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00:00Welcome back into the early line time for a little NFL news and notes as we get set for week 17 in the National Football League.
00:07And let's start with the Texans, Joe.
00:09We saw for week 16 Tank Dell very serious injury sustained their season ender.
00:15So for D'Amico Ryans and the crew, they're looking to build forward, keep their playoff, I guess, aspirations moving in the right direction.
00:23Welcoming Deontay Johnson who showed a bit of promise earlier this season with the Panthers.
00:28Went across to the Ravens where it really didn't work out in favor, but certainly bolsters their one receiving room stock.
00:35Yeah, I mean, this is going to be an interesting game.
00:41This is going to be an interesting move, and it's a desperation move, I think, for the Houston Texans here, Dov,
00:48simply because they lost Tank Dell.
00:50They had already lost Stephon Diggs.
00:53They were so ridiculously successful early in the season that they won enough games in that terrible division that they were going to make the playoffs.
01:03They've known it for weeks.
01:04The problem is they seem to be getting worse and more hurt.
01:07Now you claim a guy off of waivers that was released from a Super Bowl contender who's got some issues at the wide receiver position themselves,
01:18and yet they wouldn't even let him take the field.
01:21Apparently he refused to take the field after they traded for him, by the way, from Carolina.
01:27Apparently he just refused to take the field in week 13, and it was a mess of a situation.
01:35Talk about not being able to fit into the locker room.
01:38And now you're going to take him and send him into Houston locker room where he's a wild card, unfortunately.
01:44You just don't know what you're going to get from him.
01:48He's either going to help them, and he's going to keep his mouth shut, and the guys in the locker room can control him,
01:53or it's just going to be an unmitigated disaster, at which point the Texans should be strictly fade from here on out.
02:00Yeah, a bit of a risk the Texans just have to take, and we'll get to see them out on the field Wednesday afternoon.
02:06They will be playing host to the Baltimore Ravens, that high-flying offense led by Lamborghini Lamar Jackson.
02:13The Pittsburgh Steelers could be getting set to welcome the return for George Pickens, star-wide receiver,
02:19and it looks like they really have missed Pickens, getting it vertical, getting him downfield.
02:23They've dropped their last two, and they're going against the reigning champs, the Kansas City Chiefs.
02:28Yeah, well, this should be an interesting one as well, but they need him.
02:34They have absolutely no vertical threat.
02:37Defenses know it, and what they have done is made Russell Wilson very one-dimensional dubs,
02:43and when you do that, yeah, that's not exactly the best thing to do if you are the Steelers.
02:51You need Pickens. You need secondaries to worry about Pickens.
02:55You've got to have that vertical threat.
02:58You've got to have that one guy on the field that the secondary and the defenses are worried about,
03:03and they just don't have it, and Russ ain't it by himself.
03:08He can't do it with just a running back and a tight end.
03:12You need a guy that can go vertical, and it would be huge for them to be able to get him back,
03:17but quite honestly, at this point, make sure he's ready because I'd much rather have him in January dubs available to me
03:25than try to hurry up him back from a hamstring issue here to play a game against the Chiefs,
03:31who all but locked up the number one seed in the AFC to begin with.
03:35Yeah, Pickens missed the last three games.
03:38Certainly no, I guess no reward for getting back a little early there,
03:42and Joe, it's been a minute since the two of us have caught up.
03:45You threw out a little danger Russ, Russell Wilson.
03:48General thoughts of what you've seen there for the star quarterback for Pittsburgh?
03:52I mean, he has looked a little better.
03:54It looks like he's turned back the old clock there going against father time,
03:58but the passing game has been pretty strong.
04:01Listen, it's I give credit to guys that I was wrong about.
04:05Arthur Smith, when he, you know, coming from Atlanta and what a disaster that was in that organization
04:13with all those weapons, although it appears that maybe just maybe Arthur Smith wasn't the problem in Atlanta,
04:20but he comes in here and remakes this Steelers run first, run, run, run, run, run offense.
04:27Well, he gets Russ in there and resurrects his career and Russ has been great.
04:31But again, Russ is at the point in his career where he can't carry them.
04:35He needs to have that one outside threat there in in Pickens when they have all of those guys on the field.
04:43I think we've seen what Russ can do throwing a ball down the field and has a pretty good offensive line.
04:49So I'm impressed.
04:51I was I thought Russ was cooked.
04:54I thought Arthur Smith was cooked.
04:56And yet here in Pittsburgh, they have both resurrected their careers.
04:59So kudos to them.
05:01Yeah, well done.
05:02I'll put the hand up there as well.
05:03I still think he's going to be prone to a big lapse at a critical point.
05:07And I think it's going to be a playoff game.
05:09But time will tell.
05:11Let's turn it to a little Monday night football.
05:13Things go from bad to worse for San Francisco and head coach there, Carl Shanahan.
05:19The big news coming across.
05:20Star left tackle Trent Williams now set to miss the remainder of this season just a day after officially being eliminated from the playoff race.
05:29Yeah, no, just I mean, terrible.
05:32How they lost to Miami was actually pretty embarrassing as well.
05:37But the season's over and we know this.
05:39So why in the world would you try to get him back here?
05:43He was obviously the anchor to that offensive line.
05:47They have no running backs.
05:49Everybody is hurt.
05:51It's been just one of those.
