Hour 3: Steelers/Ravens, College Football Playoff scenario, Eagles-Chargers Preview, Jacksonville Jaguars

22:40Conferences, divisions, all thrown out. As of right now, in this season, there are 12 teams that have to get to the playoffs. This is what I said last week. All right.

22:51Rich Eisen:But the college football playoff committee must include certain conference winners. They have to. You know? So you're saying the rules are it's the top 12. It doesn't matter how many there are from each division. The division winner doesn't have to be included? Is that what you're saying? The division winner does not have to be included. However, you do have to take into account strength of schedule. So, like the undefeated team in the middle of Nevada, for example, would probably not get in with their really light schedule. See, I just don't have those numbers here in front of me. If you're just saying you want to just go through who should be in, who should be out, 12 teams?

23:35Rich Eisen:That's what you're saying? All right, I'll bite. let's go Rams, Seahawks, Niners. I'm just going to write them all down. And then I'll put the Packers, Bears, Lions, Eagles, Cowboys. And then we're going to have to pare them down, right? Am I missing anybody? Bucks, Panthers. Got to throw those guys in. I mean, I have strength to schedule and strength to victory numbers if you want them as a tie break. Let's go here. Now I've got the Broncos. I've got the Chargers. I've got the Bills. I've got to put three teams from the AFC South in right now, right? In this mix, right? Texans and the Colts. Well, Daniel Jones just got rolled out for the year.

24:31Rich Eisen:You don't have to include them. We're going to treat them like Florida State? Is that what we're saying? Yes. Okay. And then I've got the Bills and the Patriots. Oh, my God. I've just put 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. I can only put in 12. If you can find it in your heart to throw out one of the AFC West teams as a Chiefs fan, I'd be grateful. Yeah, well, I don't know. The Chargers and the Broncos should definitely be in the – How do you pare down seven teams down to 12? Actually, it should be down to 14, to be honest. We should do a 14. That's what we have now.

25:11The Chiefs don't have the wins, but they have an incredible strength of schedule. They're, you know, it's a 530 strength of schedule, but they only have a 372 strength victory.

25:20Rich Eisen:How about this? Because this is a little too long of a conversation to be having on live radio and television to spitball. How about I'll just sum it up like this, Connor? this just shows you how stupid stupid it is right now with the college football playoff setup dumb and where now we're trying to figure out whose strength of victory is better than the other and who's who's got a more impressive win lately compared to an impressive loss and all of that nonsense as opposed to here's the record here's the tie breaks one through soup to nuts coming in and we play it off and we play it out. You know what I mean?

26:02Rich Eisen:Honestly, who's to say the Bucs and the Panthers one should go over the other at this point in time? They both have the same record. What, the Bucs started well and didn't finish up strong? The Panthers are playing strong. I'll take it one step further. Nobody from the NFC South is in. Nobody from the AFC North is in. You throw the Chargers out, they barely have a 40 % strength of schedule. I'll make the hard decisions, rich okay appreciate that honestly if you if you're taking out the bucks and the panthers and the chargers and the and the uh and the stealers and the ravens see ya and if this is actually a tv show which i i know it is you put the chiefs and cowboys in because you're gonna get eyeballs right yeah but they deserve it over over the bucks panthers stealers and ravens i mean again That's what so dumb this is.

26:53Rich Eisen:It's so stupid. Bears, see ya. The whole thing. And by the way. Lions, see ya. You know, don't you think, again, and thanks to the call, Connor. Don't you think in college football this proves 12 is enough? Right? Yeah, absolutely. You could make a good case with all due respect to Georgia and the teams from Texas and maybe the one in Oregon. Right? You could make a great case that the Big Ten championship game was, in fact, the matchup of the two best teams in college football. That's probably true. And that I don't know who's better than Indiana. And I don't know if Ohio State would lose to Indiana if they play each other a second time.

27:35And this goes back to what I've always said, is that the BCS, while everyone hated it, it always got it right. It always got it right. The two best teams always played each other for the national championship.

27:46Rich Eisen:In the same way that everybody's complaining about the methodology here, because why would you switch it up after telling me what the scoop is one Tuesday after another, after another, after another on a TV show on ESPN, and now you're switching it up at the last second. You changed the goalposts on me. You say that. That's what everybody's having a problem with all of it. What's the difference? You know what I mean? Isn't the whole point is to have the two best teams play for the title? But the point of that is, in the BCS, it was the same thing. Except I didn't understand any of that. And I was around for the BCS.

