Jan. 22, 2026

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

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.

Pick'em Pros is a father son duo who enjoy talking sports, debating and having fun while doing it!

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

00:00 - CJ Stroud's Struggles in H-Town

07:22 - Chicago Bears Outlook Next Year

16:00 - Josh Allen Underachieving?

25:00 - Seattle Legion of Boom Back?

32:00 - NFL Conf Champ Picks

WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.640
All right, so obviously there's a lot happening in the NFL right now.

00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:04.719
So we're gonna talk about CJ Stroud.

00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:06.400
Could he possibly be up for trade?

00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:10.480
We're gonna talk about the Bills, Josh Allen, and the Bears.

00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:11.759
Will they be back next year?

00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:13.839
So let's start off with CJ Stroud.

00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:14.720
What is the issue here?

00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:16.640
Do you think he should be up for trade?

00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:19.519
Absolutely.

00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:21.839
No team I think should take him.

00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:26.800
This is a quarterback whisperer himself who I've been slandering this whole podcast.

00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:31.120
If y'all know I do not, I'm not like Kevin O'Connell's choice of JJ McCarthy.

00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:34.399
But if you want to revitalize your career, go somewhere.

00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:36.799
Take him to Minnesota.

00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:39.119
Put it with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:45.359
Jordan Addison just be just, you know, with his problems, that was those were resolved, so he's all good.

00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:52.399
Minnesota, look, there's no more, there's like no other quarterback you could just buy low on.

00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:57.280
And who see who at his peak, we've seen him look like a franchise quarterback.

00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:05.680
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.

00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:09.280
And again, you have Justin Jefferson, you still have that defense.

00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:12.079
I don't know if Brian Flores leaves this offseason, though.

00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:15.120
So that's what will make me question how they will be on defense.

00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:26.560
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.

00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:32.159
And it's out of the way from Houston, so there's not a lot of stuff you can get into in Minnesota.

00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:36.159
Well keep it in a beam.

00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:40.400
There's not a lot of stuff, not a lot of trouble you can get in in Minnesota compared to Houston.

00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:47.519
There's a few things, there's a few stories I could tell you, but we'll say save that for another show.

00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:50.640
Um, yeah, man, I don't know.

00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:56.400
Man, I mean, yeah, that would be great for CJ, but I just don't know what his value is.

00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:01.040
I don't know who would really want CJ at at this point.

00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:04.400
Um and that was bad.

00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:07.200
That was that was bad, bad.

00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:10.719
Like I'm I'm surprised they didn't pull him.

00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:13.520
If they pulled him, they might still be in the playoffs.

00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:17.039
Yeah, like that was that was awful.

00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:28.319
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?

00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:31.360
They didn't ask them.

00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:42.479
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.

00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:49.520
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.

00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:52.960
Matter of fact, he's the reason why he's one of the reasons why they came back versus Jacksonville.

00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:55.039
Yeah, so that's when it turned around.

00:02:55.120 --> 00:03:01.360
They started off 0-2 at least this year, yeah, looking terrible, and then he comes in.

00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:06.879
I believe they win three in a row and they kind of took off, and then CJ just kind of kept it going.

00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:15.599
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.

00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:23.360
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.

00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:31.120
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.

00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:38.639
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.

00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:42.479
Like that's that was just man, that was awful.

00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:45.439
I I don't know that that was bad.

00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:51.759
So I mean, it's and again, like the fact that he's cost himself a bunch of money now.

00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:54.479
Again, Panthers fans, we we can victory lap.

00:03:54.639 --> 00:04:04.879
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.

00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:11.840
Yes, we get that, but like it does suck for Houston fans knowing that these windows don't come often.

00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:19.040
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.

00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:25.279
The other person in Baltimore who like had a crazy injury riddle season could be back next year.

00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:27.600
Joe Burrow could be fully healthy next year.

00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:41.839
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.

00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:53.839
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.

00:04:55.279 --> 00:04:56.079
Generational, yeah.

00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:57.519
The defense was so good.

00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:05.439
Mind you, after all those interceptions, they only I think the Patriots only scored like nine points after all those turnovers.

00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:09.759
They only scored like I was that that's just the tragedy.

00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:10.959
It was so crazy.

00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:20.720
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.

00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:21.600
I don't know, man.

00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:22.720
It's just I don't know.

00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:37.360
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.

00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:39.279
I mean, is is C okay, Brie.

00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:43.600
Would you rather have CJ Stroud or Brissett?

00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:45.680
You know what?

00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:49.439
Play CJ Stroud.

00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:51.360
I mean, he has potential, he's still young.

00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:52.879
Okay, he's still young.