05:53It's been one of those seasons, unfortunately, where as much talent as they have had, the injury bug caught him this year.
06:01And that's it.
06:02There's just certain things you can't overcome.
06:04And the entire season, they lost a lot of games they shouldn't have lost.
06:08They gave up a lot of leads in the fourth quarter.
06:11You know, things that we're not used to seeing the 49ers do, they did this year.
06:15And then the injuries just piled on top of it.
06:18So I wouldn't return either.
06:20I would just chalk it up.
06:22It's a lost season.
06:23You move on and get everyone healthy for next year.
06:25And that's what it's all about.
06:27Joe Ranieri, it's all about accountability.
06:29Sometimes you're going to put the hand out where you're wrong and say, hey, this is how it all played out.
06:33We take that forward step and move on to the next one.
06:36Is that what we're seeing over in Arizona?
06:38Jonathan Gannon calls the Cardinals collapse from what we saw in week 16 an indictment on myself.
06:45Is Jonathan Gannon all to blame for this dumpster fire that we're seeing with the Cardinals?
06:50Just awful.
06:52I mean, what a — I mean, listen, of course he's going to be partly to blame.
06:56That's exactly what he should say as the head coach there.
06:59But Kyla Murray is a wreck.
07:01I'm sorry.
07:03I mean, there is no excuse to go up against the last place defense, the worst defense in the NFL in what the Carolina Panthers have.
07:12And Kyla Murray with an opportunity to win this game not only in the fourth quarter but in overtime and gains, what, eight yards?
07:20I mean, come on.
07:22Just absolutely disgusting.
07:25They weren't ready to play early.
07:27By the time they finally kicked it in, they got back into that game.
07:31But they could never take the lead.
07:33And Kyla Murray, when you need him the most, guess what, was not there.
07:37Just Kyla Murray to me is not a guy I would build a franchise around.
07:43I don't know how much more we have to see him falter before we realize he ain't it in Arizona.
07:49I think Gannon did the right thing by falling on the sword, but the reality is that's all on you, Kyla Murray.
07:56This entire losing streak, by the way, is on the fact that Kyla Murray can't get out of his own way.
08:01Relax, my guy.
08:03I mean, Call of Duty was just released a few weeks ago.
08:05He's been busy with some real stuff going on, not playing good football on Sundays.
08:10How do you move forward if you're the Cardinals?
08:13They'll take on the Rams for Week 17, but are you sticking with the quarterback?
08:16Are you sticking with Gannon to try and turn this thing around going into the future?
08:20Listen, you're paying him, you're playing him as long as he is healthy here.
08:25But I think that organization has to take it.
08:28You wrote him the check, but you've got to figure out a way to get to him,
08:33because you're paying this guy that kind of money to be a difference maker,
08:38and he has not been a difference maker at all down the stretch when they needed him the most.
08:43This was a team, Dubs, four weeks ago that was right up at the top with a possibility of winning outright the NFC West.
08:49Now look at them.
08:50They're out of the playoffs.
08:52Yeah, not good.
08:53Not good there at all.
08:55The latest from the Philadelphia Eagles as they get set to take on the Cowboys,
08:59also eliminated from the playoff race is Jalen Hurts battling to get out there for Week 17.
09:06But is the risk really worth the reward?
09:09Well, we'll discuss that on the other side.
09:12Plenty going on right here on the Early Line.
09:15You're watching with us right here on the Sports Grid Network.
09:17Stick with us.
09:18Welcome back into the Early Line.
09:19The action continues here on the Sports Grid Network.
09:21I'm Dubs Anderson alongside Joe Ranieri.
09:24And, Joe, we've got to talk a little fly, Eagles fly.
09:28I'm usually here on a Wednesday chopping it up with DRS.
09:32I mean, he's love and fanfare towards these Eagles.
09:36Unbelievable, Ranieri.
09:38But Jalen Hurts still in the concussion protocol.
09:41I really don't see why you'd try and force him to be out there for Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys.
09:46But I need to get your thoughts.
09:48What we saw last weekend against the Commanders, was that Jaden Daniels taking over that game?
09:53Or is that a sign of the Eagles being a little vulnerable at the business time of a very big spot?
10:00Just a comedy of errors with the Eagles in that game.
10:05You cannot turn a team over five times and lose the game, Dubs.
10:11You can't get five turnovers in a game.
10:13Your defense not only intercepted, got a couple of fumbles there.
10:18You can't turn a ball over five times and not win the game here.
10:24And listen, Jalen Hurts, it was rough that he had to go out there.
10:28But Kenny Pickett did more than enough to help that team win that game,
10:33including the game-winning touchdown pass that was dropped by Devonta Smith at the five-yard line
10:40with nobody around to hit him right in the hands.
10:42That game is over if he runs that and scores that in there at that point.
10:46So, Pickett is not the reason they lost it to backup quarterback.
10:50It would help if they had Jalen Hurts back.
10:52But to your point, he's got to pass, what, that five—
10:57I believe there's five phases in order for him to get out of the concussion protocol.
11:02That probably won't happen until later in the week.
11:05Sirianni already saying that he'll have no problem if he clears the protocol,
11:11even though he didn't practice all week.
11:13He's got no problem putting Jalen Hurts in there to start.
11:17He'll be more than ready to play against the Cowboys.
