Pick'em Pros

CJ Stroud’s Collapse, Buffalo Blues & NFL Conference Championship Picks | Pain Points

• Pick'em Pros • Season 1 • Episode 13

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On this episode of Pain Points, we break down one of the most shocking NFL storylines of the season — CJ Stroud’s disastrous performance and what it means for the Houston Texans moving forward.

Houston had everything in front of them, but Stroud’s struggles against the Patriots changed the entire outlook. Was it just a bad game, or is there a bigger problem brewing in H-Town?

We also dive deep into the Buffalo Bills’ latest postseason disappointment, debating where the blame truly lies. Is Josh Allen being unfairly criticized, or is it time to stop comparing him to Patrick Mahomes? The disagreement gets real.

Plus, we cover:
 🏈 The Chicago Bears’ future — breakout season or step back?
🏈 Are the Seattle Seahawks building a new Legion of Boom–style defense?
🏈 Our NFL Conference Championship picks and how the playoffs will shake out

This episode delivers honest takes, real debate, and football conversations without the hot-take nonsense.

🎧 Listen now and join the discussion.

Please subscribe to the podcast today and share this content with your friends!

CJ Stroud's Struggles in H-Town

SPEAKER_03

All right, so obviously there's a lot happening in the NFL right now. So we're gonna talk about CJ Stroud. Could he possibly be up for trade? We're gonna talk about the Bills, Josh Allen, and the Bears. Will they be back next year? So let's start off with CJ Stroud. What is the issue here? Do you think he should be up for trade?

SPEAKER_04

Absolutely. No team I think should take him. This is a quarterback whisperer himself who I've been slandering this whole podcast. If y'all know I do not, I'm not like Kevin O'Connell's choice of JJ McCarthy. But if you want to revitalize your career, go somewhere. Take him to Minnesota. Put it with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Jordan Addison just be just, you know, with his problems, that was those were resolved, so he's all good. Minnesota, look, there's no more, there's like no other quarterback you could just buy low on. And who see who at his peak, we've seen him look like a franchise quarterback. There is no guy on the market that you can't buy low on and but have him buy into Kevin O'Connell's whole quarterback whisperer thing. And again, you have Justin Jefferson, you still have that defense. I don't know if Brian Flores leaves this offseason, though. So that's what will make me question how they will be on defense. But if there is a team who needs a quarterback to switch to for both of them to get the ugly taste out of this season, away from both of them, I think CJ Shroud and Minnesota would be a perfect marriage. And it's out of the way from Houston, so there's not a lot of stuff you can get into in Minnesota. Well keep it in a beam. There's not a lot of stuff, not a lot of trouble you can get in in Minnesota compared to Houston.

SPEAKER_00

There's a few things, there's a few stories I could tell you, but we'll say save that for another show. Um, yeah, man, I don't know. Man, I mean, yeah, that would be great for CJ, but I just don't know what his value is. I don't know who would really want CJ at at this point. Um and that was bad. That was that was bad, bad. Like I'm I'm surprised they didn't pull him. If they pulled him, they might still be in the playoffs. Yeah, like that was that was awful. Uh and and I'm shocked that the commentators are on the less I missed it, because I was waiting, like, okay, when are they gonna say after which interception are they gonna start asking if they should take them out?

SPEAKER_04

They didn't ask them. I think like this, like the people on the second half show were like they were questioning it, but some but I think like Troy Incab and Joe Buck were like, Hey, David Smills is like right there, y'all. Like, I don't know, and again, even when David Smills played this season, it wasn't like there was a dramatic drop off between you know CJ and him. Matter of fact, he's the reason why he's one of the reasons why they came back versus Jacksonville.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, so that's when it turned around. They started off 0-2 at least this year, yeah, looking terrible, and then he comes in. I believe they win three in a row and they kind of took off, and then CJ just kind of kept it going. But yeah, I mean, they would have been fine, but yeah, it the during the halftime broadcast, they started talking about it and debating it. But like, from what I remember, I don't remember before it cut to the halftime crew them talking about it on like the live telecast. Like, it I don't remember them them touching it, they were just kind of acting like you know, like okay, it's coming out for another series. And I mean, they were bad interceptions, like you're about you're in the middle of getting sacked, and you're just throwing the ball up for grabs. Like that's that was just man, that was awful. I I don't know that that was bad.

