NFL Week 13 Power Rankings

Dave Clarke  
Welcome into missing the point and the returning triumphant high ranking show. I'm your host DK sizzle day Park we're here with the usual suspects Joe Malkin and Bob Kelly. I I'm really excited because we took a week off for Thanksgiving you know, we all spend some time with our families a lot of good football happened a lot of really cool matchups was a great red zone day last Sunday like a lot of really cool. A lot of really cool matchups happen if you're watching this on the YouTube and you're and you're wondering why I'm draped in the Irish tricolour it's because the British Royal Family is somehow invaded the TD Garden and we seem to be celebrating that for some god unknown reason pretty sure America fought a war against them but so did my native country of Ireland. So I stand in solidarity and protest against that useless organization. Go watch the fucking crown if you want that like it's it's Celtics basketball, it's fucking Irish town. Get out of here with that. Anyway, we're talking about football. We're talking about football this week. That's what we're doing. Gentlemen, I'm excited to be back. It's been a little bit of a crazy week, like I said, but I I'm pretty sure that's becoming the the siren song of the show. I feel like it's been a bit of a crazy week, every week, this one might have actually been a little bit more tape. So we're going to talk about some fun stuff, we're definitely gonna get to the 2017 runningback draft class at one point, because they just had themselves a fucking week. It might be the greatest season, bro. Yeah, right. I mean, it's crazy might be the best running back draft class in history. I can't think of a better one. And I'm not gonna and we're definitely going to do a little talk about some bets. At the end of the show, we're going to be mainly the thing we're here for, is to talk about power making. So I'm going to start us off with a number 10 with a bullet. The Baltimore Ravens now I have to tell you guys a few shows now I've I've kind of plugged them as a dark horse. But I saw some disturbing stats over the weekend. And not to mention their obvious fourth quarter troubles and their sort of inability to close out a game efficiently and put a team away. But apparently, the only quarterback worse at the deep ball than Lamar Jackson, statistically this year is Zach Wilson. So that disturbs especially since especially since I've been high on the Mars arm on the AI test. Now, I think we've discussed thematically, Joe, the underneath throw being a really great way if you do it effectively to hide a lot of deficiencies in the quarterback position. My question to you is, is this going to be a problem for the Ravens? And when you get to the playoffs? Is that deep ball necessary? Do you know that deep ball to win a Super Bowl? Do you need it? Go ahead?

Joe Malkin  
No. And here's why I this ravens team is really good. They're just not fully healthy right now. And I feel like we've been saying that all season about them. If it's not Gus Edwards or Kenyan Drake or mark Andrews or the rookie tight end, they're likely there's always somebody that's on the bench because they're injured and when they get healthy, those deficiency will deficiencies will be hidden again because that John Harbaugh offense is very similar to a dink and dunk style of offense, and it works for them. I mean, they have the second best tight end in the NFL in Mark Andrews, they have a great rookie tight end. And not to mention, because I have to mention it every week when we talk about the Ravens they do have the best kicker of all time. So I think Lamar can get away with not being able to throw that deep ball. I think they're going to climb the rankings here in the next few weeks. Because I think a couple of these teams are going to slip to that we'll we'll get to shortly but no when he he doesn't need the long ball. He is bad at throwing the long ball but his arm is very good. I mean, look at Madden ratings, right Dave? Like so what if his if his long ball rating is a 70 Because his medium range and short range ball range balls are 95. And his ability to read the situation and know when to take off? is insane. I mean, he's just such a good quarterback. I actually think he might just looking at him, he might be under utilized by John Harbaugh. And I don't know how to utilize him the correct way but he's doing a hell of a job down there with what he's got around him. And that was something that we I don't think we necessarily said on the show about Lamar Jackson but I think it was kind of hinted at in the media and around the NFL that you know, can this guy succeed when he faces adversity? And right now he is by all intents and purposes succeeding facing adversity with a lot of guys that have been on the shelf so no, I like to see him I'm with you Dave. I'm a big big proponent of the of the Ravens I think they're gonna climb this top 10 And I think they're gonna do very well towards the end of the season and the playoffs.

Dave Clarke  
I agree that he's his ability to read the game is definitely like, jumped up several times over this this this season. I think as much as me and Bobby were a little bit all over John Harbaugh at the start of the season and his Decision Making regards to gain management. I do believe that they're kind of getting it together. My concern isn't necessarily that he doesn't have the deep ball Bobby, it's that he still fucking throws it. He's still fucking puts it up. And he did he I mean, he definitely did slice up who the fuck that they play last weekend. He definitely did slice he definitely did slice up the Jaguars a little bit on the deep ball, especially towards the end of the game. But the problem is if you suck at it, the other team comes down with it half the time. So the problem is, maybe Jacksonville is getting better maybe Trevor Lawrence like we slept on him a little bit. Maybe when you have Urban Meyer as your coach, you shouldn't really be judged for like what your rookie season is maybe all that's true. But if you're genuinely a Super Bowl contender in the Baltimore Ravens that statistic is true about Lamar Jackson and you look like you look in the fourth quarter. Are you putting your hard earned money on this team Bobby, I'm just I'm starting to get a little concerned about them.

Rob Kelly  
It's scary. What scares me is the inability to put teams away man and you know what I mean if you can't put away the goddamn Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth quarter, right I know that was like Trevor Lawrence has come to Jesus moment this past week that was a that was a boy drive couple big boy throws in that

Dave Clarke  
and that and that that going for to that decision to go for to like I don't want to take anything away from the Jags because honestly that took a brass set of balls and did that throw I agree with you. That was probably the best throw the day that way you let him like that. Like he threw it perfectly. There was one angle I'm sure you saw it from basically behind the throw and watching the football just curve out to the only place like the place that only his receivers match. It was beautiful, genuinely beautiful. And I really think that he changed a lot of mines Trevor Lawrence that day, but they're not a playoff team. They're not in the Power Rankings. They're not our concern. Like we're not trying to shit on them Jaguars fans, we're not. But we're here talking about the Baltimore Ravens. And I just think, I don't know. I just think if that's the chiefs, you just don't see that throw.

Rob Kelly  
Yeah, no, I completely agree completely. We're in the See, the thing is, is that the Ravens is this is how many games is one to 10 now so they've blown. I think it's for fourth quarter leads. That's more than 10 points so far this season. And and that's kind of been an MO for me for harbor list. This has been a theme so far. And I can't believe it's not more talked about even now after so many fourth quarter blown leads, but like is this the ceiling for this Harbaugh team for this Harbach regime? Because it seems like this is what happens year in and year out is like the ravens are talented. The ravens are a championship contending team but it's the same shit every single year. They blow fourth quarter leads and they they at times look magical they look like you know unbeatable at times. But there's times where you just sit in there like what the hell is going on over there man and honestly than being a tennis just like it's more of a Lamar Jackson. And what his ceiling is respect ranking, but I don't I wouldn't put my hard earned money in the playoffs against one of the better teams in the AFC I wouldn't do.

Dave Clarke  
Yeah. Fourth quarter blow I probably would have eaten bloated in the fourth quarter. You're gonna be pulling your hair out. That's just what this let me ask you some honestly, do you think that there's a world where like the Harbaugh the proven Harbaugh coaching system is becoming dated and now

Joe Malkin  
it's very to me it's very similar to the belcheck style and that's what I was gonna kind of rebut Bobby with is that like, sure Lamar has got a ceiling and he definitely has I mean every every player has their ceiling, right? We've seen it with with a lot of guys and sometimes you can make up those deficiencies and speaking of the ravens, we saw that in 2000 when Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl with arguably one of the greatest different that's a different era of football. It's an era of football, but when you have the pieces around you, and Harbaugh clearly hasn't changed he's he's always been subpar at managing the clock along with guys like Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin Andy Reid, they're not good clock managers but my rebuttal to Bobby kind of and I would say and I don't think you necessarily disagree with me Bobby but when you're when you're, you have the same code. And we see it year after year after year we saw when they had Flacco a quarterback we see it with with Lamar Jackson. We've seen it with Ray Lewis who one of the best linebackers of all time in the in the front seven for the for the Ravens. It is Harbaugh. It's Harbaugh. I mean when it comes down to brass tacks, and you want to know why the Ravens just can't get over that hump. It's John Harbaugh. And it's funny because he's a top 10 coach in the NFL he didn't get for a very long time.