11:20So, I'm not worried either way because the Cowboys, at this point,
11:25who are playing some decent football, they haven't thrown the talent,
11:29and they'd love nothing more than to stick it to the Philadelphia Eagles.
11:34But the reality is, I don't know if the Cooper Rush is going to do it.
11:38That defense, to me, of Philadelphia is legit.
11:42It wasn't their fault they lost that game, unfortunately, against the Washington Commanders.
11:48The offense, got to get it together here in big moments.
11:52I think he'll be ready, though.
11:54All indications are he'll clear it by Thursday or Friday.
11:57No practice, but he'll be ready to go here,
12:00which this game was flexed from the 4 o'clock to the 1 o'clock,
12:04so we would get Green Bay, Minnesota at the 4 o'clock time slot on Sunday.
12:09The Eagles trying to turn things around and get back to those winning ways in Week 17.
12:15A team over in Sin City, Jareneri.
12:18They're not looking to turn things around.
12:20They're looking to play that hot hand at the table, and I cannot figure this one out.
12:24We're lucky enough to have a little bite here from head coach Antonio Pierce
12:28on the latest win for the Raiders.
12:30Not going up the draft ladder.
12:32Going down the wrong direction in search of that starting quarterback.
12:35Let's take a listen.
12:37Yeah, man.
12:38Look, we work 80 hours a day, 80 hours a week.
12:40Staff, players come here, they're 40-plus hours to work.
12:46We don't do this to lose.
12:48We don't do this for anybody's fantasy football team.
12:50We don't do this for anybody's draft projections.
12:52None of that matters to us.
12:54All that matters is winning, and that's all we want to do.
12:57Hey, you need more of them.
12:59You need more of them.
13:00That was a good win of the season there for the Raiders
13:02over the Jags over the weekend.
13:04What's the big takeaway from this one, Joe?
13:07Because they were sitting there with top spot.
13:09It's real simple.
13:10Just don't win, and you're in pole position to get the best quarterback
13:13coming out of this year's class.
13:15Suddenly, with that latest victory, they now drop to six on the draft ladder.
13:20Are we winning?
13:21Are we tanking?
13:22What are your takeaway from those words?
13:24I mean, that's a huge swing, that win there.
13:28With a couple of weeks left to go,
13:30because they had pretty much would have locked up,
13:32and they had, I believe, before the game,
13:35a 35% chance at the number one pick.
13:38But now that they won the game,
13:39they have a 1% chance to get that number one pick.
13:43And that is a big difference,
13:45especially for the game-changing quarterbacks that are available here
13:50in this draft, especially Shator Sanders.
13:54But the Giants are sitting in the driver's seat,
13:57and it goes to show you, and we do this every year, right?
14:00Players don't quit.
14:03They don't tank.
14:04Organizations may want to tank, but players won't.
14:08They don't go out there putting it all on the line to lose games.
14:11He's right, but my goodness, right place, right time,
14:15because that Jacksonville team is just awful on so many levels.
14:19Yeah, and I cannot believe I was buying in early on the Jags.
14:23A couple of big future sticks, Joe,
14:25just didn't work out for Trent Lawrence
14:27and the lads over there in Jacksonville.
14:31I don't know.
14:32I mean, you've got a chance to turn around your organization,
14:35get one of the hottest prospects, and this is the result.
14:39But you highlight the point, Joe.
14:40These are still high-octane athletes.
14:44There's a lot of juice in the room,
14:45but they're not going out there with a game plan of not trying to win
14:49every single quarter of every single matchup.
14:52If ownership and management want to step in,
14:54we're going to see it earlier in the week.
14:56They're going to be saying, hey, starting quarterback,
14:58starting wide receiver, he's out for the rest of the year.
15:01Now let's see how you're doing Sunday afternoon.
15:04Yeah, yeah.
15:05No, they are.
15:06I mean, listen, there is the Giants right now are in the driver's seat
15:10with two wins, right, two and 13.
15:12And let's be honest here.
15:14They're going to be rolling out either Drew Locke.
15:18Well, they'll be rolling out Drew Locke,
15:20because they're paying him here.
15:22But this is a team that is just absolutely awful.
15:26They got to play the Colts and the Eagles.
15:29And even as currently constructed,
15:31I don't see them beating the Colts or the Eagles.
15:33Neither of those two teams are going to roll over for the Giants.
15:37New England was the other big benefactor here,
15:40because if they're lost to Buffalo, well,
15:42now they're right behind the Giants.
15:45And if the Giants are somehow stupid enough to win one of those last two
15:49games, well, the Patriots could very well take over that spot here.
15:54They got the Chargers and another one with the Bills,
15:57which might mean absolutely nothing in week 18.
16:01And they played them pretty hard in Orchard Park, didn't they,
16:04this past week?
16:06Yeah, they absolutely do.
16:07Yeah, they showed up with the boots.
16:09Absolutely liked.
16:11We've got six teams, Joe, three wins or less.
16:13Who's the biggest standout for you going into week 17,
16:16saying head scratcher,
16:17how are they so bad from what you projected early in the year?
16:21Well, the Giants are just awful,
16:24but Tennessee looks to me like they quit.
16:27Just defensively,
16:30that was embarrassing what they did against Indy.
16:33They quit the Mayonnaise and that was good for my guy,
16:36Will Leavitt.