SPEAKER_04

So I mean, it's and again, like the fact that he's cost himself a bunch of money now. Again, Panthers fans, we we can victory lap. I know Diego was having the time of his life watching this, but like we could victory lap and be like, oh yeah, Bryce, you know, he he proved it throughout the season. Yes, we get that, but like it does suck for Houston fans knowing that these windows don't come often. And mind you, and I'm gonna talk about this later, but there's the guy who got injured in Torres ACL will be back next year. The other person in Baltimore who like had a crazy injury riddle season could be back next year. Joe Burrow could be fully healthy next year. Like, this isn't like, oh, we still have will be like it'll be the same AFC, we still have the same defense because now you gotta play pay Will Anderson, now you gotta start paying all these other players around that defense to keep that nucleus together. I honestly don't pay CJ, trade him, do whatever, but you have to have just stability at that position because that defense could have gotten them all the way to a super bowl.

SPEAKER_00

Generational, yeah. The defense was so good.

SPEAKER_04

Mind you, after all those interceptions, they only I think the Patriots only scored like nine points after all those turnovers.

SPEAKER_00

They only scored like I was that that's just the tragedy.

SPEAKER_04

It was so crazy. Like it was really the pick six was really the major, like, okay, this is where like broke broke the dam because really it would have been 21-16, and then you could have just worried about something. I don't know, man. It's just I don't know.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, well, there's a team, there is a team that's out west that's looking for a quarterback, um, that you know might be, you know, got brissett. I mean, is is C okay, Brie. Would you rather have CJ Stroud or Brissett?

SPEAKER_03

You know what? Play CJ Stroud. I mean, he has potential, he's still young.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, he's still young.

SPEAKER_03

I mean, is he consistent? Sometimes no, okay. Um, did he play in poor weather conditions this weekend? Yes. Um, so but he's still young, that no matter where where he goes, he's still young, they can build on him a lot more than they can on Brissett and Callum Murray because they're older now.

unknown

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

So, but you know what? I don't know if they would get rid of him because the Texans are probably like, oh, he's still young, like we can fix this too, because they already like went pretty far in the playoffs further than they can say any other team did.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, they've made the made the playoffs think every year. Yeah, I mean they're not gonna, and he's still on the rookie deal, so they'll hope that he loses his mind, really focuses, you know, bears down and kind of comes in and has an amazing year next year and not have to pay him as much. So he's not going anywhere. No, you know, unless he comes in those first few games and continues to stink it up, then they'll just put him on the bench. But uh, he's not going anywhere this offseason.

SPEAKER_03

He's too young to let go of crazier things have happened.

SPEAKER_04

I mean, I saw a coach take a team to a playoffs in history eight years and get fired. So I mean, hey, crazier things have happened, though. This year's crazy, crazier things have happened.

SPEAKER_03

Everyone's over being garbage, yeah. All of a sudden, yeah.

SPEAKER_00

A third of the the you know, teams got rid of their coach, yeah, opening.

SPEAKER_03

So yeah, crazy. All these openings.

Chicago Bears Outlook Next Year

SPEAKER_00

Yep.

SPEAKER_03

Okay, well, talking about garbage. Let's move on to the bears. Will they be back next year?

SPEAKER_01

Coming in hot.

SPEAKER_05

All right, now I'm sorry for waiter. She just came in with crazy.

SPEAKER_04

I will say, I do think the close game thing concerns me because every team who plays close games the next year they regress horribly. However, there's still room to improve, and that's what makes me think that they will be back. Now, I don't know if it's in the same capacity because Detroit has to again like they have to want there's a hunger for them to get back to the top. Green Bay, I don't know what we saw with Jordan Love and Micah on both sides of the ball. I and again, like they were dealing with injuries as well. I I don't know what the Packers, I don't know what they're doing. I just hope that they can continue. But I don't know, like the Packers, it seems like they're like the perpetual like seventh seed, and then like they lose in like a really weird fashion, since like Jordan Love has been the QB. So I really don't know what's gonna happen with the Packers. The Lions, again, y'all y'all hire Drew Petsing.

SPEAKER_03

So I don't know why they would do that. Yeah, no, because he was on the Cardinals offensive coordinator.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, that's right. Who were the Cardinals?

SPEAKER_03

Who was their offense last good?

SPEAKER_04

Not with Drew Petsing, like y'all could have got Mike McDaniel, so that's where I'm kind of like I know, but Dan Campbell said he doesn't fit here.

SPEAKER_03

I mean does literally never light me gaps. I can't. I literally can't.