Dave Clarke  
They did at one point get over that hump.

Joe Malkin  
They did get they did get over that hump but I mean but you know we can have

Dave Clarke  
the quarterback nowhere near as good as Lamar Jackson. It was the late elite bro

Rob Kelly  
he's late is late.

Joe Malkin  
Ah, no, nowhere near as good. Nowhere near as good. I mean Flaco Flaco had his had his really good seasons, he had a couple of playoff runs that were absolutely incredible. I mean, literally some of the best. He was one he went he had to he

Rob Kelly  
had four good games.

Dave Clarke  
And let's say why let's let's agree to disagree on one. Alright, let's say one I wasn't incredibly clever on it was one of the best playoff runs ever. I agree. But

Rob Kelly  
Jackson made him our jag millions of dollars.

Joe Malkin  
Lamar Jackson has never had that playoff run. So I'm not saying that that Joe Flacco was better. I'm saying that the common denominator here is John John Harbaugh. That's the common denominator,

Rob Kelly  
the sense that season, which was 2012 the Ravens have made it to the playoffs four times since 2012. And they have not gotten past the divisional. So they're too and for that to playoff wins since Ray Lewis since

Dave Clarke  
well, well, I mean, hold on a second that's I feel like that's a little bit of a misleading stat because they had a full rebuild they had a full rebuild on their hands around like a young quarterback who isn't traditionally the pocket guy that you're going to be the

Rob Kelly  
entire offense I do. It's just going to take

Dave Clarke  
a second you know, I It's as a Bears fan, I get stats like that level that my team a lot and it's like well, Jesus Christ, okay, we've been terrible. I understand but I think we've probably spent enough time on the Ravens it is it is an interesting topic only because like I think it they're sort of a beautifully flawed team. I think they they have the potential to like you said not Bobby not make it past the divisional game again, and nobody's surprised nobody has a big Kiva but at the same time, I don't think anyone would be that surprised by the Mark Jackson just flicking a switch and going on. Joe Flacco if you will play 17 touchdowns

Joe Malkin  
one interception just put it but I wouldn't put it past them.

Dave Clarke  
I genuinely wouldn't like I've seen the dude just absolutely fucking ball out all season and like if he wants to decide to win a football game and he can a lot of the time so I wouldn't be surprised but stats don't don't feel as safe in their in their loving embrace as I did a couple

Rob Kelly  
of weeks ago. We do got to be careful criticizing where else we might get criticized and eat too much dick so yeah, that's

Dave Clarke  
right. Yeah, I to be quite honest with you. I love that from him. Like that poor bastard. With like one of probably 1000s hundreds of 1000s of drone companies and he won the puck and lottery that night eat a dick.

Rob Kelly  
Mr. Jackson tells you to literally go eat oh man I want looks like that you might be good at eating Dec that's what it was right?

Dave Clarke  
That's what they should if he does win a fucking Super Bowl they should blaze in that book of a birdie trophy to Dick Lamar Jackson 2022 All right, moving on to to the to the New York Jets after the after the lovely Hardy discussion about the Baltimore Ravens. They're sliding guys their slide and I would love to be able to just immediately play the clip of us all high on the Jets not like four weeks ago because of you know, sauce Gardner and some like very fun playmaking players that they had kind of littered throughout their roster. I think once the whole Zach Wilson debacle went down we haven't really gotten it I know it seems like kind of a while ago now a couple weeks ago now but we haven't actually had a chance to talk about the whole Zach Wilson thing he's obviously trash and any team that has a quarterback controversy of that magnitude this late in the season is quite frankly I hate to cross off a Power Rankings team but they're an automatic cross off to me when you have a quarterback situation like that happen so I mean I know it's a little bit of a of an aggressive take so if you guys think I'm being too harsh on the jets like feel free but Bobby, what do you think the rest of this jet season is going to look like? And do you genuinely believe you're going to type in je T 's to your next week's Power Rankings?

Rob Kelly  
I think we're going to learn a lot about them this week was not defense Oh, we

Dave Clarke  
know a lot about them at this point. Well yeah. So what it is 13

Rob Kelly  
It's but so Mike White actually does look like an average NFL quarterback. And that's really all because I don't know

Dave Clarke  
if my wife coming into and throwing four good passes is not going to

Rob Kelly  
but that's four more that's four more passes than he did and those are

Dave Clarke  
being set incredibly low right before he comes in. And

Rob Kelly  
I'm just saying that if Mike White was the quarterback against the Patriots that jets win that football game, and I don't think there's really no way no Zach Wilson was so bad at Nike was bad he was

Joe Malkin  
I just want to mark down that Bobby brought up the Patriots actually he brought up

Dave Clarke  
Bella check a while ago sorry. Sorry, the over unders already cashed

Rob Kelly  
if they can go into Minnesota and be yes I know a very flawed Minnesota team. I think we learned a lot about them because listen to this team is two weeks away from beating

Dave Clarke  
they're not gonna they're not going to I agree with We're doing an if then on a situation as much as it's like I agreed it's Minnesota they're not good. They're not going to beat the fucking Vikings.

Rob Kelly  
They have a top five defense in the league. That's why they're here. And technically right now they're in that playoff spot. What are they seven and four? Right?

Joe Malkin  
We want and that's and that's what's amazing to me just to kind of jump in there Dave is like we're talking about a seven and for football seven and for seven and for football team that has a a I'm gonna put quotes around it a quarterback controversy because there's no quarterback adversity ahead. Exactly.

Dave Clarke  
Sure. But you know your quarterback at this point in the season like it's not a good sign.

Joe Malkin  
But that's what I mean is like I don't understand where that came from. Did that come from the owner did that come from Woody Johnson did that come from Joe duck came from

Dave Clarke  
the game tape from Zach Wilson came

Rob Kelly  
from if we just accountability, if he took accountability for him being offensive, patriots, he's still the quarterback and leadership lead. Right? That's that's really what it comes down to when when you suck that bad. Even when you're that bad. And they're like, Hey, do you think you let your defense down today? The answer is fucking yes. The answer is fucking Yes. And he just came back with that. No, so fast man. It was such a bad look. Salah had to replace, he didn't have a choice. It shouldn't be mentioned you don't have a choice.

Joe Malkin  
It shouldn't be mentioned that now Bill Belichick has gotten a coach fired and a quarterback benched immediately after the games that he'd be done. And, and this is something that's gone on and it is kind of the belcheck factor. And granted, Zach Wilson's awful I would love to have frank Reich who's the offensive coordinator in New England. I mean, I

Dave Clarke  
you take fucking anybody this place. That's what yeah,

Joe Malkin  
what interests me I was the guy sitting in the stands last week get the Jets game sick and fire Matt. Patricia in the fourth quarter.

Dave Clarke  
You're the only one.

