Lions-49ers Reaction: Brock Purdy shines late, Campbell's calls, SB vs. Chiefs | Colin Cowherd NFL

Summary

Former NFL scout John Middlekauff breaks down the AFC and NFC championship games, praising the game plans and execution of coaches Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan. He discusses the performances of quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Lamar Jackson and others, noting Mahomes' poise under pressure. Middlekauff predicts a close Super Bowl matchup given the Chiefs' experience versus the 49ers' talented roster and emerging Purdy.

Takeaways

• 😀Prye has a limited arm but moves well and makes plays. He's a solid quarterback.
• 👍Shanahan and Reid are two of the best offensive coaches and game planners.
• 🏈Chiefs have great coaching continuity with Reid and Spagnuolo.
• 💪49ers have a strong core group of veteran players.
• 🤔Harbaugh's game plan for Ravens was puzzling and led to the loss.
• 😡Mahomes elevates his play even more in big games - he's the best ever.
• ⚽Kelce showed he still has it with a standout first half for the Chiefs.
• 😮Niners overcame early struggles with strong second half adjustments.
• 🏆Experience and poise matter - Chiefs proved too much for Ravens.
• 📈NFL continues to gain popularity, especially among female fans.

Q & A

What was the main takeaway from the Niners vs Lions game?

The Niners overcame a 17-point deficit to win 34-31. Their physicality and playmaking ability took over in the second half while the Lions melted down a bit in the big moment.

How did Dan Campbell's decision to go for it on 4th down rather than kick a field goal affect the game?

It gave the Niners life and swung momentum in their favor after they had been dominated. However, it was situational given the score, and going for it is part of Campbell's identity.

What are the strengths of the Lions and Niners teams?

The Lions' strength is their roster and GM Brad Holmes. The Niners' strength is not their QB or coach, but also their talented players.

How do Mahomes and Pry compare as playoff performers?

Mahomes elevates his game even further in the playoffs, putting up stats that don't make sense compared to the regular season. Pry is very even-keeled win or lose.

Why did the Chiefs dominate the Ravens?

The Chiefs had a great game plan focusing on their strengths, while the Ravens abandoned their identity and struggled with nerves and mental mistakes.

How important is coaching and preparation in the playoffs?

Very. Andy Reid and the Chiefs staff have tremendous experience to draw from, while younger coaches like Harbaugh can make strategic mistakes.

What edge do the Chiefs have over the Niners heading into the Super Bowl?

The Chiefs have continuity at the coaching staff and QB positions. They also have tremendous institutional knowledge of how to prepare and win playoff games.

What is Kansas City's potential weakness on offense?

Their wide receiving corps lacks a dominant player after trading Tyreek Hill. However, they can likely address this in the next draft or free agency.

What is the key to the Niners' chances in the Super Bowl?

Their defensive line needs to regain its elite form from recent years. If their pass rush falters, they could struggle to slow Kansas City.

How has the rise of mobile QBs benefited coaches like Reid and Shanahan?

It allows their genius play design and scheme skills shine compared to more old-school, defensive-minded coaches.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introductory pleasantries and outline of podcast topic

The host Colin Cowherd greets his guest John Middlekauff, former NFL scout and host of the podcast Three and Out. They briefly exchange pleasantries and Colin outlines that they will be discussing the NFL conference championship games that occurred over the weekend between the 49ers-Lions and Chiefs-Ravens.

05:01

😕 Detailed analysis of Lions vs 49ers game

Colin and John provide an in-depth breakdown of the Lions vs 49ers NFC championship game. They analyze the coaching decisions, key plays, and individual performances that impacted the game. Colin notes how the Lions took an early lead but eventually the 49ers overcame a deficit to win.

10:03

😃 Assessment of 49ers QB Brock Purdy's performance

Colin and John discuss 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy's play. They note that he started poorly but seemed more composed running the ball in the 2nd half. They compare him to Kirk Cousins and feel he is a good but not great QB.

15:04

🤔 Critique of the Ravens' offensive game plan

Switching focus to the AFC game, Colin heavily critiques the Ravens' offensive game plan and laments their abandonment of the run game. He asserts they made Lamar Jackson one dimensional as a passer which allowed the Chiefs defense to rattle him.

20:06

😲 Awe of Patrick Mahomes' ability and poise

Colin and John heap praise on Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, claiming he is the best QB they have ever seen. They marvel at his consistency and poise in high-pressure playoff situations compared to others like Lamar Jackson.

25:08

😤 Frustration with Ravens coaching decisions

Colin expresses disappointment with Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman's game planning and in-game adjustments. He argues they did not play to the Ravens' strengths like the Chiefs did.

30:09

😕 Lamar Jackson's playoff struggles analyzed

Colin and John have a nuanced discussion about Lamar Jackson's postseason struggles. They acknowledge he is a great player but admit he hasn't performed as well in the playoffs and can get rattled at times.