00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:54.560
I mean, is he consistent?

00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:56.319
Sometimes no, okay.

00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:59.199
Um, did he play in poor weather conditions this weekend?

00:05:59.360 --> 00:05:59.759
Yes.

00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:09.199
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.

00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:10.000
Yeah, yeah.

00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:11.600
So, but you know what?

00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:22.240
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.

00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:25.839
Yeah, they've made the made the playoffs think every year.

00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:40.079
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.

00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:41.680
So he's not going anywhere.

00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:48.639
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.

00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:51.360
But uh, he's not going anywhere this offseason.

00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:56.000
He's too young to let go of crazier things have happened.

00:06:56.079 --> 00:07:00.319
I mean, I saw a coach take a team to a playoffs in history eight years and get fired.

00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:02.959
So I mean, hey, crazier things have happened, though.

00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:07.519
This year's crazy, crazier things have happened.

00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:11.279
Everyone's over being garbage, yeah.

00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:13.600
All of a sudden, yeah.

00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:19.199
A third of the the you know, teams got rid of their coach, yeah, opening.

00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:21.040
So yeah, crazy.

00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:22.160
All these openings.

00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:22.720
Yep.

00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:24.800
Okay, well, talking about garbage.

00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:26.079
Let's move on to the bears.

00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:27.839
Will they be back next year?

00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:31.759
Coming in hot.

00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:38.959
All right, now I'm sorry for waiter.

00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:40.720
She just came in with crazy.

00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:52.959
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.

00:07:53.199 --> 00:08:00.079
However, there's still room to improve, and that's what makes me think that they will be back.

00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:10.720
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.

00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:16.480
Green Bay, I don't know what we saw with Jordan Love and Micah on both sides of the ball.

00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:19.759
I and again, like they were dealing with injuries as well.

00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:23.360
I I don't know what the Packers, I don't know what they're doing.

00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:25.600
I just hope that they can continue.

00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:36.320
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.

00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:39.120
So I really don't know what's gonna happen with the Packers.

00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:42.879
The Lions, again, y'all y'all hire Drew Petsing.

00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:44.720
So I don't know why they would do that.

00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:48.799
Yeah, no, because he was on the Cardinals offensive coordinator.

00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:50.480
Oh, that's right.

00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:52.240
Who were the Cardinals?

00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:54.080
Who was their offense last good?

00:08:54.639 --> 00:09:01.919
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.

00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:08.639
I mean does literally never light me gaps.

00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:09.600
I can't.

00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:10.639
I literally can't.

00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:21.519
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.

00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:29.919
And again, Ben Johnson in his first year, they went on a deep run, scared the heck out of the Rams, and again, Caleb.

00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:58.720
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.

00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:02.639
So I do think again, DJ Moore is out of there because you know he did stop running that route.

00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:06.480
I'm not gonna lie, like that was just a that was just a bad look on DJ Moore.

00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:09.519
So honestly, they will be back.

00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:15.120
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.

00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:21.039
What I will say is they will probably be a wild card team, and then we'll see.

00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:24.240
But I don't think they're gonna be like champ NFC North champs.

00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:30.960
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.

00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:32.159
So that's that's what I'm saying.

00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:34.879
Now again, I don't know if Drew Petzing's the fix, Bree.

00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:46.080
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.

00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:47.519
Yep.

00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:48.879
Period.

00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:51.919
Yeah, yeah, it's tough.

00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:56.720
I love what you said as far as you know just all those close games.

00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:03.600
When you when you see a team like that, Minnesota a few years ago, um you know, the commanders.

00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:07.440
Yeah, yeah, it's just so many.

00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:13.840
They normally come back the next year and just don't do those close games, they're losing those close games.

00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:17.279
And the year before, the Bears had a lot of close games like that.

00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:18.320
They were losing them now.

00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:20.159
This year, they were winning them.

00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:24.399
Uh, you know, and the NFC is gonna be tough.

00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:27.919
Yeah, you have a lot of teams that didn't get in.

00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:43.759
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.

00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:48.320
That's gonna start to have a much bigger impact on who gets in and who doesn't.

00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:52.399
So you truly are gonna have to be like legit, just good.

00:11:52.559 --> 00:12:05.200
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.

00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:09.039
It seems like everyone else was kind of doing doing this and fluctuating.

00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:10.159
So I think you're gonna see that.

00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:12.159
I mean, you're your Panthers.

00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:14.399
Have you seen their schedule for next year?

00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:16.879
Oh my gosh, yeah, that's schedule.

00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:23.759
Like, I bro, I I'm so worried it's gonna be five or six wins again.

00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:24.320
I know it.