Joe Malkin  
I know. I wasn't I got a good I got a good group with me on that one. But now you know, this jets team is just an anomaly. It's weird because I really like Robert Solow. I like what he's doing there. I liked the way he built that defense sauce. Gardner has been outstanding. But Dave, you you said it when you opened the conversation about the Jetsons. They're sliding. And this is where we see who they really are. And I disagree about about the Vikings. I don't think they're as flawed as people think they are. I think they've gotten to a point where there was a there was a point where they were talking about talking about the Vikings. Well, but but there was a point where Dalvin Cook was their best offensive weapon. And Mike says it all the time, you can't win when the runningback use your best position or best player on the field. I think that Vikings team is extremely good. And I actually think

Dave Clarke  
so just to finish the conversation with the Jets. What gets the deal decent take and it'll it'll it'll definitely hold up in a few minutes when we talk about the Vikings. So unless something crazy happens from now until then, like a bus accident or something. But I think I think the the point, the point that we're kind of making about the jets, and we're dancing around it a little bit is that they're usually as a team, maybe not as extreme of an example. But there's usually as a team by about this time that had a hot start to start to get found out. And I think that without the benefit of a certified game winning Qb, you're not going to stop the slide that's about that's inevitable for the New York Jets. And it seems like you guys aren't completely out on them. I'm not gonna we can't cross them off. Basically, because they're on the Power Rankings. We can't cross them off. But I would love to revisit a cross off next week, depending on their performance. But you guys, you guys voted and you've spoken to Travis spoken, so I'm not going to cross them off. It would have been pretty epic to cross bearing, Steve, I would have really enjoyed it. But that's fine. I do think Mike White's biggest accomplishment though, is simultaneously quarterback in the New York Jets and writing and sure running White Lotus on HBO. I mean, it's an amazing it's an amazing feat to be able to do both of those things, the most erotic show of the fall. So if you haven't listened to it, this is not an advertisement. But go check it out. It's great. on NBC, it's on HBO actually, Thursdays on HBO, and that's on Sundays. All right, so

Joe Malkin  
moving on HBO

Dave Clarke  
moving on to the Cincinnati Bengals. So I think in my opinion just to jump right the book in are doing the opposite of what the Jets are doing. I think that the Cincinnati Bengals are on a fun little fun little resurgence tour, and not for nothing. It's happening right around the buck and same time that's their run out. But I mean, it was this time last year, Bobby that you and I agreed to bet on the bag. And then we both got lazy and didn't do it. Which I will never make that mistake again. But I'm not betting on them to go to the Super Bowl just yet. But, I mean, they were just fucking there. And Joe burrows i Okay, so this is how I'm gonna posit it to you, Joe, let's go to you first since he's your namesake. He's gotten Oh, he's got a body language change happened in Joe burrow like there's he's never not confident and I do love that about him. But there's certain there's a certain swagger about his play now like a couple Like you know pointing to the first down dropping the ball when he runs in for a first down and he's making some kind of saucy plays and just being like you know that that fun little Joe burrow mix that we know and love and he's really bring it in I would you My question is twofold. A would you agree that there's a body language change in him and b Do you think that Joe burrow is a good enough quarterback or the likes of your Aaron Rodgers is your Tom Brady's to win no matter what has happened to his weapon core? If if the biggest criticism being if Jamar Chase goes down Joe burrow and Joe burrow. I don't know if that's necessarily true. So I'd love to hear that. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the guy with the same name as you.

Joe Malkin  
Well, I'm a big fan of Joe burrow and thank you for reading my mind. Thank you for asking the question then you did three in one very large Chase. Want to know without Jamar Chase and Joe Mixon T Higgins has stepped up your hands the eighth fret of all our products. Yeah, Tyler Boyd stepped up as well. I mean, listen, I had Zack Zack Taylor five in 2020 I was like he's the first coach out he sucks. He's doing a hell of a job they're in Cincinnati. I mean they just took down the Titans again like it's a 20 to 16 but they just beat the Titans who right now are a playoff team and probably going to win their division without two of the biggest weapons on that team and arguably one of the best receivers in the league

Dave Clarke  
Can I couldn't JioFi for one second Yes, yes. I want to let you continue but just as a quick aside, all right, Connie. No, come on. I'm not taking your word away from you. So the just as a quick aside, that if anyone's sticking around to listen to a titan segment they are notable leave off on this power rankings for the record that they have for the fact that they're almost certainly going to win their division still and you know this being a New England centric podcast in their country and Mike variable. It is a little strange that they're off the list but I would like to say that we don't care if you're mad because daughter they have fucking boring team to watch. Like they really have no identity other than Derrick Henry, so I'm glad to be rid of them off this power rankings. Personally, I fucking hate talking about the Titans. I really think we all knew they weren't gonna bring anything to the table and spoiler alert, they're not going to come up again for the rest of the show. So unless of course you guys make points about the Bengals game because the Bengals are fun and interesting to talk about. So Joe, please I'm so sorry. Continue

Joe Malkin  
the Bengals are fun and interesting because they're they have a lot of flair. And you're right Joe burrow is kind of like the swagger back. The offensive line all of a sudden has learned how to protect their quarterback too, which is outstanding. I mean, he's been he's been upright. He looks healthy. He looks happy. I mean, knock on wood. I love watching Joe burrow play. I love watching the bangles play. They got a fun kicker to watch. They got a fun defense to watch they have a fun I love kickers love them love them.

Dave Clarke  
banned from the sport personally.

Joe Malkin  
Says the guy who loves

Dave Clarke  
football. Yeah, stay in your lane.

Joe Malkin  
This is a big this is a big one this week for the Bengals and it's not going to knock them out of the top 10 I don't think Bobby maybe I don't know if they lose the cheese but really big game for both of these teams. And I think if if the bangles have have their their guys back, I think they got an opportunity here. I think this team is a real deal. Dave, I think you're right. They're on the upswing, and they're gonna get healthy at the right time. And I don't know if they're gonna go back to the Super Bowl. I don't know what they're going to do. But nonetheless, they're fun to watch. And I think they're going to climb a couple spots next week. Yeah,

Rob Kelly  
it's funny that you said that this time last year they took off because literally, it was right around this time and they come out party was a game against the Chiefs if you remember where it was that back and forth battle, so I think they have a legit chance to beat the Chiefs this week just because they seem to have their number. They beat him in that game and they beat him in it beat him in the playoffs and AFC Championship Game

Dave Clarke  
course. The Super Bowl

Rob Kelly  
they definitely have a chance and and like Joe just said Man, the fact that that Joe Barra has been able to do this as I would come Joe burr or get it because he's got ice water in his veins. It's called you gotta crack that part out. It's the fact that he that he was able to do this without Jamar man it's just next level and then without mixing too is crazy man. It's crazy. I wonder

Dave Clarke  
I wonder is their ability to you know, it's sort of hard to describe but is their ability ability to fly the plane and build it at the same time. Kind of their their strength like I feel like Joe burrow his identity is stamped all over this Bengals team and it's what's kind of so likable about this Bengals team and why they're so entertaining and it's we've been alluding to this talk and and in this whole conversation but if Joe burrow and by extension the Cincinnati Bengals are better when they're in chaos. They're better when shits going a little crazy. They're better when their backs against the wall which we've talked about, does that sort of put them in in in pole position? To be the team that figures it out, by the time the playoffs come around, and then they look like the Bengals of last year at the right time. I mean, we've already seen it happen once that this is the craziest bet on them getting to the Super Bowl again. Yes,

Joe Malkin  
you are. Here. Let me let me let me bring you down to earth real quick. And this is their final six games of the season. The Chiefs, the browns, who they've already lost to.

Dave Clarke  
They'll beat them. The Buccaneers. That's up to the Patriots. That's 100% of Dubs. Sorry, the bills. Alright, I'll see you now there. And the Ravens? Yeah, they can beat the Ravens last game of the season. Sure.

