
46:35Rich Eisen:Sure. Why not? Great. Greg, congrats. And we figured this out. There'll be something a little extra for you. We'll send you this mug. Come on. What else? Keep going. Oh, we're out of time. Hour two is in the books. Vince Gilligan talking about his new show, Pluribus, in hour number three. It's going to be great. We'll go down to Breaking Bad. Better call Saul Wormhole as well. The Ridge Eisen Show podcast. MLB.tv on ESPN is your home for every out-of-market game, live or on demand. Catch your favorite teams and players, plus MLB Network and ESPN app features like Multiview, syncing your stats, key plays, bets, and fantasy, all in one place.
47:19Sign up now for MLB.tv in the ESPN app. Separate subscriptions required, blackouts, and other terms apply. Visit stream.espn.com slash MLB TV for more information.
From the publisher
Rich previews what at stake in NFL Week 12 for many teams including
Bills vs Texans, Colts vs Chiefs, Eagles vs Cowboys, Steelers vs Bears, Giants vs Lions, Vikings vs Packers and more.
MS NOW’s Luke Russert and Rich discuss his cameo in the upcoming
‘Holiday Touchdown’ Hallmark Channel movie, the state of his beloved Buffalo Bills, and more.
Rich weighs in on how NIL and the Transfer Portal have impacted College
Basketball recruiting and team building.
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