SPEAKER_04

I get it, and it's just like when it comes to when it comes to that, that's where I feel like the NFC North is still dealing with a lot of like change. And again, Ben Johnson in his first year, they went on a deep run, scared the heck out of the Rams, and again, Caleb. I really feel like that game is like the best description of Caleb Williams this year because he would sometimes do some bone-headed, stupid things and miss like a key throw, but then there's like that, like two or three magical moments where you're just like, I've only seen one other guy do this, and it's Mahomes, and you he just doesn't, and it's so crazy, and it's like you still have to work with that, you still have to make sure that he can develop and flourish. So I do think again, DJ Moore is out of there because you know he did stop running that route. I'm not gonna lie, like that was just a that was just a bad look on DJ Moore. So honestly, they will be back. I don't know if they'll be NFC North champs, though, because I think between the Lions and the Packers, it could get a little dicey. What I will say is they will probably be a wild card team, and then we'll see. But I don't think they're gonna be like champ NFC North champs. I I really don't think that because the Lions will probably improve in the offseason, and the Packers have consistently been one of the tougher teams. So that's that's what I'm saying. Now again, I don't know if Drew Petzing's the fix, Bree. I don't know if he's the fix, but I do think that y'all will be like a little bit better than y'all were this year because the injury bug just has to just has to stop swinging yours your y'all's way for real.

SPEAKER_03

Yep. Period.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah, it's tough. I love what you said as far as you know just all those close games. When you when you see a team like that, Minnesota a few years ago, um you know, the commanders. Yeah, yeah, it's just so many. They normally come back the next year and just don't do those close games, they're losing those close games. And the year before, the Bears had a lot of close games like that. They were losing them now. This year, they were winning them. Uh, you know, and the NFC is gonna be tough. Yeah, you have a lot of teams that didn't get in. And what what you're gonna see a lot more now, with all the parity that we have, is you're gonna see the the fact that if you make the playoffs, you have a much tougher schedule, and if you don't, you have a much easier schedule. That's gonna start to have a much bigger impact on who gets in and who doesn't. So you truly are gonna have to be like legit, just good. Like you know, seems like one of the few teams that was there last year that came back this year was like Josh Allen, because Josh Allen, you know, okay, no matter what, he's gonna win a certain amount of regular season games, it's gonna get in there. It seems like everyone else was kind of doing doing this and fluctuating. So I think you're gonna see that. I mean, you're your Panthers. Have you seen their schedule for next year? Oh my gosh, yeah, that's schedule.

SPEAKER_05

Like, I bro, I I'm so worried it's gonna be five or six wins again. I know it.

SPEAKER_00

I I have a few I have listened, and the thing is, they they may be way better next year, but just because it's gonna be tough, so you're gonna see that a lot. That's one of the different things about the NFL versus the NBA and all that, to where everyone's truly on an even playing field because you know you're playing the same teams and the same amount of times, but the NFL I mean, you can't do it, everyone can't play those games. So I think that's gonna really come into play. So you're always gonna see teams that were toward the bottom that come up and top teams come down. So I don't know. I mean, Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, both both uh, you know, things look good for them, but it's gonna be tough. Yeah, I think wild wild card at best.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I agree because last year they were five and twelve. This year, way better. And Ben Johnson, he's a mastermind, you know, like he's a mastermind, and yeah, we'll just have to see what happens, obviously, because like you guys just said, just backing you up, the NFC North is very competitive, it is every year, so yeah, we'll see what happens. Imagine the Vikings pop up somehow.

SPEAKER_00

Man, right up how how motivated will the Packers be now? You know, the way that the Bears knocked them out, and then the way that Ben Johnson acted at the end of all that, you know, it's hey, all that stuff it comes back, man.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, do you guys think the hardest division?

SPEAKER_04

It out of the conferences, it definitely is the hardest one because I mean, we you like Seattle. The fact that we're dealing with the NFC West alone has Seattle, the 49ers, and the Reast.

SPEAKER_01

Right, that's still yeah, they're like and the Cardinals.

SPEAKER_03

Hey, I was my bad.