Rob Kelly  
That might be to win the North. That might be

Joe Malkin  
a win win vision, but like right there, like, yeah, I can I can agree with you, Dave. Like I see like a foreign to have three and three in there. Is that enough? And will that be enough of a climb for them to kind of shoot off into the playoffs and be able to go? I mean, they could still take the number one seed I mean, especially if they could come out and be buffalo? I mean, what we'll see I mean, I I'm sold on on the bangles. I love watching this team, like I've said a few times and you you've said as well Dave, but ya know,

Rob Kelly  
they're awesome. Now. It's got nine to one to win the conference right now. And 20 to 120 to one it was a

Dave Clarke  
struggle. I mean,

Joe Malkin  
that's because they got there last year. That's That's why

Dave Clarke  
well i The point I was just about to make and we'll move on that from the Bengals as much as I love talking about him. But the point I was just about to make as if they were on the table on those last games that Joe just described to us there I think the automatic favorites. Other than that, you know, I mean, it's just like because they beat the chiefs, right? Everybody wants to write the Chiefs off like because it's kind of boring to have the Chiefs be the best team because it's just been the case for so long. It feels like and then they beat their division rivals to like saunter into the playoffs like they're hot you know, I think the odds are forever in their favor at that point but

Rob Kelly  
before I even watched you Yeah, please it so right now would you both would take the bangles over the Ravens correct? The

Joe Malkin  
I healthy a fully healthy re fully healthy Bengals team. Yes. Right. Yeah. Okay.

Dave Clarke  
Now I just have seen Joe burrow do it I haven't seen I haven't seen Lamar do it?

Joe Malkin  
That's sure but and Dave it's really it's really interesting storyline because like, you can't script it any better. Like Alright, so you go and be Andy Reid. La you said running the table. So I'm kind of playing that you're gonna be Andy Reid and Patrick mahomes and the Browns whatever. Then you go on beat Tom Brady. Then you're gonna be belt Bill Belichick then you go on beat Josh Allen and then you go and beat John Harbaugh. And that's what Dr. Jackson like that's it. If you if you actually like think of those guys in the in the context of each one of those people. That's a gauntlet man. Yeah,

Dave Clarke  
that's like a fucking video game. Like all the all the hardest bosses like one after the other after the other like you're officially leaders. All right. Yeah. I mean, I'm excited about the rest of this Bengals season. I think of context we put it in makes it all the more fun unwatchable, and I really hope we do have a battle for the division by the time we we see. That'd be great.

Joe Malkin  
I believe our listenership in Cincinnati just just raised exponentially.

Dave Clarke  
Yeah, I love it. Get us get us out there put us on the fucking bell tower. All right, so we're moving on to the San Francisco 40 Niners who honestly have caused me just stress as I try to fall asleep at night. I have this little voice scratching at the back of my skull telling me that they might be the real deal. What they're, it's this it's this fucking Trojan horse though, isn't it? Because everybody carrying it is made of fucking eggs. Like they're made of absolute fucking egg shells. The way debo Samuel gets fucking tackled makes me like makes the foot like he's just so good in open space, but the hits he takes makes my stomach drop into my fucking balls. The very noted injury record of Christian McCaffrey as much as he is like, sick on this team if he would get more touches, but then if he gets more touches, he almost certainly goes to the puck in hospital. Obviously Jimmy Garoppolo who as much as he isn't Tom Brady, they need him if they're gonna go anywhere. Like we just That's obvious. We don't even have to really litigate that. And then who am I forgetting? That is also super injury. George Kittel kiddo was made.

Joe Malkin  
You know, I mean, he's injury prone. I

Dave Clarke  
mean, he's not I feel like he's had a good little run though. Right? He's had a good little run recently. But this

Rob Kelly  
team ever since you called him out? Pretty much. Yeah.

Dave Clarke  
Because he's a blocker now and then all of a

Rob Kelly  
sudden, he's fucking three touchdowns keep talking about welcome.

Dave Clarke  
I sent you my address for the Thank You card. I mean, it's you're not the first one. I've done it too. And you won't be the last the Curse Curse of the podcaster. But listen, I really do like the San Francisco team. I genuinely like them. I think their uniforms look cool. I think I love their players. I love their weapons. I would build a team that looks like this. If it were up to me with the exception maybe a quarterback but I I want to love them. I really do. I want to bet on them. I want them to go far in the playoffs but man they are one bad injury away from me. Nothing Bobby talked me out of this are they gonna be all right I think they just hired better doctors the

Rob Kelly  
honestly the weapons don't scare me going down because the defense is so goddamn good man that's the best defense in the league and that's coming from a capitalist fan who

Dave Clarke  
loves there's a there's a couple of studs on that defense a little injury prone also though

Rob Kelly  
yeah both both little injury pros lose muscles like I understand it, but so far this seems

Dave Clarke  
to be good if he went down I really do like I do think it's a well run unit but I mean, it fucking hurts you

Rob Kelly  
if both happen now? Seven games so far out of 10 They've held their opponents under 17 points. No,

Dave Clarke  
they're unbelievable. That's so in the end they're locked there are locked for the number two defense in the league.

Rob Kelly  
It's unbelievable how good I mean the last three or last 414 points. 16 points 10 points in a shadow. That's the last four games so it does it honestly. I mean you will against the saints they didn't have a good offensive day against the saints the only 113 enough you know what I mean? So like it's not the offense is going to drive this team far into the playoffs. It's not and it's not as that's not what scares me it's not Jimmy that scares me and none of that scares me it's not No it's it's it's the defense a defense is La jet and they can beat they can shut any offense down on any day. So that's why there were there were I would

Dave Clarke  
love to see them play the cowboys and I don't

Joe Malkin  
know how Eldrick would that I

Dave Clarke  
would love that

Rob Kelly  
I want to do that last year I don't want to do it again but for

Dave Clarke  
watching it like we're all from the same generation like watching the 40 Niners play the Cowboys in a playoff game to me is like that's like childhood. Like those are two teams that like should be there in the playoffs playing each other. Like I love that like it's a cold. It's a cold, cold Saturday, and we're tuned into the 40 Niners playing the Cowboys like in Dallas. And then like there's like another NFC game going where the bears are playing the packers or something like this is these are the teams I want to see in the playoffs. Like it's really genuinely awesome. So before Joe like jumps out of his fucking underwear, I'm gonna let them go off about GBG a little bit because, quite frankly, like we were wrong and he was right. I don't put great against the Cardinals. Yeah, I mean, again, I don't think he has the best deep ball in the world and I was looking up deep ball stats in order to lambast Jimmy G and that's when I came across. Lamar Zack Wilson tidbit, but statistically as the ball is not that bad, I think he knows when to throw it. And I think he's game management and his his play has been really great. I think Bobby was made a really good point about Christian McCaffrey being the perfect guy to come in form. So all right, Joe, it's your victory lap. I genuinely believe that Jimmy G is the reason what like they he turned them into a contender this year, and maybe all they needed was competent quarterback play, but you're right.

Joe Malkin  
Dave with all this deep ball talk. I'm wondering if you meant to Google balls deep and you kind of just got caught up in football. Jimmy G is

Dave Clarke  
going out to Craig it's NICE.

Joe Malkin  
Jimmy G is not only the most handsome quarterback in the NFL.

Dave Clarke  
I think Tom Brady's probably still more handsome Yeah, I don't

Rob Kelly  
close Well, not

Dave Clarke  
if we're gonna litigate

Rob Kelly  
cheekbones

Dave Clarke  
was it feels fucking great looking to just put it out there.