28:26Rich Eisen:And I know that fellow Bruce Edwards who came on and who was somebody from ESPN Research who suddenly got thrown on television to explain what... He took out a slide rule and his protractor and they figured this out with a computer. And I didn't understand a damn word of it. But it was always one verse two. But who cares at the end of the day if some computer spits this thing out? It's just like, why are we wasting our time with a computer and a room full of people? When the NFL has shown you, especially when the sport is going towards the NFL anyway. Just cut out the middleman and have a bunch of people smart enough in the room.

29:05Rich Eisen:Get some commissioners in there. Get some chancellors in there. Figure it out. and the ultimate who's in who's out will be who is in this league of 64 or whatever it is and who's in a league if you will a step down and you create it like European football that's what we're supposed to call it now we should call football something different in this country I heard it should be just like that relegation move up exactly totally agree

29:42done i just don't know how to do it does that make sense uh it's you know it's billions and billions of dollars at stake william in topeka kansas will take your phone call what's up william right there in the country what's up william hey thank you so much for taking my call before i get to my comment i just want to say how much fun i have listening to you guys keep it up Keep it up. I love all of you.

30:05Rich Eisen:We plan on keeping it up. Thank you. So I just mainly want to complain, and maybe Brockman can help me understand this. As a Chiefs fan, the last couple of years watching us become so hated has kind of made me a little sad. I don't remember the pain and suffering of the Matt Castle, Todd Haley era, Romeo Cornell, 2 and 14. I don't miss it, but I don't like it when everyone cheers for our downfall. And I also don't like all of the bandwagon fans that have appeared over the last few years. And, I mean, I wish they would go away. Maybe missing the playoffs will make some of them go away because, you know, every time a team is so successful, they get that.

30:55And as a Patriots fan, maybe you can relate to that, Brockman. I don't really know.

30:59Rich Eisen:Well, yes, he can. And let me jump in here and help out. Because if you are a team that annually beats everybody's brains in and wins it all, you will attract haters. You'll attract bandwagon jumpers. Everybody hated the Patriots for two decades. Two decades because they beat the crap out of people. You could make the case. You could make the case. You could make the case, William, that out of any American athlete of this century. I'll go this century. Any American athlete this century, name me one who's more likable than Steph Curry. There isn't one. Maybe Mahomes, okay, is on par with that. And how many people hated the Warriors after a while?

31:46Rich Eisen:Because they beat everybody's brains in. So this is part and parcel congratulations of having a dynasty, which I don't think you or any longtime Chiefs fans thought would ever happen to you. Ever. And dynasties peter out. they come to an end or they somehow sustain one to another the chiefs definitely have the the infrastructure to go from one to the other um and i just think this is one of those rare down years and the bandwagon jumpers are all you know the haters are also because taylor swift showed up and a lot of people thought oh now you're trying to become hollywood at the same time when it's just one guy who's just you know in love to be honest with you and somebody who's so world famous showing up to a game of course they're going to show her and then haters who are either hate because they like to or to be honest they're misogynist or they hate you know winners being surrounded by other winners they start freaking out because she actually takes up an aggregate of 45 to seconds to 60 seconds of a three and a half hour broadcast and people start flipping out about that.

32:55Rich Eisen:I think I put it off. And then everybody else starts showing up on television commercials, which is in everyone's face a little bit too much. I just I don't know if I can know, hear more all about the brace anymore. So I just, you know what I mean? Like put it all together. They hate you when you win anyway, and then all the other stuff just kind of gets added and added on. The ride, man. The fact that this ride has existed, who cares how many bandwagon jumpers there are and how many haters there are? There's a reason why they existed. It's because your team winning dynastically, generationally, and still can, if not this year, obviously, but still can, William.

33:34Rich Eisen:Yep. Does that help? It does. R.E.S. Consulting with another satisfied customer. It's fun. You've got to enjoy the winning because you never know when it's going to come again. I mean, look, TJ, all due respect, I mean, he's still waiting for it to come back around. I was bald the last time we won. Nice. Let me explain to you. I had no hair. I admit I was rooting for the Cowboys to win out and steal the division. So I'm sorry about that, TJ. And by the way, too, you know, I was bald the last time the Jets won as well because I was peeing in my diapers. Okay? Thanks, William. You know what I mean?

34:08Rich Eisen:How many Jets fans would love to have the country suffer from Jets fatigue? Are you kidding me? That's kind of how I feel when people try to crack on me like the Cowboys haven't won them 30 years. Yeah, but like we said before, your team's never won nothing. Nothing. So who's feeling worse right now? Hey, man. I'd like some Raiders bandwagoners. Do you know any Jets fans are watching Fernando Mendoza right now and thinking, oh, yeah, that's our guy. Yeah. And then he speaks after the game. They're like, that doesn't sound like a New Yorker to me. But guess what? You know who wasn't a New Yorker and was supposedly too dorky for New York?