SPEAKER_04

I was I was going to clue. I just flipped my body for a second. Oh, it's okay. But then NFC South, everybody talked about how bad our division was. No one, even though a bunch of our teams, like Tampa early on, beat Seattle, and I believe they beat um another NFC. I think they beat the 49ers, like early on when their season was going well, and then it just fell apart towards the end of the year. We beat the like the NFC South is a sneaky competitive division, it's just we ended up cannibalizing ourselves towards the end of the season, and that's how the tiebreaker thing happened. So that's where I'm like, if the NFC South gets marginally better, that's going to be difficult. The NFC East still has Jaden Dangles and Dak Prescott and a good Eagles team. And then now the Giants with Harbaugh. So it's like it really, it really could go. And then, of course, the NFC North. Like, it's it really is a very difficult conference where, like, again, it feels I'm not gonna say the NFC feels like the Western Conference equivalent of the NFL, but it really does feel like okay, if a certain team gets it and goes on a run, like it really, it really could get crazy because let's say the 49ers are healthy next year and they and they can somehow make another run. Let's say the Eagles finally have a good offensive coordinator again, like there's so many things that we don't know, and that's why the NFC is just it's it's a lot, and again, the now again AFC the AFC championship that we're getting this year, right? Is a 14 and 3 Patriots team playing Jarrett Stenham. And we're comparing that to Matthew Stafford versus the new version of Legion of Boom. Like, I just it's it's a lot

Josh Allen Underachieving?

SPEAKER_04

harder, it's a lot harder.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it is for sure.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, it is.

SPEAKER_03

Alrighty, we talked about Josh Allen a little bit already, so let's continue.

SPEAKER_04

And then waiting. I've been waiting for this, y'all. I've been waiting to just get on camera and talk about this. And I was thinking about this at work today, and I was just sitting back and I was just like, hmm, imagine being a three-time Super Bowl champion who's been won five AFC championships since I was a starter. I have basically been it's the a it's the arrowhead invitational. That's how good I am. I'm being compared to a guy who can't even get past the second best team in my division when I'm healthy. Can't even get past them. And the reason why he can't get past them is because he has four turnovers in the game. Now I get it, their defense did not play up to par, and James Cook had that fumble. But that let that fumble in the second half really did uh before the beginning of the second half really changed the game. Because again, he did his Texans mistake, and this is year eight. I don't know if you remember that first playoff game where he's playing against Deshaun Watson, and then he just threw the ball backwards. He did that, and this is the year where we're like, Josh, there is nobody in your in your division, in your conference. You're good. This is your shot. And you mind you, you brought the team back, you made key plays, you started to make up for it. But there were multiple moments where you put the ball in harm's way that led to your team losing. And even after those, and even after those turnovers, your defense was still holding it down and make and even when they were like in the red zone, was after like a quick fumble or like a quick interception or whatever, and like they held them to a field goal. So it's not like your defense after you messed up didn't step up for you. So I just I don't know, man. I I respect Josh Allen, I think he's good, but the whole best player on earth thing, everybody just calmed that down. Unfortunately, because 15 got injured, everybody's all of a sudden forgot his career, the fact that he was chasing Tom Brady at a point. I think because of the Eagles Super Bowl and how everything turned out, we forgot the fact that he was in three straight Super Bowls, and that was the first time since like what was it since was it since the Patriots, or was it since like the Packers or something? Like it was they were the first team to appear in three straight Super Bowls for like it was like a oh yeah, yeah. I don't know if the Patriots I think maybe it was some championship team that appeared three times. No, it was ironically, yeah. It was those Bills who appeared in for like four straight Super Bowls.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. They went for that.

SPEAKER_04

So that's my issue with Josh Allen. It's not that he isn't a good quarterback, and it's not that he's a great quarterback, you're right. I think he's great, right? But let's let's slow it down, let's slow it down. And then we're gonna blame Sean McDermott for this, when it really is Raiden Bean's fault for not drafting well. That's really what it is, yeah. Because you keep putting who done it and why a receiver and expecting Josh Allen to cook. That's another thing. Because again, maybe some maybe Jamar Chase, or if you get a good wide receiver, can come down with that catch instead of that being an interception that Brandon Cooks had to somehow catch. That was crazy. Yeah, maybe if you get a good wide receiver in the draft, maybe if you make sure that you get somebody in for a free agency that he can throw to. But I don't know, man. I think that Josh is great, but this is going to look a little bad as we start reflecting on like, dang, are the Bills ever gonna get over the hump? Because again, he didn't have to because the only reason why he we've said that he hasn't advanced in the playoffs, he hasn't been as good as Mahomes is because he couldn't beat him. Now, nobody was everybody's gonna say, like, hey, you won this ring for. Fair and square because if he was going against a Seattle team, that Patriots team, and he somehow won the Super Bowl, everybody would have happily said, like, okay, obviously, you know, you've made your argument for best player on the planet. That would be his moment, but he lost that. I'm sorry. Like, I don't want to hear best player in the world talks anymore.