Joe Malkin  
Yeah, he has a great look at him is Trey Lance, whatever Lawrence

Dave Clarke  
is would be for some people. I think. When he pops the hair. When he cuts the hair, he looks like he needs the hair detracts from

Joe Malkin  
the thing. So

Rob Kelly  
sunshine. Brah. Sunshine. Let's

Dave Clarke  
go to Tim Reagan's thing going on, you know, Friday like, yeah,

Joe Malkin  
I love this 40 Niners team. I love that. I echo everything Bobby said because he's absolutely right. The defensive unit is ridiculous. And that's you know what? It's amazing because Kyle Shanahan is an offensive minded guy. And he's the best unit on that team as his defense and he knows it. And I think there's a resurgence in the relationship between Shanahan and Garoppolo. And I think this is the best thing for that organization, is I think they saw that tre Lance wasn't ready or can't do it one of the two or both. And when they think ever I think America saw that. Yeah, sure. And when they brought Garoppolo back in and then they they traded for us foot snap in half, but that's who they traded for McCaffrey, and they traded away Jeff Wilson to Miami, who's who they're going to meet this week. Well,

Dave Clarke  
what's your credit to your credit, just to be honest, like Yeah, trade trade lines goes down. Fair enough. But Joe did say which is sort of my whole point. Like, if you take me back out after like, trade, Lance's play up until that point, and like, you know, once he comes back in it's that would be insane. I, I really do think that Jimmy coming in is why they're doing I agree. It is well, you know, I mean, it's as much as I want to shit on him. Like, it's like, he's he's doing it. He's the guy you know,

Joe Malkin  
and he's managing the game, and that's all he needs to do is just get the get the ball into the hands of the playmakers within without a doubt, he can get the ball to 19 he can get the ball to 23 and that's what matters at the end of the day is that he lets those playmakers make the plays. This week, Bobby, this might be the biggest game of of the week and we're talking about an AFC NFC matchup because America's game, the Americans game, these two teams are really good that the orphans in the 40, Niners I'd love to see the 40 Niners knock them off good, but we'll talk about the dolphins in a little bit because kind of starting to fall in love with them to buy. I love this 40 Niners team man, I just and Jimmy G is a big part of that I still hold it against the Patriots organization for training him away, regardless of who the culprit was. Because if they had kept him around or found a way if Brady was the culprit, and he was like, No, I'm staying in any piece that I don't know, doesn't matter. They should have kept them they should have kept them around, they would have been in a much better spot than they are now. Even with a winning six and five record, this 40 Niners team was the real deal. And I could I can see them doing some damage they just gotta get they got to stay either consistent or get hot. Yeah,

Dave Clarke  
I mean, I think it's an issue of stick stick with me here on this one because I want to try and make this point but it might be a little out there but the edible did just kick in. So like, just bear with me with it. As much as we've sort of thematically discussed on the power you show week in and week out that it's difficult to determine who's the really good teams and who's the really bad teams and especially even now in week 13 This late in the season, we should really know who's great and who isn't. But there's great flawed teams and you know, teams that maybe aren't so good on paper but they're still performing really well and this theme has kind of stuck with us. I think what we do know though about this season and I think this this has been sort of special about this NFL season in a narrative way is we know the likable teams that are good and the unlikable teams that are good so I'm gonna use this as a transition so we have the San Francisco 40 Niners and we go like I don't know man I it'd be pretty cool to see them like make a run if it's not gonna obviously it's not gonna be the flock of bears right like I need another team to sort of root for right and to make a little run Bobby I know you're in a different position you're obviously a Cowboys fan and they're you know, they're going to compete with the foreigners in the NFC but you get what I'm saying right like they're just kind of a likable team like there's studs all over their offense like we you and I both fucking love great defenses. Joe I know you do too. You come from a defensive heavy franchise like as much as yeah they had Tom Brady I mean the Patriots were their defensive team that's that's literally check is right like that's that's his identity right so we all share that passion and that love now you have another team that's good on paper that we're going to move on to number six in the Power Rankings, but oh my are they unlikable? For whatever reason I it's it's like I liked Dalvin Cook you know, I liked Jefferson. I liked these players but you have this like comedy villain in Kirk Cousins at quarterback and I'm not going to re litigate the like curtain primetime thing as much as like maybe last week was like a little bit of a different story. The Cowboys coming in we haven't had a chance to talk about this. Because we took a week off the Cowboys coming in and taking a fucking shit on the head of the Minnesota Vikings. It was so deeply satisfying to me and I'll tell you a couple of reasons. One I really enjoyed being high on the Cowboys this year it's it's been like a really nice thing for me why because I'm not a full blown Cowboys fan so they can't break my heart but they're a fun team to watch so it's like nice to like trail them and like and you know, I talked to Bobby once a fucking week on the show. But man, they were shitting on the Vikings and then just like the ending the Vikings over in front of the entire nation and being like this is who they are. We know you thought this is who we are who they are. This is who they are was so fucking satisfying to me. I enjoyed I just I didn't turn it off. I didn't turn it off. I just I watched

Rob Kelly  
every show CBS turns it off for you know, I

Dave Clarke  
like I added on that I had it on I had it on the Sunday Ticket. I watched the whole book and thing. I watched every single thing. So at the end of the day, thankfully we know the Vikings are now so they dropped mercifully dropped down the pairings a little bit. Kirk Cousins is Kirk Cousins. But you kind of get what I'm saying about like the good likable teams and the good non legal teams. It's going to come up again when we get to the dolphins. It's going to come up again when we get to the Eagles like there's something about these teams. There's now an identity that's emerged and it's really fun to watch. So the vaudevillian villain Vikings come in Hot at number six Bobby They're not wanting to see trouble right now they're

Rob Kelly  
not listeners to that yeah, this team was like kind of like the Steelers of the past where it's like there's their spot at the top of the Power Rankings was was strictly because of their record and how good they were doing. Listen, they're night into and they're number six that ever they have a better record than every team except for the Eagles that are ahead of them.

Dave Clarke  
Okay, let me ask you this question. And that's it. That's a perfect segue. Let me ask you this question. We're gonna do a little mini version of the game to both you Vikings by the 40 Niners in the in the in the NFC playoffs for the Niners right for America. Yeah. Vikings play let's see. Let's see cowboys, cowboys cowboys we just saw we just had that goes they play the Eagles Eagles obviously, right? There's there's so many teams that can destroy their playoff run. There's just so many. And I feel confident at this point that we're going to see them go out in the first round. But that's I'm sorry to interrupt. Please continue.

Joe Malkin  
It's those four teams though. Those three teams right, like I can see the Vikings being in the Final Four in the NFC. And not getting past any one of those teams

Dave Clarke  
and her cousins has to win a football playoff game for that to happen. I just don't see it.

Rob Kelly  
Yeah, here's a question for you. Right season ends today. They play the commander's in the first round,

Dave Clarke  
I take the commanders taking the committee, they look like JC under the jewel Robinson that rookie he's sick his

Joe Malkin  
shot. I love for the season like literally like you can get if you want a big head I gotta

Dave Clarke  
play the Viking they beat the Vikings um, for good coverage on this podcast and a big look at happening.

Rob Kelly  
Can we can we actually make that agreement? Let's make that rally on buying a big

Joe Malkin  
Oh, yeah. One way worse fight. And I know we're now talking a little bit about the commander's. But let's do that. Let's play that you deserve it. If they if they do, because they played very heavily

Dave Clarke  
on this. I'd have him on this top 10 above at least two teams that I can see right now. Yeah. And

Joe Malkin  
I mean, they could be they're very good. I mean that NFC East is it's really good. Like all four of those teams can play football. And they're all fun to watch. I love watching the Giants actually the Eagles are my least favorite to watch in that in that division. And and I the commanders are just so much fun. I think Taylor hammock he deserves a starting job somewhere. I really do. And if it's in Washington and it's in Washington, I think that kid is underrated. I don't think he's I think he's better than like kirk cousins on the surface. But I don't

Rob Kelly  
want to digress experiment is over. Thankfully, it's kind of I kind of liked it. I like him a little bit more. Well, for two reasons. A because it means we never have to see Carson once again. It'd be that Jordan thing that he's doing with the Jordans where he buys a new pair of Jordans for every team he beats that's pretty fucking cool.

Joe Malkin  
He's a badass. I love watching Taylor energy play. There's a reason why I started with my fantasy league. It hasn't gotten me a win yet. But I just love the kids so I got him there him and Justin Tucker start every week but ya know, he's

Dave Clarke  
all those kids. He's human all those kids that we're gonna switch house that makes those make those Jordans employees so strats and that's an active of magnanimous kindness if you asked me

Rob Kelly  
anyway, I don't even

Dave Clarke  
know what else sweatshop humor doesn't fucking get your ball rolling.