16:38Time for a quick break.
16:40We'll meet you back here on the other side.
16:42More on the early line.
16:43Welcome back into the early line.
16:45Dubs Anderson, Joe Ranieri,
16:47getting you up to speed with the Tuesday tip off the afternoon slate.
16:51Plenty of action, plenty of storylines.
16:53And we're getting set for two games in the NFL on Christmas Day.
16:57What more could we ask for, Joe?
16:59Well, I asked for a little more and we've absolutely got it.
17:03Beyonce performing at the halftime break.
17:06The Ravens taking on the Texans over at NRG Stadium.
17:09And for me, this is going to be absolutely must see.
17:12But also for star quarterback Lamar Jackson.
17:15He's telling us, Joe,
17:16that he doesn't care what's going on in this game.
17:19He's apologized to his head coach.
17:21He is going to be out there watching Beyonce putting on a live show
17:25for the ages.
17:26Big takeaways, big thoughts on this one.
17:28Would you be doing the same, Joe?
17:31Is Beyonce even still performing?
17:34Like, what in the, what are you talking about, Lamar?
17:37Like, seriously?
17:38Like, what is this?
17:39Is this like 10 years ago?
17:41Is it like 2005?
17:42What are we doing here?
17:44Like, you haven't seen the fact at this point that you've never seen
17:48Beyonce in concert is a little head scratching.
17:51Is it not, Dubs?
17:52Like, where you been, dude?
17:53I don't understand.
17:55I listen.
17:57Do what you want there, Lamar.
17:59But if you're out there at the halftime show watching it instead of
18:03inside the locker room and then you lose the game,
18:06good luck explaining that one, Dubs.
18:09Good luck, Lamar.
18:10Let's see how that works out for you.
18:12JR, I know you're excited.
18:14I'm excited.
18:15Let's take a listen.
18:17You can hear from Lamar Jackson, energy is absolutely palpable,
18:21looking towards NRG Stadium here for Wednesday afternoon.
18:24Lamar, what do we got?
18:27To the left.
18:29Ha-ha!
18:31Oh, God.
18:33A little disappointing that she's performing at a halftime show
18:36that you can't watch?
18:38No, because I'm going to go out there and watch.
18:40Yeah.
18:42Go out there and watch, man.
18:43First time seeing Beyonce perform at our game, that's dope.
18:47I'm going to go out and watch.
18:48Sorry, Harbaugh.
18:49Sorry.
18:50Sorry, fellas.
18:51Depends how big your lead is.
18:52Do you guys have one?
18:53Nah, man, I'm not even thinking about the lead.
18:55I was just thinking about just seeing Beyonce for the first time.
18:58Talking about the lead, there's a bit of confidence there, Joe.
19:01Who knows that they're going to be leading at the halftime break.
19:04The Texans are live in this one.
19:06Surely this is not a thing.
19:07Harbaugh's going to put the foot down.
19:08So, mate, this is a bad look.
19:10It's a bad look for your brand.
19:11It's a bad look for us as a team.
19:13You're going to be in the locker room with the boys.
19:16Listen, if you can do whatever you want, as long as you win the game.
19:21If you don't win the game, all right, and in the second half,
19:25you don't deliver, guess what?
19:28If there is a picture of him outside the locker room watching a halftime
19:31show and then comes out and loses the game, yeah,
19:35that's just a whole lot of aggravation you don't need to bring on yourself.
19:40Maybe if you can sneak it or maybe get like a camera or something in there,
19:44you want to watch it in the locker room and be my guest,
19:46but do not show your face out there watching a lip-syncing halftime show,
19:52Dubs, and we all know it.
19:53Like, who are you kidding here, people?
19:55You just talk what I was thinking straight out from between the ears.
20:02I mean, you've got, what, 80,000 people in some big stadium.
20:06There's no atmosphere.
20:07There's no vibes.
20:08Beyoncé not even going to be singing because we see all the dance moves
20:11that go into it.
20:12It's not so much about the music or the songs, so get out of here.
20:16It's an absolute pass from me.
20:18Lamar Jackson, focus on getting that W for Christmas afternoon there.
20:22I'm certainly looking for a big performance.
20:24So, Beyoncé, Lamar Jackson, what a Wednesday we have on tap.
20:29Welcome back into the early line.
20:30Hour number two continues here for you Tuesday afternoon.
20:33Dubs Andis alongside Joe Ranieri, and we're taking it to the gridiron.
20:37NFL getting set for week 17,
20:40two weeks left in the regular season before we start moving into the playoffs.
20:44So, exciting times indeed, and certainly, Joe,
20:47at this point of the year there's a lot on the line.
20:50Teams are playing for draft positions.
20:52Teams are trying to play to keep their seasons moving in the right direction,
20:56but we're also seeing a lot of movement in the market
20:58and taking a look with the Super Bowl odds,
21:00whether you have those early future tickets
21:02or if you're looking to jump back in with just a couple of weeks remaining.
21:06A bit of adjustment here from the oddsmakers.
21:09We saw last week the Lions were sitting at plus 500.
21:13They shortened up to currently sit at plus 390.
21:16The Chiefs, they shortened up to plus 450.
21:18The Bills drift out to plus 470, and the Eagles go out to plus 650.