SPEAKER_00

I don't know. I think I mean eye test, you know, pound pound pound for pound. If I'm looking at him, he's still best to me, you know.

SPEAKER_05

I test in having four builders in the playoff game, baby.

SPEAKER_00

It's the difference. His his four interceptions was not the same as CJ's. Okay, because for one, all all CJ had to do was just hand the ball off and uh throw check down passes and they win that game. Okay, Josh Allen has to put the ball in harm's way for them to have any chance to win, so he's got to take those um, you know, difficult, make those difficult passes in order for them to have any chance to win. So no, that's just a that's it is all Brandon Bean, not our Brandon Bean picking pros, but the Brandon Bean from uh the Buffalo Bills. It's all his fault. I I don't blame McDermott. I think McDermott did a great job. He coached the defense up the best he could, all right. But there's only so much he can do with with what they have. Uh I put it all on on the GM, put it all on them. I think Josh Allen, you know, he I have no no problem with him whatsoever. I will totally be the Josh Allen apologist. I think you're still mad from last year, okay? And I'm sorry he did not get his 10th MVP. You just got to get over it, man.

SPEAKER_04

Funnily enough, I actually have rescited both my takes on Lamar and Josh after this postseason. I don't care. Like, I'm listening to both of them. Look, you're never gonna be my homes, both of y'all. I'm just y'all are gonna be the Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees of y'all's generation, and it's fine. It is fine. Accept it, except what it is. Y'all are gonna be Peyton Manny, y'all gonna be Aaron Rodgers, y'all are gonna be all-time greats, y'all are gonna have the media jobs. We're all gonna remember your highlights fondly. Unfortunately, there is somebody who is clear and far ahead better than both of you, and that is fine. I believe I fully believe that now. I am so sorry. This is a hater. This isn't me as a hater. This is a this is a fact.

SPEAKER_05

Guys, hater time, geez, he's healthy. He went to seven AFC championships.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, oh well, yeah. Two things to be true. Two things mahomes is amazing. Patrick Mahomes is amazing. We're not we're not debating if Patrick Mahomes is amazing. We know that.

SPEAKER_03

We're talking about Josh Allen, but we're not saying he's a bad quarterback. The other teams that they were going against in the first place, like, there's no way. Like, the one of those teams is definitely gonna win the F Super Bowl, and it's very clear. Actually, maybe it's kind of clear. We'll talk about that in a little bit. But so Josh Allen, I'm sorry, but he's one of the greats, even though he hasn't gone you know all the way, and you know, but that is that his fault at the end of the day, no, and replies on every relies on everyone on the team, it's not only up to the quarterback, it's up to the GM, it's up to management, it's up to the equipment room, it's up to everyone. Okay, right. So Josh Allen is a great, and don't disrespect him like that.

SPEAKER_04

So it became like before this season, though, it was never like, oh, it's all about the team. It never, it never was that. It's like, can't Josh get over the hook?

SPEAKER_00

That was the whole thing when they got rid of digs. Everybody no one thought they were even gonna make the playoffs, and and they made a deep run all because of Josh Allen. Yeah, you you put any other quarterback on that team and they are the jets. Yeah, they're not even smelling the playoffs.

SPEAKER_04

Well, good for him, but again, y'all. So we're just gonna excuse four four turnovers because he needs to just play within the margins and because his GM couldn't couldn't do it.

SPEAKER_00

They're the Jets with Josh Allen. If if you take Josh Allen off the Buffalo Bills, they're the Jets. If you put Josh Allen on the Jets, they're the Buffalo Bills. Telling you, that's the difference he makes. Yes, no other quarterback can do that.

SPEAKER_04

I'm gonna let y'all, I'm gonna let y'all have that one. I agree.

SPEAKER_03

This is a great take by us, Eric. This is great. Found it.

SPEAKER_04

That's right. Yeah, I'll be outvoted on this happily, bro. Listen, when Fenty come back and guess what if it gets the fourth one next year? I just I I hope the fourth one shuts everybody up between the comparisons of and calling him the best player on the planet.

SPEAKER_00

I hope the fourth one, it's just gonna I thought Lamar was gonna get his first next year. What are you talking about? Patrick and his fourth.