Rob Kelly  
That's that's that's too far. That's probably nobody have reached Hey,

Joe Malkin  
Bobby. None of them are listening to the show. It's fine.

Rob Kelly  
Yeah, they're not allowed to wander three minute break.

Dave Clarke  
Locked up dude. Hey, too far man to thought my score the unionization of all sweatshop employees and Starbucks workers next.

Rob Kelly  
But listen, I just think it speaks volumes to who the Vikings are that we all just sat here and said that we think the Taylor Heinicke II commanders could beat them in the first round of the playoffs. So like I feel like that's really what the Vikings are, you know what I mean? They're

Joe Malkin  
their owner sucks. And just because their name sucks, doesn't mean we can't put some respect on them. I got enough

Dave Clarke  
foot GC that Sean Taylor in Ben orzola

Rob Kelly  
role two years in a row they did that to him. You know,

Joe Malkin  
they literally fought they literally hired Ron Rivera just to have some respect in that organization. Because yeah, I mean that

Dave Clarke  
I do. I mean, ever I think everybody likes Ron Rivera, so I agree with that. But I think man I don't know I don't know why he went to work there for that fucking guy. But it is it is a good fun You just reminded me though that we were like talking nicely about a fucking Dan Schneider own fucking Washington commanders football team and now just think

Rob Kelly  
of the big hats that's how I'm gonna like them the big hats she doesn't like

Joe Malkin  
remember honestly cider sorry, I remember when Dan Snyder came out and said he had dirt on all the owners and then they were like Hey, fuck you dance and he like back down like a child. Dan Snyder is the worst owner in all of sports. I don't he's just I just

Dave Clarke  
feel like well I don't know those like fucking oil money fuckers that don't like Manchester City. exactly sure. That's that's probably a little worse but I think I think it's if a bunch of dirt came out again about like NFL owners like Would anybody really care be surprised like these people are all awful like aware that we just have to like live in a little bubble where we think about the big hats like Bobby says I think even the worst fucking one of all the owners he probably just the one that does the most out loud anyway it's he's pretty bad though. All right, moving on. Thank God we're done talking about the Vikings. I'm open to not see them on this list by the end of the following year. I'm sick of talking about them it's they're not good. We know they're not good. They're not going to do shit if I wish you could short sports bets like you can't stocks like I wish I could bet on the Vikings to know when the Super Bowl, but like it really doesn't work like that. All right, moving on to the strange and flawed Buffalo Bills.

Rob Kelly  
I think there's still love them.

Dave Clarke  
Well, I think that here's here's what I write I think I was happy to be proven right? In the sense that I continually bang the drum of like you can't be talking about Josh Allen like he talked about Pat mahomes. It's just It's ludicrous and it's not fair at this point in their in their respective careers. However, he's getting a little bit of a harder time than he maybe deserves, and I'm not 100% Sure, it's like Josh Allen's fault that they look weird. And, you know, I'm not wanting to like want to give credit, you know, to just the quarterback and like, you beat him up when it's him kind of sliding, but if they want if they if they want a bunch of games leading into the playoffs, and they still they run, they returned to looking like The Contender that they came into the season as, would anybody really be that surprised? I mean, there's still a fucking wagon, right? Like we say it every week. I know. They look strange, and I know they look flawed and I know they look beatable. And I know that I still think that if they saw the chiefs in the AFC Championship Game at and I think it'd be at arrowhead at this point. I think they're fucked. I think they're gonna get buzzsaw but like, they still got something about them. You can just write them off just because they'd like lost a couple of games. We don't wanna be too reactionary about the bills, right or am I crazy? A big

Joe Malkin  
test for this team. Dave? Is what happens well, as we're recording what happens tomorrow night when this comes out. What happens tonight when they play the Patriots Agilent in Foxborough. You know, Sean McDermott always has a hair across his Astra Bill Belichick and most coaches do, but we've seen kind of outbursts from McDermott in the media regarding Bill Belichick. So, I mean, let's see, because I think I think Sean McDermott is headstrong, and I think that's part of their issues. I think another part of their issues that Josh Allen is, is injured. I think there is something to that you UCL injury. The biggest thing that they improved on this year is that they have an actual running game and Devin Singletary looks like an actual NFL running back. Their defense is is really good. They did lose Von Miller though, which is

Dave Clarke  
tough, isn't it to say that much shit to talk that much shit about the fucking Minnesota Vikings and they beat the fucking bills and it's just like it's so disconcerting at the same time right parody David's just all parody, but parody with the Vikings then we shouldn't spend that much time fucking talking about him writing

Joe Malkin  
we're not we're not talking about the Brad Childress coached Vikings we're not taught and you know, like I think your biggest thing likings is is customs and I don't blame you for that reason. I don't blame you for that because I'm the one that will talk you into a mediocre quarterback like Kirk Cousins. We played that game before many shows. I think the bills are more unlikable than the Vikings. The bills are the wagon the Vikings are the pretenders.

Dave Clarke  
And it's magaziner to a little bit just for the record.

Joe Malkin  
Oh, Mike Zimmer. Yeah, just Kirk Cousins. No, but Kurt, but Kevin O'Connell is their head coach. Former former Patriot former quarterback right panel. And yeah, I mean, that's that's weird.

Dave Clarke  
It's not as it's not as if that resume is really going to fill me with a ton of competence. either. I can head coaching position. I know it's not Jeff Saturday, but still, I think that we're like, back to the bills because it seems like the fucking Vikings, right. It's just haunting my fucking soul. But I think when you talk about when you talk about the Buffalo Bills, they're still one of their games. Like I know, they probably should have beat the Detroit Lions by a little bit more. But like, come on, like they're still fucking winning their games like they're still the Buffalo Bills, like, they don't look like themselves. I agree. But like,

Joe Malkin  
they're still being done, they're gonna have done when they need to get it done. There's

Dave Clarke  
the worry. And the thing we're all kind of talking about is maybe and we can talk about this because they're the next thing on the list. is maybe the dolphins breathing down their neck a little bit. I think I think there's like that thing they'll do is a world where they don't win their division because of the dolphin. Well, what

Rob Kelly  
scares me with the bills over bet is the redzone troubles. That's what scares me.

Dave Clarke  
That's how that's how like the book started off the season. Right? And if you can't score

Rob Kelly  
the bro, especially when you get that close, Josh Allen has the most redzone interceptions in the NFL so far this year. He is fine. Yeah. And like it just it just feels like you guys remember the Josh Allen's three years ago where he was amazing, but he would always do that weird, weird shit at the ends of the gantry throw behind his head. He would do some listening. He's not doing that. But I don't trust him as much in the redzone anymore guys and like that bike scam. Just smell for remand because listen, I know that they had that game but you can't lose the game when you have the ball but the other thing with no timeouts fumbling the ball into the endzone. And wheat NFL teams do not do that.

Dave Clarke  
I know that was that was a really big rip that was a red flag

Joe Malkin  
that was a common denominators. Don't do it. I love common denominators, as I've said before, and one of the biggest differences for the bills this year from last year in the last few years is the fact that Brian table is no longer BOC. I think that That's something I think that has something to do with this. I mean, look at what Brian table has. He's really good has made Daniel Jones look like in New York. Like, he literally saved the career of Daniel Jones just by getting hired as the head coach. They're like, you want to talk about quarterback whispers when we're talking about uh, Frank Riker and Adam gates. Now this is that guy. And I think that that's part of part of his troubles is the fact that he doesn't have that guy anymore.

Dave Clarke  
But what about the dolphins being right there? I mean, we might as well transition to this conversation like

Joe Malkin  
that. For games since there's two and two.