00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:38.080
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.

00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:52.080
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.

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:54.879
So I think that's gonna really come into play.

00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:59.679
So you're always gonna see teams that were toward the bottom that come up and top teams come down.

00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.759
So I don't know.

00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:11.759
I mean, Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, both both uh, you know, things look good for them, but it's gonna be tough.

00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:14.240
Yeah, I think wild wild card at best.

00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:16.879
Yeah, I agree because last year they were five and twelve.

00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:18.240
This year, way better.

00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:35.919
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.

00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:37.919
Imagine the Vikings pop up somehow.

00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:45.279
Man, right up how how motivated will the Packers be now?

00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:54.639
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.

00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:58.240
Yeah, do you guys think the hardest division?

00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:04.639
It out of the conferences, it definitely is the hardest one because I mean, we you like Seattle.

00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:10.879
The fact that we're dealing with the NFC West alone has Seattle, the 49ers, and the Reast.

00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:14.399
Right, that's still yeah, they're like and the Cardinals.

00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:17.600
Hey, I was my bad.

00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:18.799
I was I was going to clue.

00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:20.399
I just flipped my body for a second.

00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:22.000
Oh, it's okay.

00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:27.200
But then NFC South, everybody talked about how bad our division was.

00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:35.120
No one, even though a bunch of our teams, like Tampa early on, beat Seattle, and I believe they beat um another NFC.

00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:40.879
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.

00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:50.000
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.

00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:54.960
So that's where I'm like, if the NFC South gets marginally better, that's going to be difficult.

00:14:55.120 --> 00:15:00.480
The NFC East still has Jaden Dangles and Dak Prescott and a good Eagles team.

00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:02.559
And then now the Giants with Harbaugh.

00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:06.639
So it's like it really, it really could go.

00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:08.720
And then, of course, the NFC North.

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:32.559
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.

00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:47.759
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?

00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:52.399
Is a 14 and 3 Patriots team playing Jarrett Stenham.

00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:57.840
And we're comparing that to Matthew Stafford versus the new version of Legion of Boom.

00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:01.600
Like, I just it's it's a lot harder, it's a lot harder.

00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:04.080
Yeah, it is for sure.

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.200
Yeah, it is.

00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:11.279
Alrighty, we talked about Josh Allen a little bit already, so let's continue.

00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:13.200
And then waiting.

00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:15.360
I've been waiting for this, y'all.

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:18.720
I've been waiting to just get on camera and talk about this.

00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:34.559
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.

00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:38.639
I have basically been it's the a it's the arrowhead invitational.

00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:40.240
That's how good I am.

00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:47.120
I'm being compared to a guy who can't even get past the second best team in my division when I'm healthy.

00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:49.919
Can't even get past them.

00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:54.960
And the reason why he can't get past them is because he has four turnovers in the game.

00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:59.200
Now I get it, their defense did not play up to par, and James Cook had that fumble.

00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:05.599
But that let that fumble in the second half really did uh before the beginning of the second half really changed the game.

00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:10.160
Because again, he did his Texans mistake, and this is year eight.

00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:16.000
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.

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:23.279
He did that, and this is the year where we're like, Josh, there is nobody in your in your division, in your conference.

00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.160
You're good.

00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:25.920
This is your shot.

00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:32.000
And you mind you, you brought the team back, you made key plays, you started to make up for it.

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:36.960
But there were multiple moments where you put the ball in harm's way that led to your team losing.

00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:50.160
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.

00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:54.160
So it's not like your defense after you messed up didn't step up for you.

00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:57.200
So I just I don't know, man.

00:17:57.359 --> 00:18:04.400
I I respect Josh Allen, I think he's good, but the whole best player on earth thing, everybody just calmed that down.

00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:12.000
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.

00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:26.000
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?

00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:32.559
Like it was they were the first team to appear in three straight Super Bowls for like it was like a oh yeah, yeah.

00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:38.960
I don't know if the Patriots I think maybe it was some championship team that appeared three times.

00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:41.119
No, it was ironically, yeah.

00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.920
It was those Bills who appeared in for like four straight Super Bowls.

00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:44.799
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:46.079
They went for that.

00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:50.240
So that's my issue with Josh Allen.

00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:55.119
It's not that he isn't a good quarterback, and it's not that he's a great quarterback, you're right.

00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:56.880
I think he's great, right?

00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:01.279
But let's let's slow it down, let's slow it down.

00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:06.720
And then we're gonna blame Sean McDermott for this, when it really is Raiden Bean's fault for not drafting well.

00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:08.160
That's really what it is, yeah.

00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:12.559
Because you keep putting who done it and why a receiver and expecting Josh Allen to cook.