SPEAKER_04

I gave up after after this season. I'm not gonna lie, I'm not, I'm not gonna hold you as Lamar said. Lamar FC, it's it's it's been bad,

Seattle Legion of Boom Back?

SPEAKER_04

it's been a bad year.

SPEAKER_03

All right, let's move on. We are going to talk about the Legion of Boom. Are they finally back? And you guys know who I am talking about. We've seen it all year, all year. Let's see. What do you think?

SPEAKER_04

I mean, Seattle is terrified. Like, like again, and to Derek's, I will say, Derek, take you after the Bears take has failed, it lasted as long as it did. Derek's take of having a mid-quarterback and surrounding him with a bunch of great pieces, and Sam Darwin's more than a mid-quarterback. I'll give him more respect than that. But Derek, that take has rang true because all Sam Darnold had to do was take care of the ball, do what CJ couldn't, take care of the ball, hand the ball off to Kenneth Walker, keep third downs going, and just trust that that defense was gonna show up and hoop. Again, we're playing a 49ers team who was injured, injured to all crap. So, you know, I will take that with a grain of salt. But I will say that still the that 49ers team showed a lot of heart through the season. So through it all, they still deserve you know some credit. I really want Shanahan for coach of the year. If I was running, because again, deal with missing your quarterback for half the season, having to put him back in, and then y'all still made a decent playoff run. Y'all just ran into a buzzsaw. You you you can't fault him with that. Now, Seattle, it's like you have an efficient offense, your defense is dominant, and then your special teams. Now that you had Rasheed Shaheed, I'm so happy he's not in the NFC South anymore.

SPEAKER_05

I'm like, nah, now everybody who didn't tune into those 1 p.m. games when Rasheed Shaheed was fried the Panthers.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, now y'all get to see this live in prime time because my goodness, that was such I was waiting for like that edition. You like made one play, I think, versus Atlanta, where he had a kickoff for terror touch. I was like, I need this to happen in the playoffs so people could like he's been one of the more slept on players in the NFL. The fact that he kicked that game off, I mean, that had the crowd energized through it all, and the fact that again back in Seattle, and it's I don't know, man. I that defense just looking good, looking good, and the thing is when Mike McDonald was with the Ravens, he had that defense, but they didn't have that great pass rush, as great of a pass rush as Seattle has. Now that he has both where he has the coverage guys and the pass rushers, it I don't know, man. I I really don't know. Now, the only team that's been able to put points on them, they're playing in the NFC Championship. So I am excited to see if we get a part two of that great Thursday night game. But man, I'm just I'm an honor. Like this is the year where defense really is king, and I'm really it's been great to see.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah. I I can't say the Legion of Boom is back. Um, because that would just be a shot at the real Legion of Boom, because they were truly, truly amazing and and shutting people down. Now, can this group be the next Legion? That is possible, but we have to see what happens this game. Yeah, uh, they did play a 49er team that had absolutely nobody left on on the team. Everyone was dropping like flies. So we have to see when the Rams come into town, the team that I said that would go to the Super Bowl before the season started, um, right on schedule with that here. So uh yeah, you know, when they when they come into town, then then we'll see. They can stop uh Stafford and the Rams, then you know, we'll see. But right now, I can't I I I cannot say that that they are they are back.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it's only one season. They have to wait and see. You never know.

SPEAKER_04

They do need that like three or four-year run of being feared, but again, it is a bunch of younger players, so I'm excited to see what happens. And again, as a you know, as a if we could ask about like top three coaching vacancies, but the one thing I will say about the coaching cycle, I really do I fear that like the past two years were really the ones where y'all could get like the generational defining coaches, you know, who are just gonna be like the next all-time greats in like Remble, in um Ben Johnson, in um Mike McDonald. Because and Mike McDonald got hired like the year before, because I do feel like now everybody's trying to grasp that trials because they saw the quick turnaround success of those teams, and it's like there was like a lockstep thing with like free agency and that that made those teams those teams because Ryan Poles locked in and was like, we need an offensive line for protect Caleb, and they got that. We need more weapons, so they got Luther Burden and Colson Lovelin. Like that was their plan. Now they know in this ex-off season, hey, we need a pass rushing defense, Caleb, the offense, they're gonna be fine, they're gonna figure it out. The Patriots literally spent like I think like 300 some million in free agency. So and then they were like, hey, Rabel, coach these guys up, restore, restore that. So you need a special coach one and a and a GM in lockstep with you. And I don't know how many teams really had that. So every team who thinks like, oh, we're gonna go worst to first, like these teams did, it's not that easy. And I do think that it was different when it's like the quick quarterback success that's getting like quarterbacks out, but now long time coaches because of the quick turnaround success of all these teams who had like a bunch of lean years. Now they're leaning more into like okay, we gotta fire these coaches and try to find the next guy. And I don't think the hit rate's gonna be all that they expect because a third, like, we're going to have 10 new coaches around the league next year.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, it's crazy. Like, and they had top schedules, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