21:24So, from the top five choices, what's the standout for you, Joe?
21:28Any surprises that the Lions continue to see that play at the market?
21:33Well, no, there are concerns.
21:36I think that people should be very concerned
21:39about the Detroit Lions on the defensive side,
21:42but the thing that makes them unique, if it was any other team, Dubs,
21:46the injuries that they have sustained on that side
21:50would have been season-ending for a lot of teams.
21:53But not when you can drop 40-plus points in a game on any other defense,
21:59and that means you're basically, even if your defense gives up 30,
22:03your offense is always going to give you a chance to win.
22:07It makes it much harder in order to do it,
22:11but the possibility is there, and they've shown it time and time again,
22:15that even though that defense is suspect now,
22:19the fact that you can drop 35, 40 points a game on other quality defenses,
22:25that means you've got to be taken seriously.
22:28You can absolutely win this thing.
22:30Offense wins, right?
22:32We'll see, though.
22:33It's vitally important for them to keep that home field,
22:37and the road to the Super Bowl has to go through Detroit there, Dubs.
22:41And if it does, they are, without a doubt, and should be your favorite.
22:46What if it doesn't, Joe, devil's advocate?
22:48What if it runs through Arrowhead?
22:50We've seen time and time again.
22:52The Kansas City Chiefs, you look at their record.
22:54It's fantastic on paper.
22:56They managed to win these close, nail-biting, rock-fight-style games,
23:00and they're sitting as the second choice at plus 450.
23:04Do we just buy in on the class factor?
23:06They've won the last two.
23:07They're going to figure out a way to win a third?
23:10Well, they pretty much locked up that number one seed in the AFC.
23:14So Buffalo, if they're the second choice,
23:17is going to have to go to Arrowhead and beat Kansas City.
23:21Buffalo would have liked it to go through Orchard Park,
23:24where they haven't lost a game in forever.
23:27But if you're going to represent the AFC,
23:30you're going to have to beat Kansas City in Kansas City,
23:34because I'm fairly certain they pretty much have locked up
23:37with that win against Houston, that number one seed,
23:40which means somebody's got to beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead
23:43if they're going to the Super Bowl.
23:45And Detroit, same way.
23:47And the reason I say that in the NFC, Detroit,
23:50it's got to go through Detroit.
23:52Let me reiterate that.
23:54It's got to remain the number one seed indoors.
23:57How's that? Is that better?
23:59So even if it's Minnesota who catches them,
24:02and it may very well come down to that Week 18 game
24:05between Detroit and Minnesota,
24:07indoors, that's where they have to.
24:10They've played their entire season,
24:12outside of a handful of games, indoors.
24:15And we all know Jared Goff much better indoors.
24:19That offense is way scarier indoors than they are outdoors.
24:23I would not bet Detroit if they had to go to Philadelphia
24:27to play a playoff game.
24:29No way would I bet them outdoors in the Elements
24:32and think that they would somehow compete.
24:35That's what makes, I think, you've got to be able to score
24:40in order to keep pace with Detroit if it's indoors
24:44and Detroit has the number one seed.
24:46So teams like the Rams, not the Rams,
24:50the Packers, I think, are interesting,
24:52which weren't even on the board, if you noticed that.
24:55Oh, there they are at 13 to one right now.
24:57I think the Vikings, the Packers,
24:59teams that can put up points in bunches
25:02that have that offense,
25:04they could very well represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
25:08And really, when you look at these numbers here, Dubs,
25:10you have to have confidence that,
25:12well, the Chiefs are winning the AFC
25:14and the Lions are winning the NFC.
25:17If not, I happen to think the Bills
25:19are going to be the team to beat in the AFC.
25:22So I know I have a good feeling
25:24that the Bills are going to be representing the AFC
25:26in the Super Bowl.
25:27And if it's Bills-Detroit, didn't we just see that?
25:30Had that word out for Detroit, in Detroit.
25:35Yeah, it's a great point you make.
25:38And for the Buffalo Bills,
25:40one of the teams that's actually gone south
25:42from what we've seen in Week 16
25:44to where we sit here on Tuesday,
25:46they're now hovering right around plus 470.
25:49So why the, I guess, the drop in stock,
25:51the drop in confidence, even though by a slim margin,
25:55is it the lingering injury for Josh Allen,
25:57having that hand to worry about?
25:59Were they showing a bit of vulnerability
26:01against the Pats last week?
26:03Well, you know, again, they had four defensive starters
26:06didn't suit up and didn't play in that game.
26:09It's the Patriots, it's a division rival.
26:12It was minus six degrees with the wind chill.
26:15At one point he said he couldn't even,
26:17you know, he got hit on his funny bone
26:19and his elbow dubs and he was on the sideline
26:21and couldn't feel his arm, couldn't feel his hand,
26:23couldn't feel anything.
26:24He said it was the weirdest thing
26:26and they were trying to get blood flowing
26:28back into the arm there.
26:29But that's, that's the conditions
26:31that you're dealing with here.
26:33On a fast track?
26:35Yeah, you know, Buffalo to me
26:38is gonna lock up the number two seed.
26:40I would imagine they'll get the number two seed here,
26:43barring anything crazy.
26:45They will handle business against the Jets.
26:48They'll handle business against New England.
26:50They'll have the number two seed
26:52and then it's a collision course.