00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.680
That's another thing.

00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:25.039
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.

00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:26.799
That was crazy.

00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:34.799
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.

00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:36.319
But I don't know, man.

00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:45.359
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?

00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:56.400
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.

00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:59.839
Now, nobody was everybody's gonna say, like, hey, you won this ring for.

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:11.200
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.

00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:14.400
That would be his moment, but he lost that.

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:14.880
I'm sorry.

00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:17.519
Like, I don't want to hear best player in the world talks anymore.

00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:19.839
I don't know.

00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:24.559
I think I mean eye test, you know, pound pound pound for pound.

00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:27.359
If I'm looking at him, he's still best to me, you know.

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:30.880
I test in having four builders in the playoff game, baby.

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:31.920
It's the difference.

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:35.039
His his four interceptions was not the same as CJ's.

00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:44.079
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.

00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:56.640
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.

00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:05.920
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.

00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:07.279
It's all his fault.

00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:09.279
I I don't blame McDermott.

00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:11.119
I think McDermott did a great job.

00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:14.559
He coached the defense up the best he could, all right.

00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:17.839
But there's only so much he can do with with what they have.

00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:21.200
Uh I put it all on on the GM, put it all on them.

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:26.480
I think Josh Allen, you know, he I have no no problem with him whatsoever.

00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:29.039
I will totally be the Josh Allen apologist.

00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:32.000
I think you're still mad from last year, okay?

00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:38.559
And I'm sorry he did not get his 10th MVP.

00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.319
You just got to get over it, man.

00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:45.839
Funnily enough, I actually have rescited both my takes on Lamar and Josh after this postseason.

00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:46.559
I don't care.

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:49.119
Like, I'm listening to both of them.

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:52.000
Look, you're never gonna be my homes, both of y'all.

00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:56.720
I'm just y'all are gonna be the Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees of y'all's generation, and it's fine.

00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:57.759
It is fine.

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.279
Accept it, except what it is.

00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:04.160
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.

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:06.160
We're all gonna remember your highlights fondly.

00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:11.119
Unfortunately, there is somebody who is clear and far ahead better than both of you, and that is fine.

00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:13.519
I believe I fully believe that now.

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.640
I am so sorry.

00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.559
This is a hater.

00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:18.240
This isn't me as a hater.

00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:20.000
This is a this is a fact.

00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:26.559
Guys, hater time, geez, he's healthy.

00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:29.200
He went to seven AFC championships.

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.240
Yeah, oh well, yeah.

00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.440
Two things to be true.

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:34.000
Two things mahomes is amazing.

00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.440
Patrick Mahomes is amazing.

00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:38.720
We're not we're not debating if Patrick Mahomes is amazing.

00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:39.279
We know that.

00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:42.480
We're talking about Josh Allen, but we're not saying he's a bad quarterback.

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:48.160
The other teams that they were going against in the first place, like, there's no way.

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:52.640
Like, the one of those teams is definitely gonna win the F Super Bowl, and it's very clear.

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:54.960
Actually, maybe it's kind of clear.

00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:56.319
We'll talk about that in a little bit.

00:22:56.480 --> 00:23:17.279
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.

00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.000
Okay, right.

00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:21.599
So Josh Allen is a great, and don't disrespect him like that.

00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:29.519
So it became like before this season, though, it was never like, oh, it's all about the team.

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:31.440
It never, it never was that.

00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:33.440
It's like, can't Josh get over the hook?

00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:36.400
That was the whole thing when they got rid of digs.

00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:43.279
Everybody no one thought they were even gonna make the playoffs, and and they made a deep run all because of Josh Allen.

00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:48.000
Yeah, you you put any other quarterback on that team and they are the jets.

00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:50.799
Yeah, they're not even smelling the playoffs.

00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:54.480
Well, good for him, but again, y'all.

00:23:54.720 --> 00:24:02.319
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.

00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:04.319
They're the Jets with Josh Allen.

00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:09.119
If if you take Josh Allen off the Buffalo Bills, they're the Jets.

00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:12.799
If you put Josh Allen on the Jets, they're the Buffalo Bills.

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:15.440
Telling you, that's the difference he makes.

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:17.759
Yes, no other quarterback can do that.

00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:19.759
I'm gonna let y'all, I'm gonna let y'all have that one.

00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:20.160
I agree.

00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:23.839
This is a great take by us, Eric.

00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.480
This is great.

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.279
Found it.

00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:26.559
That's right.

00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:29.200
Yeah, I'll be outvoted on this happily, bro.

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:33.759
Listen, when Fenty come back and guess what if it gets the fourth one next year?