34:43Rich Eisen:Eli Manning. How's that worked out? How's that work out? Two of them things. He may get a bust in a couple of weeks or a jacket. so yeah let's get Fernando Mendoza going and using words like flipping in New York and they're like flipping like burgers is that what you're talking about like the bird huh you can flip me the bird you're gonna flip me the bird him coming out there he's got serious Kirk Cousins vibes it was intense man it was intense sweetheart like rude for people like that who cares he's like a child out there crying over the Hoosiers winning the Big Ten and his dream is coming true.

35:20Rich Eisen:I don't care. He's being himself. It's awesome when people are authentic. I loved it. I loved it. Now, that also does appear to be like some movie where kid shows up in New York City all shiny and then like six months later, it's like trading places. You're eating salmon through his Santa beard on the streets of Philadelphia. You know what I mean?

35:49Rich Eisen:that could be poor Mendoza after a few weeks with the Jets if he gets drafted to him. You think they're going to win it all? Who? Indiana? Yeah. Oh, boy. I would love it. I would love it. They're not favored. Ohio State is favored. Well, they should be. Dude, they've got first-round draft choices everywhere. Everywhere. They're loaded. And not even in just this upcoming draft. You could already see them for future ones. It's exactly that. But in this day and age where we're rightfully sickened by the state of the game to have a team like Indiana. Could you imagine they win it as the portal and the NIL become the focal point of everything?

36:32Rich Eisen:And that's supposed to leave programs like Indiana curbside, not winning at all. And they locked up Signetti or, you know, a month ago. There's no threat of him. I wonder how much the NFL. I'm going to ask Joe how much he paid into that kitty. Good question. Let's FaceTime Joe Buck right now. Hey, take a break. 844-204-RICH-NUMBER-DON. Oh, yeah. Speaking of positivity, there's a rabbit. Eagles are back, people.

37:06The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. The Rich Eisen Show.

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38:16Rich Eisen:This show brought to you by Sonos. Back on the air, the holidays sound better with Sonos speakers. Whether it's a movie night that feels larger than life, all the holiday music that you play throughout the house, the roar of the crowd as your team takes the field for a game, it's awesome. With the beautiful design, incredible sound, and effortless control, you can focus on what matters most, enjoying the season and creating those moments you'll remember. Remember, I love Sonos, Susie loves Sonos, our kids do, you will too. Discover how easy it is to bring every room to life with incredible sound.

38:46Rich Eisen:Explore Sonos speakers, soundbars, and more at Sonos.com. The number of questions that I have asked anybody that's been on this show or anybody that I sit next to on NFL Game Day Morning on NFL Network, the number of times I have asked all those people, what is up with the Eagles and how can it be fixed? And they have come up with all these answers. Ringing their hands over, is it the defense? Is it the play calling? Is it the chemistry? There's got to be something going on. Is it the quarterback? Is it the receiver? Is it the offensive line being banged up? Is it the offensive coordinator? It's got to be the coach.

39:34Rich Eisen:how do you fix it how can it be fixed is it fixable i have lost track on the number of times i've brought this up and asked these questions and nobody has come up with apparently what the obvious answer is and it is a positivity rabbit what would have thought this is in the eagle's locker room an easter bunny happy easter rabbit that is a blown up and it's sitting in the middle of the locker room apparently the offensive lineman brought it in there and put it right next to in front of saquon barkley's locker and saquon was asked all about said positivity rabbit Hit it. Why is there a giant bunny outside of your locker?

40:24I don't know. I have no idea. I'm not into holidays and bunnies and Christmas. I do the Christmas stuff. I've got kids, but I'm not really a big joyful holiday person, I guess. I don't know why. I think that's really the only spot we can pit a big bunny. But I was told it's a vibe bunny, and the vibes are high. There we go. So you didn't sign off on being in front of your locker?

40:54Rich Eisen:If the Eagles go into SoFi tonight and beat the Chargers, how many positivity rabbits will explode across the Philadelphia metropolitan area? Oh, they'll be everywhere. They'll be on everyone's lawn. They'll be on rooftops, businesses. I mean, one year it was a dog mask, right? Because they were underdogs. Yeah, during the playoff run. Tell me that this is what's going to turn around the Eagles. We'll see you guys sell out of Home Depot and Lowe's. I hope that rabbit's like a Trojan horse and it's sneaking something in that locker room. That's good. Continue to divide. A Trojan positivity rabbit that runs counter to the spirit of said positivity rabbit.