35:10

🥳 Excitement about Chiefs' coaching stability

They highlight the Chiefs' coaching continuity, spearheaded by Andy Reid, as a major advantage. Specifically, they note defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is unlikely to be hired away, giving the Chiefs defensive staff consistency.

40:10

👍🏽 Praise for offensive-minded coaches Reid and Shanahan

Colin and John commend Chiefs coach Andy Reid and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan for being great offensive schemers. They argue offensive innovation is critical in today's NFL.

45:12

😕 Concern about decreasing NBA popularity

They have a sidebar lamenting the decreasing popularity of the NBA in comparison to the NFL. Colin notes fewer star players, load management, less physical play, and lack of parity as problematic issues hurting the league's viewership.

50:12

🤯 Shock at NFL's growing female viewership

John remarks he has noticed a significant increase in female NFL viewership based on anecdotes of women in his life who love football. Colin verifies this with supporting data that nearly 50% of NFL viewers are female.

55:13

🥳 Enthusiasm for Super Bowl matchup

They end by looking ahead enthusiastically to the Chiefs-49ers Super Bowl matchup. Both expect it will likely break viewership records and be an exciting game between the AFC and NFC's best teams and coaches.

Keywords

💡Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the teams playing in the AFC Championship game. They have an experienced head coach in Andy Reid and elite players like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, giving them an institutional advantage.

💡49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the top NFC teams, with a talented roster and an innovative offensive coach in Kyle Shanahan. They overcame a poor first half to beat the Lions and make the Super Bowl.

💡coaching

Coaching is a major theme, as the video praises Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan as two of the best offensive coaches. Their game plans and play calling are seen as key factors behind the Chiefs' and 49ers' success.

💡quarterbacks

Quarterback play is central, especially highlighting Patrick Mahomes' elite talent and poise in high leverage situations. The video also discusses Brock Purdy's limitations but credits his mobility and playmaking ability.

💡defense

Defense is important as well, noting the 49ers' struggles early on but improved play later from stars like Nick Bosa. The Chiefs' defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is also praised for his game planning.

💡playoffs

The video emphasizes players and teams stepping up in critical playoff moments. It credits the 49ers' and Chiefs' experience and composure in contrast to mistakes and tightness from less tested teams like the Ravens and Lions.

💡rivalry

There is discussion of marquee NFL rivalries (49ers-Packers, Cowboys-Eagles etc.) that drive interest and viewership. This connects to the broad national popularity and traditions around teams like the 49ers.

💡women fans

Increased NFL viewership among women is noted as a trend, relating to marketing stars like Patrick Mahomes and the easy-to-follow nature of a once-a-week event.

💡ratings

Strong TV ratings for the NFL playoffs are mentioned frequently, in contrast with struggling numbers for the NBA regular season.

💡Super Bowl matchup

The video looks ahead to an appealing Chiefs-49ers Super Bowl showcasing elite players and coaches. It predicts this could be one of the highest viewed championships ever.

Highlights

Lamar Jackson tends to melt down a bit in playoffs; not as good from behind as most QBs

Patrick Mahomes plays even better in playoffs than regular season; makes throws others can't

Steady coaches like Reid help teams stay loose in big moments instead of getting tight

Kelce showed focus and engagement despite off-field narratives; set tone for Chiefs

Shanahan and Reid are best current offensive schemers; focus on both sides of ball

Institutional continuity with coaches/players creates real edge for teams like Chiefs

Strong runner at QB takes pressure off entire offense to execute perfectly

49ers leaned on run game and shorter passes to settle down offense after rocky start

Talented young players like Gibbs still prone to critical mistakes in big moments

Winning coaches often start building physicality and toughness way back in training camp

Surge of female NFL fans gives games broader, more family-friendly appeal

Mahomes on track to become NFL's most talented QB ever; handles pressure incredibly