00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:39.920
I just I I hope the fourth one shuts everybody up between the comparisons of and calling him the best player on the planet.

00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:44.640
I hope the fourth one, it's just gonna I thought Lamar was gonna get his first next year.

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.440
What are you talking about?

00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:47.119
Patrick and his fourth.

00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:53.279
I gave up after after this season.

00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:57.279
I'm not gonna lie, I'm not, I'm not gonna hold you as Lamar said.

00:24:57.599 --> 00:25:01.359
Lamar FC, it's it's it's been bad, it's been a bad year.

00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:03.599
All right, let's move on.

00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:08.480
We are going to talk about the Legion of Boom.

00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.839
Are they finally back?

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:12.240
And you guys know who I am talking about.

00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:15.599
We've seen it all year, all year.

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.480
Let's see.

00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.759
What do you think?

00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:21.440
I mean, Seattle is terrified.

00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:33.359
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.

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:40.960
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.

00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:42.319
I'll give him more respect than that.

00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:57.599
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.

00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:02.319
Again, we're playing a 49ers team who was injured, injured to all crap.

00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:04.880
So, you know, I will take that with a grain of salt.

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:11.119
But I will say that still the that 49ers team showed a lot of heart through the season.

00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:14.640
So through it all, they still deserve you know some credit.

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:16.720
I really want Shanahan for coach of the year.

00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:25.119
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.

00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.640
Y'all just ran into a buzzsaw.

00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:29.039
You you you can't fault him with that.

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:36.880
Now, Seattle, it's like you have an efficient offense, your defense is dominant, and then your special teams.

00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:41.039
Now that you had Rasheed Shaheed, I'm so happy he's not in the NFC South anymore.

00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:44.480
I'm like, nah, now everybody who didn't tune into those 1 p.m.

00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:46.960
games when Rasheed Shaheed was fried the Panthers.

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:54.000
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.

00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:58.240
You like made one play, I think, versus Atlanta, where he had a kickoff for terror touch.

00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:04.400
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.

00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:15.759
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.

00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:31.920
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.

00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:37.680
Now that he has both where he has the coverage guys and the pass rushers, it I don't know, man.

00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:39.119
I I really don't know.

00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:44.319
Now, the only team that's been able to put points on them, they're playing in the NFC Championship.

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:48.000
So I am excited to see if we get a part two of that great Thursday night game.

00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:50.880
But man, I'm just I'm an honor.

00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:56.000
Like this is the year where defense really is king, and I'm really it's been great to see.

00:27:57.920 --> 00:27:58.960
Yeah, yeah.

00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:02.480
I I can't say the Legion of Boom is back.

00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:12.000
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.

00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:14.640
Now, can this group be the next Legion?

00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:17.680
That is possible, but we have to see what happens this game.

00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:23.119
Yeah, uh, they did play a 49er team that had absolutely nobody left on on the team.

00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.799
Everyone was dropping like flies.

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:34.720
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.

00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:39.279
So uh yeah, you know, when they when they come into town, then then we'll see.

00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:45.359
They can stop uh Stafford and the Rams, then you know, we'll see.

00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:51.119
But right now, I can't I I I cannot say that that they are they are back.

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.640
Yeah, it's only one season.

00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:54.400
They have to wait and see.

00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:58.400
You never know.

00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:05.680
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.

00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:35.359
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.

00:29:35.599 --> 00:30:01.519
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.

00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:04.559
We need more weapons, so they got Luther Burden and Colson Lovelin.

00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:05.920
Like that was their plan.

00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:12.400
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.

00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:17.680
The Patriots literally spent like I think like 300 some million in free agency.

00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:25.039
So and then they were like, hey, Rabel, coach these guys up, restore, restore that.

00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:31.200
So you need a special coach one and a and a GM in lockstep with you.

00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:33.279
And I don't know how many teams really had that.

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:38.559
So every team who thinks like, oh, we're gonna go worst to first, like these teams did, it's not that easy.

00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:52.000
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.

00:30:52.160 --> 00:30:56.799
Now they're leaning more into like okay, we gotta fire these coaches and try to find the next guy.

00:30:56.960 --> 00:31:03.839
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.

00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:04.880
Yeah, it's crazy.

00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:08.160
Like, and they had top schedules, yeah.

00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:13.119
So yeah, it's uh it's it's crazy times in the league, man.

00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.079
I don't know.

00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:16.880
Yeah, it's really weird this year.

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:21.279
I mean, it makes sense though, but some of them I'm like, why would you fire them?

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:27.039
That's really weird, but whatever, because they'll just go to a different team, and maybe that's better.

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:36.160
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.

00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:40.640