So yeah, it's uh it's it's crazy times in the league, man. I don't know.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it's really weird this year. I mean, it makes sense though, but some of them I'm like, why would you fire them? That's really weird, but whatever, because they'll just go to a different team, and maybe that's better.

SPEAKER_00

It's gonna be interesting to see who fills some of these vacancies, you know, who's gonna be the next coach in Buffalo, you know, who's gonna be next coach in Baltimore. Man, I can't wait to see who fills those vacancies.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, and I'm excited to see how the team does.

SPEAKER_04

You know, that's winning season streak is gone next year, man. You can bet on their bet the underground Steelers wins. Whatever you think, whatever it is, the Deborah Steelers wins, bet the under.

SPEAKER_00

It's not that Cardinals still have the opening. Yeah, um, that's

NFL Conf Champ Picks

SPEAKER_00

a lot. Tennessee just filled theirs, yeah. Uh, but yeah, Tennessee, Atlanta. Um, the Giants filled theirs, but yeah, it'd be very interesting. I just hope please, please, please have Bill Belichick go to Buffalo. I I just have to see that. That would be so great. And then he gets to go back into New England. Oh, that'll be great. Oh man, I don't want any of those from you.

SPEAKER_05

What to make sure Lamart never gets a ring that right there.

SPEAKER_00

That would guarantee that just for the handshakes and just all the shade and all that'll just that'll be great contest. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03

Well, are we ready to make our picks?

SPEAKER_00

Yes, let's do it.

SPEAKER_01

I'm ready.

SPEAKER_04

All right, well, the first one, as y'all could tell earlier with that shade I threw to the Patriots. This should be easy. New England, get less let's return back to your familiar home in the Super Bowl. Let's y'all y'all already got your the flight book. They already they already got the equipment already stashed up, they already got the patches sewed into their jersey already. They ready to go see Bad Buddy, man. Let's go, New England. Y'all got this.

SPEAKER_03

Yes, uh Derek doesn't look like he agrees, Derek.

SPEAKER_04

Oh there's no way you're picking Jared Stenham over Drake May in the way they they played against. All right. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00

Let's all day, yeah. Easily. Denver, they've got to go to Denver, they won't be in their little cozy stadium, all right. They're playing another great defense, but this time, all right, now we've got a quarterback that won't just lob the ball up in the air. That's all that's all they have to do, all right. Because that defense is gonna get after Drake May. They haven't played anybody, all right. And Denver's gonna go ahead, take care of business, and go to the Super Bowl. Yes, they will definitely win this game. Oh, yeah.

unknown

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, I already called that back in the back before the season started. So I already said the Rams you know going to the uh Super Bowl. So I will stick, I will stick with that pick. And uh got Denver. Denver Rams. What's that?

SPEAKER_03

And the Rams are gonna win? Rams are gonna win the Super Bowl.

SPEAKER_00

Um I'm not gonna make that pick yet. You know, we'll lay up.

SPEAKER_05

We think the Patriots can't be there. We'll lay out.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I'm not gonna quite do Super Bowl yet. Yeah, but uh, yeah, yeah, got the Rams going to the Super Bowl, which was my original in case in case nobody knew that was my original pick.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, no, he he's been saying this the whole season, man. I I lost faith. I lost faith in the middle when we beat them, honestly. I was like, y'all lost to the Panthers. There's no way y'all are up, never mind. They're actually, you know, a good team with an FvP quarterback. Who knew that you needed like an FVP quarterback and a somewhat solid defense? Y'all could go far. But yeah, this Rams Seattle game, man. It's gonna be so good. I really I want to pick the Rams so bad. Because again, I do have my worry of the Sam Darnold shrinking thing, right? But if Seattle's defense forces two turnovers, I do think it's going to Seattle can win this game. So I have to trust that Sean McVeigh is gonna want to call a better game because of their familiarity with each other.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