26:53We're gonna get Kansas City and Buffalo once again,
26:57battling to see who represents the AFC in the Super Bowl.
27:00It really feels like it's gonna be a battle
27:03of heavyweights and the odds board
27:05absolutely reflective of that.
27:07If you're jumping into play at the Fandle Sportsbook,
27:10Detroit Lions sitting as the shortest prize
27:12at plus 390.
27:14Dan Campbell, Jared Goff, Amon Ross, St. Brown,
27:17you get them on a fast track as you highlighted, Joe.
27:20It is gonna be an absolute track meet
27:23like watching Usain Bolt cruise up
27:25the 100-meter dash.
27:26The reigning champs, they're looking to make it
27:28three straight in the bills.
27:30Josh Allen doing everything in his power
27:32to get them across the wire.
27:34Joe, real simple, chalk a long shot.
27:37Who's winning this year's Super Bowl?
27:38Is it all about the top four?
27:42It's very hard to look past them, Dubs.
27:44It really is.
27:46I love the chalk, baby.
27:47I love the chalk.
27:48I love Tuesday.
27:49Actually continues on the other side.
27:52Welcome back into the early line.
27:54Happy Tuesday here on the Sports Grid Network.
27:57I'm Dubs Anderson.
27:58That is Joe Ranieri.
27:59And you have one more sleep before we hit
28:02a little holiday football, holiday hoops.
28:04So let's stick with the NFL.
28:06And I'll tell you what, there's still plenty
28:07of great markets at the FD Sportsbook.
28:09Taking a look at the AFC.
28:11We know the divisional leaders by now, Joe.
28:14Chiefs, Bills, Steelers, Texans.
28:17But I'm more interested here in the wildcard standings.
28:20The Ravens sitting at 10-5.
28:22Chargers with a big win in week 16 over the
28:25Denver Broncos for Thursday night football.
28:27The Broncos still with a very good chance
28:29of making a nice return into the playoffs.
28:32And then you've got the Colts, Dolphins and the Bengals
28:35still with a very slight chance of making their forward step.
28:39So let's take a look at the wildcard contenders.
28:41How big was that performance for the Chargers
28:44last Thursday night?
28:46It's huge.
28:47It was a much-needed win.
28:49And now all of a sudden where it's the Broncos
28:52that have to be a little bit concerned here.
28:56Their schedule is not exactly easy to finish the season here.
29:02And all of a sudden with the Chargers,
29:04that win there preventing the Broncos
29:07from locking up the playoff berth.
29:10Boy, oh boy.
29:11I mean, now all of a sudden the Dolphins, the Bengals,
29:15even the Colts are still alive in this thing
29:18because, well, let's face it, the Bengals have who?
29:21Cincinnati this week that they're going to have to deal with.
29:25And then they don't exactly finish the season off
29:28in great fashion because they got to take on Kansas City.
29:31So the Broncos and what this version of the Broncos
29:34we've seen offensively over the last two to three weeks
29:38doesn't exactly exude confidence here.
29:41And now you've got the Miami Dolphins
29:43who got to take on the Browns and the Jets.
29:46The Colts have the Giants and Jags.
29:49And boy, just like that, the Bengals and Chiefs games,
29:53if they go 0-2,
29:55it's going to be very interesting to see what happens
29:59and who ends up getting that final wildcard spot.
30:02Because right now, Denver, they just have to win in their end.
30:06But those are not too easy games for the Denver Broncos,
30:09the Bengals and the Chiefs.
30:10Yeah, it's going to be very tough going into Cincy
30:14and taking on the Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning champs.
30:17I guess what would bode well in their favour
30:20if the Chiefs decide to not play some of their starters
30:23in that final week would really give the Broncos a big chance.
30:26What do we make of the charges?
30:28You know, we talked a little Thursday night football.
30:31That was a big performance.
30:32Come from behind there in the second half.
30:34Justin Herbert, when he wants to take the result into his hands,
30:39he can absolutely get it done.
30:40He looks to be one of the best quarterbacks.
30:42When he's not on, they go a little missing,
30:44they get a little stagnant, they struggle to get it downfield.
30:47But is this a team that could actually, you know,
30:50trouble some of the big contenders coming out of the division?
30:53I mean, out of the conference, I should say, in the AFC?
30:56It is interesting, this Chargers team, is it not?
31:01Because we know the schedule was certainly not the hardest
31:07early on in the season.
31:09And basically, they did what they had to do, right?
31:12They ended up winning games.
31:14The defense was dominant.
31:16It allowed Herbert to get healthier from the preseason injury
31:21he had with the foot.
31:23But now, of course, he's still banged up,
31:25dealing with a leg injury there.
31:28But the Chargers, when they lost Dobbins,
31:31became a different offense here.
31:33They are still very dangerous, I think.
31:36They're very well coached.
31:38And anytime you have Justin Herbert in a winner-take-all situation,
31:43it's kind of hard, Dobs, not to give them, the fighters,
31:46a puncher's chance to get it going here.
31:48So I worry about their defense.
31:50But the Chargers, on any given day,
31:53can beat anybody here with Justin Herbert under center.
31:57And, Joe, no surprises.
31:59You know, wild card standings, Ravens, Chargers, Broncos.
32:02But it's the Ravens who are actually sitting there
32:04as the third-shortest price amongst the AFC contenders.