41:36Rich Eisen:I'm just saying. You ain't going to have something positive to say about this. If it doesn't, let's say the Eagles just collapse. Yeah. Now we know what you're sending to Carl Anthony Towns. A negativity rabbit. I can get behind that. See what I'm saying? Giant inflatable. Where does one get a giant inflatable rabbit? Oh, man, like that. Oh, you're hoping. Oh, I'm looking right now. Because either way, this is going to be fodder for they are out of their minds and something is massively wrong. or it's like they change the vibes around there. They're having fun. They're cutting loose. They're doing like, hey, that was the other thing.

42:22Rich Eisen:Another Super Bowl season, the same one with the dog masks. It was like, we're having fun. Patriots aren't. Right. Oh, and afterward it was like, I want to have fun? Come here. Winning is fun. I know. That's all they needed was a positivity rabbit. Yeah, there's a lot of inflatable rabbits online there, TJ. Buy it wholesale. DJ Jefferson wants it to be a negativity rabbit. That's what you send to Carl Anthony Towns if they crap out tonight. There was also a Devante Smith spoke to the media for one of the first times. He talked about like juicing, like he's not. He's got a juicer. He's making juices.

42:58Rich Eisen:Like a juice cleanse. Yes. Yeah. Oh, not like the. No, not. No, you're not going to. You're not going to get so lucky that he's suddenly not playing because of something silly like that. Well, you can look at it. and um andrew so we finished with positivity and then we finished with a little bit of chess talking yeah i love that you know what i mean some teams can play that they don't respect this card tom break here we are we've got four minutes to go we haven't even talked about no it's from the afc south leading jacksonville jaguars we talked about them on our overreaction monday pod that if it were was not for a 19 point collapse in houston they would be on a win streak having since their loss that i called in london jacksonville as we know comes off that by after losing in London, they win in Vegas in overtime.

44:01Rich Eisen:They drop one in Houston, which they had a chance to sweep the Texans. Oh, man. Then they dismantle the Chargers. They go to Arizona and win that one. They win at Tennessee, and then they just spank the Colts, and in this game may have blown up the season because the Achilles blows up for Daniel Jones. And the Jaguars are currently the three seed. now they're two behind the 11-win Broncos and Patriots. The Jaguars do have a visit to Denver where they can actually put on the line here what I think fans are saying, which is they're being overlooked. Liam Cohn was asked that question point blank after destroying the Colts at home.

44:51When you have a team that feeds on disrespect, how does that continue to go when maybe the respect starts to come, which might be where you are right now? I don't know if we'll ever really get it. So that's the beauty of it. It ain't coming. You know that. Sounds like you don't honestly want the respect to come. Yeah, I don't think it helps. I've heard the rat poison before. Everybody loves you when you're doing it well, and then you're always going to find something. That's the competitive advantage that you have. Every player has to get themselves into a place. You always hear the stories about Jordan and how he would create things to get himself into a place to go compete.

45:27So our guys just keep finding ways to get a little bit pissed off and go play their tails off. I love it.

45:36Rich Eisen:Don't respect us, please. Keep firing the disrespect. It's not helpful. The respect is not helpful. By the way, so should I not point out that this is happening without Travis Hunter? like their second overall pick is not part of what's happening right now and they're still doing it and brian gomas has been mostly mia this season should i not point out that trevor lawrence has been really good over the last few weeks and am i messing it up etn comeback season tj you know if it keeps going this way jaguar fans we might not go to break with the jaguars on the clock our next nfl draft card yeah that's the thing right oh my god always when we're up Oh, my God.

46:19Rich Eisen:When they traded up for Travis Hunter after Cam Ward got drafted, I'm like, well, let's take a break. Jaguars are now on the clock. We don't need to stick around for this Travis Hunter thing. Remember that, Brockman? We were in the bar watching. What is happening? I know, right? I couldn't hear you. We were just like, what's happening? It was crazy. Jacksonville is one win away against the New York Jets at home from going into the 10-win club this year, and they could keep going and winning a division and having a playoff game in Duval. How about my higher register when I said the loser of this game?

46:50Between those two, the season's over. Well, look at you. I don't think. Fortunately, I couldn't have predicted the Achilles pop.

46:55Rich Eisen:Yeah, I didn't want to predict that. That's so. Now I know. You put that in the ether. That's why you root against the positivity, right? See, I'm on the good side. I understand now. I get it. See you in New York, everybody. Thanks for listening to the Rich Eisen Show podcast. You can watch and listen to the Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from noon to 3 Eastern on ESPN Radio. Disney Plus and on the ESPN app The Rich Eisen Show The Podcast

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