Star power of LeBron/Steph carried NBA for years; league struggling without it

Short careers and family stability help NFL players tune out media noise

NFC has collection of iconic franchises/rivalries that transcend typical fandom

Transcripts

welcome to the official

YouTube channel for the Colin coward

podcast go on hit the Subscribe button

there you go right down there if you

want to be among the first to hear my

weekly takes NFL college football more

right

there all right here we go former NFL

scout got a podcast at the volume three

and out knows the ners back and forth

you've already heard my Preamble on that

mess that was the Baltimore Ravens all

right 3431 Niners second Super Bowl in

Five Seasons overcame a 17-point lead so

Dan campell's going to get you know

barbecued because of his uh play calling

he's not my favorite coach he never has

been he's much more of a player uh

sensibility than than like a coach than

like a McVey who's young but is a coach

uh Campbell um to me this is who he is

he's built the culture on it I get it um

um you know here's my take Josh Reynolds

drops fumbles blown coverages how much

heat does Dan Campbell

deserves Colin I listen going for to me

is situational and I understand a lot of

times throughout the year tie game up

one score week six week

10 it's 24- 10 and you have the the

Niners weren't on the ropes they were

falling out of the ring I mean they were

getting their ass kicked you kick a

field goal you make it a three-score

game so yeah you could say it hit him in

the hands but this is you know we see

guys drop balls all the time you have a

chance to kick a field goal they have to

score three times I would understand if

it's like hey it only makes 16 points

it's still a two-score game it would

have made it a three-score game which at

that point the Niners defense wasn't

playing well their offense it would have

it gave the Niners life and let's face

it the ners had no life because pry was

up and down in the first half mainly

down defense was atrocious he didn't

have to go for on fourth down in the

first half because he was getting first

downs on like second down every single

Series right I they were like five of

seven on third down he was kill said

this to you and on FS1 10 times this

year the star of the Lions is Brad

Holmes the GM it's not the quarterback

it's not Dan Campbell he's not McVey or

Shanahan and Goff isn't Patrick Mahomes

or even Herbert he's one of the last

true pocket guys in the league I mean

Pie looked like Lamar Jackson in the

second half compared to GF so my

takeaway is I still think the strength

of this team is not the coach or the

quarterback though I really do like golf

it's the players they remind me of a

younger version of the ners but um you

know I think if if you'd have said all

year long what worried you about Detroit

it never would have been the talent

everybody's secondary gets gashed I mean

the Chiefs are one of the few teams you

would have said oh Dan Campbell's

coaching or Goff doesn't come through

wasn't that sort of what happened

I I will say this though Colin it does

come down to your coordinators you know

in the playoffs we saw it in Baltimore

and Kansas City right this game Ben

Johnson the offensive coordinator was by

far the star of the game through two and

a half quarters he he was Unstoppable

and you have a chance to to me the two

making it 17 points I now listen Kyle

said at the beginning of the week this

is part of playing Dan Campbell he gets

it on you it can be crushing but if your

defense gets it and you're in a position

where you're down it swings it and it it

swung it and I'm with you like listen

Dan Campbell's not calling the place

right Dan Campbell is there to give the

thumbs up or thumbs down on that and I

I'm a huge believer and like oh it's he

did the right thing it's not about the

end result [ __ ] this is an end

result Sport and when you don't get it

in in a win or go home situation I have

no problem during the season I do think

situationally second half NFC

Championship when you're beating the

crap out of a team team and you're the

underdog seven-point lead I I would kind

of understand it like really try you're

up 14 points Colin I mean the 17 points

it would have deflated the 49ers but

that swing gave him life but like you

said Dan Campbell lives by the sword and

sometimes the sword gets stuck right

into his belly so I thought it was

interesting because um you know Brock

pie I think is is he's a fairly limited

thrower he's okay the pocket collapsed

he threw a really ugly pick

uh at one point in the game I have it

written down some here um yeah was Brock

pretty in the second quarter pocket

collapsed and he's just not the kind of

guy that can sit in there stand over it

small without a huge arm but I did think

in the second half and it felt like he

was told by Shanahan they do some manto

man here run because it looked very

intentional to me by Brock pry in the

second half like it wasn't just hey I'm

gonna I'm gonna go he played with a

script in the first half wasn't working

second half it almost looks like

Shanahan said listen don't don't be

afraid to move okay don't be afraid to

move it'll soften up the defense that's

what it looked like to me do you think

it was just him going or had there was

some intention to

it I I I think he's a pretty instinctive

player right because he has to overcome

height limitations and arm limitations

so one thing he's done all season long

and listen through two quarters in this

game and through the majority of the

Packer game I I think everyone was

thinking is this guy long-term

quarterback you can't play with this guy

in big games but this is why they

believe in him I mean part of evaluating

quarterbacks I'm sure we'll talk about

it coming up for the draft is the

intangible stuff the kid's got some oxy

and he's got some toughness and mental

toughness he doesn't Wilt because it

would have been easy to go into the tank

I thought the first half he was playing

like [ __ ] I mean he looked overwhelmed

in the pocket he looked bad some of the

passes I mean he was letting rip were

flying over guys heads this is not

raining today it was 75 degrees in Levi

Stadium so I I thought more that he's

just an instinctive player and he just