32:08This is not a team that you'd want to square off against
32:11going into week one of the playoffs.
32:14No, no.
32:15They're very dangerous there altogether.
32:17And, boy, I got to tell you, there's, I mean,
32:20it's either going to be Steelers three or Ravens three,
32:23Steelers five, so on and so forth.
32:25But, really, the Chargers locked in.
32:28Will the Broncos be able to get a win to be able to get in here?
32:32If not, we could see some chaos.
32:34But right now, you got a team with two weeks left to go
32:38that controls their own destiny.
32:40And that is what the Broncos do.
32:42I got to see a little bit more, though,
32:44from Bo Nix here down the stretch.
32:47And it starts this week.
32:48He's going to have to go toe-to-toe
32:50with one of the best there in Joe Burrow.
32:53We'll see if he can get it done.
32:55Yeah, I love him, Joe.
32:56I think he's got that quiet dog about him.
32:58I think the Broncos priming up for a big one
33:00coming into week 17.
33:02If they can, if it's all about the Bengals and Joey B,
33:05could he be putting himself in line
33:07for a late run towards the MVP?
33:09We'll discuss at the time now.
33:11I'll be back here on another time.
33:13You're watching The Early Line.
33:15Welcome back into The Early Line.
33:17Hour number two continues.
33:19We're having a couple of laughs.
33:21We're having good times.
33:22It's one more sleep.
33:23I've already, you know, stuffed the old stocking, if you will.
33:27Joe, what does Christmas Eve look like for yourself
33:30and the Ranieri household?
33:31Back in Australia, it's a big thing.
33:33Everyone heads to the local boozer,
33:35the local pub, to put a couple down.
33:37Are you taking it easy?
33:39Are you firing off tickets?
33:40What's on the plans for tonight?
33:42Oh, yeah.
33:43Well, there was one of two ways to do it, right?
33:46Either everyone celebrated Christmas Day, right,
33:49all the presents and all that good stuff,
33:51or I grew up always doing a Christmas Eve,
33:55where we'd open everything up and we'd go to town.
33:58The big party was on Christmas Eve night,
34:00and then Christmas Day, we would just pretty much, you know,
34:04be hungover and stuff our face and watch some football
34:07or basketball, whatever it may be.
34:09So that's pretty much on par with what it's going to be like here tonight.
34:13I've got a couple of locations I've got to go to,
34:16and as a matter of fact, I will be hitting the liquor store
34:19before it's all said and done here today, doves,
34:22because I can't come in empty-handed.
34:24You know how that goes.
34:25Mostly because I want to make sure they have something
34:27I like to drink there.
34:28But that's the plan here today, doves.
34:31Oh, I'm getting thirsty.
34:33I'm getting hungry already.
34:35It really feels like the holidays when you get some great sports,
34:39you can get the sweatpants on, absolutely stuff the face,
34:43stuff the old bedding slips there as well.
34:46And speaking of bedding slips, let's take a little deep dive
34:49into the NFC current standings division elite.
34:53You know who the big heavy hitters are.
34:55Detroit Lions playing fantastic football.
34:57The Eagles were flying up until Week 16.
35:00The Rams, could Matty Stafford be getting set to orchestrate
35:05a bit of a run into the postseason?
35:07And the Falcons, Michael Pennix Jr.
35:09keeping that season moving in the right direction.
35:12But take a look at the wildcard contenders coming out of the NFC.
35:16Let's start with the Minnesota Vikings.
35:18I think you're big on their chances, Joe, and rightfully so.
35:2113-2 for this season, but they're still not getting any buzz.
35:26Yeah, it's, they're not.
35:30And I don't know, I can't take them seriously,
35:34although I give credit to Sam Darnold and what they've been able to do.
35:39I believe the number is now, doves, which is hysterical.
35:43I believe he's won 13 games here with the Minnesota Vikings.
35:46And I think he won combined in his years with the New York Jets
35:50a total of 13 games.
35:52So he's matched his career total of wins
35:55when he was with the Jets for four years there
35:58in one season with Minnesota.
36:00Listen, it's also not the first reclamation project
36:03that we have seen, right?
36:04Baker Mayfield and the Bucks had a heck of a run last year, right?
36:09Guys resurrecting their careers here.
36:12Sam Darnold's just another one.
36:14We saw Joe Flacco do it last year with the Browns, right?
36:18It's not unheard of, but I do think there's limitations to this.
36:22As good as the Vikings have been,
36:25the schedule has not been all that great.
36:27And they have been, they've got a couple of lucky bounces
36:30along the way to get to their win total.
36:33The Rams own the Vikings, as crazy as that is,
36:36because the Rams, right now, I believe the Rams win the West,
36:40which means they would host a playoff game
36:42because the Vikings are a wildcard spot
36:45unless something changes with Detroit.
36:47So not that the Rams have a great home field advantage,
36:50but boy, oh boy, I mean, history tells us
36:53the Rams would definitely be the team,
36:55even at nine wins, that could pick off the Vikings there
36:59and make life real easy.
37:01That Rams team is playing great football
37:04and should not be discounted to up end.
37:06I don't think there'll be a favorite in that Minnesota matchup
37:10if that's the way it goes, Dubs, but my goodness,
37:13the Rams, Matt Stafford, and that young defense
37:15finally starting to come together.