Dave Clarke  
I do want to touch on the dolphins a little bit though, because they really do hit they do hit the theme of the likable. Like they are so ludicrously likable. Like you even said it in their in your division. Right so it that's that's a hard thing to admit I don't I can't see a world where I ever am sitting on this podcast and being like, you know, the Green Bay Packers were pretty likable team this year. And it's just like it to me. It's a Yeah, it's the head coach and his relationship with Tua and their fun little like back and forth. Yeah, it's the fact that they have the best wide receiver duo like ever and there's like tons tons of fun to watch. But also it's I think the fact that they're a little bit of a surprise like I think we could have maybe predicted they were going to be okay, but I think they might be legitimate contenders like sort of informed by the fact that they're the fourth best team in the NFL of course should probably this week so and I think well deserved so briefly I because we are going to do the Final Four game at the end do if you had to pick between since the bills aren't that are now not involved in the Final Four game if you had to pick between the bills and the dolphins to beat the chiefs in the AFC Championship game right now.

Joe Malkin  
Bobby, you ready to want to say it at the same time? Yeah. 123 Dolphins,

Dave Clarke  
too. Yeah, me too. Which is weird because the bills beat the plucking chiefs this year. Yeah, like, but they've got that magic about her. There's a little bit of a slug and pixie dust about him that's

Rob Kelly  
and Jeff Wilson is perfect for that offense, Matt and he that run it up and apparently he fits into that zone runs game so well. And having the Wilson moster combo now that's so much speed in the backend to add on to the most speed I've literally ever seen from those two wide receivers it I was thinking about this earlier today action. Do you remember week one? Or was it I think it was week one or week two, we were talking about overreaction, so how much we love and one of the main ones we brought up was is this the best wide receiver duo we've ever seen. And you know some people were yeses rover reaction knows that this isn't an overreaction anymore. And their numbers their numbers on believable, unbelievable. And two

Joe Malkin  
it looks like a real NFL quarterback. And again another coach that goes in takes over changes the system a little bit. And you're right Dave, you said it and they're back and forth is incredible. Just the way they talk to each other. It's half of my

Dave Clarke  
talk feed is just like those two talking to you

Rob Kelly  
guys, it was it was unbelievable to because of the way like he came out this week and spoke about that whole relationship and how much it changed him as a quarterback and you could see it because last year you know, when a quarterback is playing timid, it's so obvious you know what I mean? Like you can literally see them why or pump those throws and be like, Oh, I'm gonna hit that threat and then they don't do it. Do it

Dave Clarke  
it's such a big part of that position. Yeah 100% confidence in yourself confidence in your line your lines your your your offense is confidence in you your relationship with your defense and I think that those intangibles if you're gonna bottle that of every NFL team the most full bottle right now it'd be the Miami Dolphins I just think that there's something about the way that they're joined together as a cohesive unit and the way that they lead and Bobby made this great point I keep a couple of weeks ago on the powering because I keep thinking about whenever I listen to them talk to each other like it there's such like Millennials like they're such like our age our generation like you're starting to see guys in their early 30s Like get into these positions and they sort of talk like us and they they see the game like we do and it's

Rob Kelly  
it's I respond to it so much yeah

Dave Clarke  
cuz there's so much better players are younger you know, and I think he talks to them I think he has an authority about him but I think he talks to them like they're they're like their people and and I think as the as sports and specifically this game moves forward you have to understand that like see generations as they come through are like so much more educated about about who they are they have so much easier access to information and our generation was like not super respectful to our elders if you guys remember and like I think the next one after us isn't going to be much better and I think it's because we have a Respect is earned attitude as soon as the generation because we like keep watching. Ludicrous tragedies happen like once every few years. And it's we're It made me a little bit jaded. And I think you can see that with with the kind of reflection of who these guys are and the way that the way that they're, they're running the team, and I just think it's fucking awesome. I've worked for the guy.

Joe Malkin  
Wow, no, McDaniel is just, he's something else. And like you said, yeah, just the way he talks to the guys, but he's so it's weird, because he's so out there. But he's so down to earth. And some of the things he says you can tell he's just messing with the media.

Dave Clarke  
But he has them he has them, which is such a nice back

Joe Malkin  
pocket. And he's just, he's so fun to watch on the sidelines. And, and you know what, I think the biggest thing for him is, and I think it's carried over to uh, I think that game moves slow for him. You know what I mean? Like, the game doesn't speed up. It's got like a football brain. Yeah, he's got a football brain. It's just the way he's wired. And I think that that's helped too. And I think you that relationship on the sideline, to get to, to stop thinking about what he's gonna go do next. And then instead of just going and doing it, I think he's really helped. And I just, yeah, it's weird. It's weird to say, as a Patriots fan, that I like this dolphins team. I like their head coach, I would love to have him in New England. And I think that's another thing from my standpoint, as a fan. And Craig, Craig might even agree with this, but just hearing and seeing and knowing who Bill Belichick is, and then seeing this side of a head coach is just so it's refreshing. It's just it's nice to see that and just a different style.

Dave Clarke  
Before we move on. I got one last question on the dolphins. For you, Bobby. We've often touched on the theme of the quarterback being the guy. We've all written off Kirk Cousins. Nobody thinks Carson Wentz is going to do anything started this season. And we're right. You know, we just had a whole conversation about the Miami Dolphins. And nobody was like, Yeah, but to account, you know, nobody was like to it's like, is he do we all believe that? Maybe he could be is that? Bobby, what do you think? Yeah, man? I do. You're the right man for the question. You think

Rob Kelly  
about what to have was in college man. And it's not like he came out of nowhere. And it's not like throwing was ever his biggest challenge or anything like that.

Dave Clarke  
But the translation to the NFL and his first performances, you know, but when

Rob Kelly  
you have someone that makes your brain just exactly what Joe said. He's not thinking he's just watching things happen and reacting to it rather than, Oh, no, I can't throw here. I can't do this. And he literally already came out and said all this. He says the matrix code now he said he exactly sees the McDaniel code.

Dave Clarke  
Just like it just like the POV shot and just like bobbleheads of Mike McDaniel. It's just being like, no, don't think about that. Just like we just floating through the air like

Rob Kelly  
Tyreke Hill. It's Tyreke Hill, don't think. Yeah, I think this week is a big test for two of them. If he can come out and have an efficient outing and even if they lose to the Niners, right? If he comes out and works waken All Pro and quarterback against this defense, he is real period. Hundreds I mean,

Dave Clarke  
it's a great point because I really think you know, and we've talked we've talked about this we've we've said this week is a big blank for blank a few times on this show and I think we should keep this in mind going into watching the games Thursday and Sunday Monday because I think this time next week on the power rankings, we're going to know a lot we're gonna know well, no and because this is this might be the pivotal week this might be the most important week we've had so far. I mean, could sort of say that a bit about front illogical weeks as things go on, but because of the matchups and the way things are falling across the whole league, I think we're going to know so much going to be a great red zone day on Sunday. Everybody gonna be great fucking red zone. There's nothing better than beer, seven hours of commercial free. It's literally the greatest show on TV. There's nothing better. It's fantastic. So if you're not a red zone person, you're gonna get like it's it's it's expert.

Rob Kelly  
It's a quick little tangent. I watched football with people right? Watching red zone and I have people telling me this guy, I don't like red zone. I can't like zoning or why game? Zoning on one game. So you don't you don't like excitement? You don't like fun? Is that what you're telling me? My wife

Joe Malkin  
has said that to me before. It's like, oh, I can't tell when it switches and I. And I literally said to her one day just kind of be in an ask. I was like, when the uniforms look different. Like what do you mean? Like they tell you when they're switching like Scott Hanson tells you when they're when they're switching games. My aunt said the same thing to me this weekend when we were watching at her house and I was like, hey redzone and she was like, oh, yeah, I can't really follow it. And I'm like, the same thing. I'm like, What are you talking about?

Dave Clarke  
Like, you know what, I

Joe Malkin  
love my aunt I love my wife. But we got we got a real serious issue here.