I'm picking the Rams because of the because again, that loss to Seattle did have that weird two-point conversion moment where like they went into overtime. So I feel like the Rams are gonna want their get back for that, and it was in Seattle as well. So I do feel like the Rams are gonna want their get back for that. So I will say it will be Rams Patriots. Oh god, it's 2001 again. I hope honestly, if this does get to be 2001 again, Rams, please win because I do not want another dynasty. I can't deal with 20 more years in New England again. That was my childhood, that was most of my childhood. I was dealing with dealing with New England. It wasn't until I got to high school. I was like, oh my homes, and then they had a dynasty. Hey, no more dynasties, y'all. Let's just a let's just have this be like a quick little one-off champion, and we just do like one-off champions like the NBA. Because the dynasty thing, I'm getting a little getting a little tired of it, if I'm being honest. So let's have this one champion, whoever wins the Super Bowl, let it be a one-off. Because I I don't want to see repeating champions anymore. That it trusts me out too much, man.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I think that's I think you can about guarantee that whoever wins this will not go back to back. Yeah, definitely Eagles.

SPEAKER_04

You think of the Eagles next year? All right, they're agreeing.

SPEAKER_00

I no, I said they'll definitely do an Eagles, like either oh, do an Eagles, my man.

SPEAKER_03

Well, I think it's gonna be a Seahawks Patriots. Ooh, just because the Patriots are gonna beat the Broncos, their quarterbacks out. I don't think they can do it, honestly. And then excuse me, I have the hiccups a little bit, and then I think um that the Rams with the Seahawks. I keep seeing this thing, the superstition thing that every time a new Pope gets like in the Seahawks win a Super Bowl. So I'm kind of going off that right now. I'm like, let's see what happens. But I also like the way they've been playing, and I love the Rams. Like, I I like I like the Rams, right? Even though they're in the same conference and whatever, but doesn't matter to me because you know it's the Cardinals, and you know. Um, so with that, I think the Rams Byron Young on the Rams is insane. I'm just saying. Um very young, always gets that quarterback, no matter what. Um, but I think the Seahawks will overcome it because there's been a lot of times with the Rams that they've been in close games with teams that aren't even as good as they are, right? So that's what I that's what I think is gonna happen. And then you know what? I'll be like Derek, and I won't say who I have winning the Super Bowl yet.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah, I'll pull it Derek.

SPEAKER_00

That's right.

SPEAKER_04

I don't think we'll go with either. I really was just like, hey, I just don't want to know what I've heard now again. Yeah, I'm saying it's going to the next Patriots.

SPEAKER_00

All right, plus we're we're saving you, C Pain, because if you make the pick now, that team's not even gonna make it to the Super Bowl, and you're gonna have to re pick anyway. So we're kind of we're trying to save you the the embarrassment.

SPEAKER_04

I said a dark horse team, I didn't say they was going to the super bowl. Like this that's the one thing I will say. I was correct that none of y'all expected the bears to be this good. Did I any of us expect the bears to be an 11 and six and be an OT with the Rams over the chance to go to the NFC Championship? No, yeah, that's all I'm saying. So it worked to a point. Now, again, Derek's point it's had a little longer legs, you know. It's he he was he wasn't raised by this much, this much.

SPEAKER_05

What was it? It's like that the like 100-meter final with Noah Lyles where he won by like just an inch. They had to look at the clock, like that's what that was.

SPEAKER_04

You you want you it got better by this much, but hey, you know, all in all it was a great season for the Bears, and yeah, I'm excited to see what they do next year.

SPEAKER_00

For sure, for sure. So it took me back to my roots, Chatow. So I gotta get my Chicago Bear gear. So I did grow up with the Willie Galt jersey and grew up, you know, Bears in Chicago, there for Super Bowl 20. So oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

All right, get your Caleb Williams jersey, man. Get get you get you an 18, get your get your nice one team jersey. Maybe. Maybe Caleb Williams and Luther Burton. I go Caleb Williams and Luther Burton if I'm being honest with you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. I mean, I I like Swift, but you know, I don't know. How long he'll be there. What would you say, Brie?

SPEAKER_03

Do a Loveland jersey. Absolutely. Yeah, yeah. He's so good. He's so good. I'm so mad that he went to the Bears.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

He's a great player.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, no, like I really think he's gonna be a great player.

SPEAKER_00

And they got the great, you know, throwbacks. You know, I might go Jim McMahon, you know, like I said, Willie Galt, the one that I had, Walter Payton. So so many. You can go on and on. Get on out of here. We'll see y'all next time.