37:17And you got a pretty head coach there in McVay.
37:19I think the Rams are dangerous here
37:21and could very well make us some money here
37:25down the stretch as a nice underdog.
37:27Yeah, if you get them on the inside there as well,
37:31on a quick track, they can put up points with the best of them.
37:34Take a look at the numbers there.
37:36You've got the Bucks sitting at plus 2,000,
37:38the Falcons at plus 3,300,
37:41and the NFC South standings, it's got the Falcons up on top.
37:44And that was a big win for them last week over the Giants.
37:47It was a big call for them to throw Michael Penix
37:50into this situation.
37:51What did you make of the young quarterback coming in
37:54with, I guess, everything on the line?
37:56It was an easier spot to try and get up to speed,
37:58but he put in a pretty strong performance.
38:02Yeah, congratulations.
38:03You beat the Giants.
38:05Okay.
38:07Your defense also had two pick sixes.
38:11They had a few more turnovers there.
38:13I mean, listen, Atlanta did exactly what they needed to do
38:17to help a rookie quarterback being thrown in under center
38:20in week 16 of the season.
38:22We are not going to judge this decision by a win over the Giants.
38:26We're going to judge it when it comes down to it
38:29and when you have to now win games when it matters the most.
38:33Now, the good thing is Tampa lost that game Sunday night
38:37against the Giants, which now, well,
38:40Atlanta puts kind of Atlanta in the driver's seat
38:42for that division there.
38:44So Atlanta, who already beat the Bucs twice,
38:48well, the Falcons, sitting at eight and seven,
38:51kind of control their destiny, right?
38:54Now, all of a sudden, Tampa Bay doesn't.
38:57So this is going to be an interesting stretch,
39:00to say the least here, I think.
39:02Down the Falcons, we're going to find out
39:05what the Falcons are all about.
39:08They've got the Commanders this week
39:10and then the Panthers to finish off,
39:13and I wouldn't be sleeping on the Panthers either.
39:15So at Washington, who has to continue to win games,
39:20we're going to learn a little something about Michael Penix.
39:22To be determined with the Penix move,
39:24let's see how he does against Jaden Daniels
39:27and the Commanders on the road.
39:29Trying to close things out there.
39:31And for the Bucs, they're going to like their chances.
39:33They get back into their building.
39:35They go against the Panthers,
39:36who have been playing a lot better football.
39:38Bryce Young suddenly finding his feet in the NFL,
39:41and then they close it out going against the Saints,
39:43who just have been absolutely dismal.
39:45We saw it again there for Monday Night Football.
39:48Let's talk a little Commanders.
39:49Very impressive from that performance
39:52going against the Philadelphia Eagles through Week 16.
39:55We praise Bo Nix,
39:57the year that he's had at center there for the Denver Broncos,
40:00but Daniels, I think, solidified that top spot
40:03for Rookie of the Year honors.
40:05And I'll tell you what, Joe, he's playing with confidence.
40:08They're playing with momentum.
40:09If they can beat the Eagles, they can run with the best of them.
40:13And if they win this week against the Falcons,
40:18then they clinch the playoff berth, and that's it.
40:22So they won't have to worry about anything else.
40:25So this is going to be a great test
40:27because they also finish against the Cowboys next week.
40:30So the Commanders can ill afford to just drop onto Atlanta
40:33and then hope the Cowboys are going to roll over,
40:36who are already out of the playoffs,
40:38in Dallas, in fact, in Week 18.
40:42So they want to beat the Falcons at home this week.
40:46It's going to be a great test, I think,
40:48for Michael Penix Jr. and this Falcons team.
40:51The Commanders, though, are we...
40:54Boy, that was a heck of a win.
40:56A game in which you probably didn't deserve the win,
40:59turning it over five times.
41:01But yet here we are.
41:03The question is, is Atlanta going to be the team
41:06that can take advantage of some of those holes on the defense?
41:10We're going to find out.
41:11I think that's maybe one of the biggest games of the weekend here
41:14for the future, anyway, of both those franchises.
41:18And one of the biggest disappointments, I guess,
41:20coming out of Week 16 was the Seattle Seahawks, Geno Smith,
41:25with a couple of timely turnovers.
41:27They got a very tough out.
41:29They go into Chicago to take on the Bears this week,
41:31and then they sign off going against the Rams
41:34down here in Los Angeles.
41:35So no surprises.
41:36They're sitting at 8-7 in the standings.
41:38Biggest price that we showed on that other graphic
41:41in terms of making the charge towards the NFC.
41:43They're still sitting there at plus 8,500.
41:47Do we blame Geno?
41:48Is it just a sign of the times?
41:50Or have the Seahawks actually overachieved for this year, Jarl?
41:54No, listen.
41:55The Seahawks, it's not Geno's fault.
41:57Geno gave them the lead with two and a half minutes to play in that game,
42:01and the defense can't cover Justin Jett.
42:04Like, what are you doing?
42:06At some point, you got to be able to get the –
42:08you let Sam Darnold beat you in the final two minutes there.
42:12That's on the defense of Seattle
42:14and their defensive-minded head coach that allowed that to happen.
42:18So Seattle had that game won until the defense fell apart.
42:22On the outside, looking in for one of those wildcard spots
42:26amongst the NFC chasers.