Rob Kelly  
I can't walk away. I let her my brain. Let me do it. For the

Dave Clarke  
it's for the attention deficit generation either. Either way, Scientology has like all those weird ranks where they're like your Corporal see Captain level now we're all octabox level red zone. And watchers, were looking at single box people were just like, come on, come on the box badge like four years ago, it's it you gotta you gotta get on my fucking level here. Alright, that was fun. So every week of the power rankings, we play a little fun game at the top three or now recently top four once it's actually been relevant. We again have two AFC teams and two NFC teams in the top four. So I'm gonna pose this question to the expert panel. Like I do every week. You have the chiefs, playing the dolphins in the AFC Championship game. Who are you sending to the Superbowl different question that I asked before? Yeah. And who you would rather send against the chiefs? You've decided both of you to send the dolphins are they getting past Pat mahomes At this point, at this point, are they getting past Pat mahomes and the Kansas City she's in in arrowhead if we're being honest,

Joe Malkin  
well, while Bobby thinks they can.

Dave Clarke  
Bobby looks like he's in pain right now.

Joe Malkin  
It is painful. I'm hiding it a little bit better than he is. It's painful because the Chiefs the Chiefs have their flaws too. Let's let's not get that wrong. They have their flaws there. There are points in the game where they they look flawed, but it's minor flaws. I mean, they have three running backs one's hurt right now and Clyde Edwards Hilaire. But they have three running backs that can run the ball. They have had no problem at receiver without Tyreke Hill. In fact, I've seen Juju Smith Schuster, and suddenly Pat

Dave Clarke  
mahomes is better now like he had to Yeah. Because you know, they

Joe Malkin  
got guys that are not only going to go out and catch passes, but they're willing to block and put their bodies on. We're not

Dave Clarke  
talking me into the dolphins.

Joe Malkin  
So, but listen, the chiefs are clinical. The the dolphins are high flying, they're gonna they're gonna try and punch you in the mouth. I think especially in an AFC Championship style. But I think you know, you look at mahomes versus two mahomes wins that battle. You look at reverse McDaniel. Reed wins that battle. I think the chiefs are still going through but the dolphins can win that

Dave Clarke  
that's because that's the answer. That's because that's the bucket answer like let's not sit here and tell me

Joe Malkin  
what the answer is. I'm telling you what the you know what you can't fire me I quit

Dave Clarke  
you can't say no we're not going to sit here and say that the championship game again. I can't I'll press I'll pull the plug I'll delete the internet right now. Before this god damn thing he was on he has

Joe Malkin  
that ability he lives he lives in Los Angeles he couldn't have money

Rob Kelly  
that's where we're station that Electric Gas or what does that do even said we say that for a minute fucking forgot. We forget that we're part of the winners

Dave Clarke  
Wow, I'll do it again. I'll do it again. I'll do it again at the start sir.

Rob Kelly  
Yeah, no, you're right it's the whistle I know we just kind of talked about to where how is real and bubble is really really really hard to pick to over Pat mahomes I'm sorry, it just it is man it should be in and the exactly

Joe Malkin  
one year left after this and plus

Rob Kelly  
on top of that, I think a very underrated thing. But not a lot of people are looking at and actually look to pick them up in our fantasy league today. But Mitch Hassan's has already got it is Melvin Gordon going to the Chiefs All right. He wasn't he they dropped him the Broncos dropped them a because their seasons literally good Phillips or fire and and he's already the best running back and he's the best pure running back and not running back room now. And I think you're gonna see him make a difference. Yes, chief. We don't even have any more chiefs. All right.

Dave Clarke  
So we've we've overall agreed percent of the chiefs in the AFC it was more of a conversation when the bills were like less suspicious, but we've all agreed on that. That's that's cool. I'm really excited to get to this one because if we're saying we now have the Cowboys as at number three in the Power Rankings and the Eagles in number two, they've dropped down from there, volunteered place at number one where they kept most of the season up until a couple of weeks ago. The Chiefs are now number one. With the Cowboys, the Eagles the NFC Championship game, gentlemen have to ask you which one do you send into the Super Bowl? And I gotta tell ya, I'm sending the fucking cowboys.

Joe Malkin  
Bobby Chaim Bloom steam. Should you abstain from this valley?

Dave Clarke  
No, we need it. We need the votes. He's earned saying this. He's watched this cowboys team do this shit. He's earned this fucking moment in the sun.

Rob Kelly  
So let's get the so I am picking the capitalist surprise boiler with what scares me about this is what the Cowboys cruxes and I've been saying this all year, is the two teams that can stop the cowboys from Golden Superbowl, the 40 Niners and the Eagles. In my opinion, those are the only two teams that have what it takes to beat this defense because of that zone runs game because they can put up 200 yards on any defense on any day. That being said, not that I think Jalen hertz crumbled against this path right? Shouldn't the playoffs I really do I think this cowboys pass rush is elite and especially if we get obj to come in and add that extra weapon on that offense everybody thinks

Dave Clarke  
they're gonna get obj though like every team thinks they're gonna get it so that's what he's looking at is

Rob Kelly  
looking like the cowboy no I'm picturing catalyst

Joe Malkin  
Come on, come I said it last year and I like

Rob Kelly  
my soul literally would not let me I could try and say the Eagles and my soul wouldn't let me do it so it's

Joe Malkin  
like it's like that scene in Liar liar when he can't say this

Rob Kelly  
is the Yeah, you wouldn't be

Dave Clarke  
colors that pen.

Joe Malkin  
I've sent it last year and I was wrong and I'll say it again this year if the Cowboys sign obj they don't go to the Superbowl. I do however think you're right one that if they playing so we're just going by Power Rankings obviously because it's the power ranking show if they play the 40 Niners before they get to the Eagles in the NFC Championship. I think that's really their their Crux here like that's that's where the issue was that

Dave Clarke  
kryptonite? I I feel that not I feel the 40 Niners have have are the fucking are the Cowboys. Yeah, they need to not say they need to not see them if they're gonna get to the NFC Championship game. I agree.

Joe Malkin  
But I think I think this Eagles team is sorry about their nine and

Rob Kelly  
stress and me just just thinking about that.

Joe Malkin  
Their nine and one record is a facade. I think that you know, the big three factors right like I look at the defense's the Cowboys defense is better. I think Jalen hertz is a better quarterback than Dak Prescott, but I think Dak Prescott has a bigger set of nuts than then Jalen Hertz. And Bobby I think I think your hat might like blow off your when I say this. I think Nick Sirianni is not a good NFL head coach. And Mike McCarthy wins the coaching battle here because he's been there before he's done it before he has a Super Bowl ring. Absolutely. The Cowboys beat the Eagles and go to the Super Bowl.

Dave Clarke  
Yeah, I mean, I can't argue with you there. I thought fucking Vikings never fire makes me cry. At the end of the day, I think it's gonna be really interesting playoffs. It's gonna be really interesting week, this upcoming week.

Rob Kelly  
That would be the best Super Bowl matchup out of everything right? Cowboys, chiefs, chiefs? That would be

Dave Clarke  
it would be it would be really tough though. Because on the show I would have to really talk to you about contingency plans for the inevitable chiefs because it's bad it's bad to watch your team losing the Super Bowl man is bad it hurts it hurts because like that week knowing you that give you an extra week to think about it. And then you're like, Oh, what if they win? What if they win and I know you and there's gonna be a lot of what if they went in your brain and then like,

Joe Malkin  
I'm just I'm going to be got to hear about me or scored for two weeks.

Dave Clarke  
Yeah, I'm going to be really concerned about

Rob Kelly  
if this happens I'd be blowing up that discord.

Dave Clarke  
What if they went if they went to the soccer ball and lost I'd be really concerned about the sexual tension between you and a nine millimeter I would be very, very concerned about it. And we would have to really like have to like have people watching you at all times. But this has not passed yet. This is a super fun week coming up. I'm really excited about it. And I can't wait to talk to you guys next week about the awesome and fun NFL season. This has been missing the point brought to you by the winner's edge Podcast Network. Thank you so much for tuning in. Have a good rest of your night.