had to find a way almost like I have to

will myself to make some plays and he's

a pretty good athlete I know a lot of

people don't think you know part of the

reason they moved off Tre Lance so

quickly is because pie was the better

athlete right he you know he moves a lot

better honestly his movement is really

an NFL it's an underrated skill in the

league because how many plays do the

Niners make outside the script of the

given play avoid some sacks he's small

so he can kind of dip and run around

obviously he can run relatively quick in

a straight angle but he can move quick

laterally keep some play that one play

that he the little lob to Jennings but

that can also get him in trouble right I

mean you kind of you kind of live with

the aggressive he could kind of turn

into a gunslinger one reason everyone

had him red flag coming out of Iowa

State now looking back they were an

underman team he threw a lot of

interceptions because he he is willing

to take some chances for a guy that

doesn't exactly have Brett forer Josh

Allen you one of the things though they

were a favorite I thought clearly

Baltimore melted down late in the game

and I thought Detroit starting with Josh

Reynolds drops melted down and this is

something that it really matters San

Francisco's got a veteran team Kansas

City Andy Travis spags momes Mahomes is

now a veteran player right there is

something to be said John been there

done that because I thought I I mean you

could see I mean when Lamar with that

terrible throw in the end zone Z flowers

what in the hell is that roquan Smith

with a personal foul and then I watched

this game and I'm like oh this is this

is nerves I I felt San Francisco melted

a bit listen there is this historic

pressure they've never made a Super Bowl

there's Jags Houston Browns lions and

not many of them left I kind of felt

like they

melted well I think you saw in the

second half with the 49ers defense that

they started playing with a different

pace they started flying to the ball

they definitely were more fun mentally

sound they weren't out of place

constantly that was happening in the

first half and obviously the Chiefs who

have won Super Bowls this Niner team

hasn't won one but this was they've been

in this game four or five years right it

was a huge deal for the Lions to be here

for the first time in 30 years and you

just see a championship level character

and part of that like you said is just

keeping your head not attacking back not

swinging back when you get swung on not

you know hang in your head when you miss

a tackle cuz the ners easily could have

gone into the tank I I would say about

50% through this game and I think they

proved a lot like the Chiefs showed up

to win that they had that Championship

character that Championship blood they

showed up ready to kick ass and they did

throughout the whole game the Niners got

hit in the teeth immediately and they

were hanging on for your life and they

just won't fold and and it gets back to

a lot of the character of the guys from

Debo Samuel how many plays did he make

in the second half George KD Fred Warner

and Drake greenw making open field

tackles all their DBS who had given up

huge plays and big runs early in the

game flying to the ball so to me there's

a level of like coaches say this non

non-stop don't quit don't you know play

the next play these games come down to

small even the Chiefs Ravens game the

score was it wasn't big right 177 you're

a fumble and a touchdown away from being

right in it so you can't get down on

yourself you can't mail in plays and I

listen I mailed in the Niners I thought

listen this game's they're in major

trouble and they flipped a switch

starting with a Dan Campbell uh Miss

field or Miss fourth down yeah I mean it

was um listen the first part of this

game looked like a brilliant young OC

working a defensive coordinator who

replaced a great defensive coordinator

in demo Ryan I had a couple GMS uh

couple execs in the league one of them a

GM text me and they're like boy they

missed to O Ryan who was just you know

and he's a brilliant young head coach

and and I I thought what I when I

watched them I mean Detroit and Green

Bay offensive coaches sort of off

offensive leaning cultures right now are

both very good first quarter teams the

quarterbacks Goff and Jordan love stay

on script where Jordan love can get in a

little trouble is Off Script little

little radic where where gof can get in

trouble is sometimes playing from behind

or if you can get pressure on him I did

think the ners got better pressure on

him but if you go back to the first half

of that game that was a lot of Ben

Johnson first of all golf head all day

they were running so the Niners couldn't

pin their ears back it is interesting I

mean I think my takeaway in both games

today the the one thing I'll say is for

a seventh round last pick and for an

undersized guy uh prie has been in so

many games high school college and now

Pro he's just had so many snaps that

he's just kind of

situationally he I I see no higher low

with him I mean if he goes to the podium

Johnny's unemotional I've never seen him

smile he smiles less than kawhai Leonard

like there's he's just like he's just

kind of static that's not a terrible

quality he's not very

emotional very mature guy I mean he's

engaged at 23 24 years old I mean I

would say that's not typical for NFL

quarterbacks in 2024 in the modern day

culture uh one thing you know speaking

of the two quarterbacks in the second

game if you just put them in a pocket

untouched G throws a better ball you can

see much easier he's 6' five but the

game as games get uglier and as you can

generate some pressure and things just

it's football things don't go as planned

you need to be able to make some plays

with your legs Jared gof just cannot her

cousins cannot and that is one element

that Kyle who likes Kyle would like

Jared gof but there is an element of

having just an athletic quarterback you

don't need to be Lamar Jackson you just

need to be able to move drafted Tre

Lance they wanted it 100% gives them

that element and and it's funny when

they got Tre Lance what I had heard in

the building was he's not as athletic as

we thought no he's slow and that's the

you know there are always a thing in

scouting about time speed or athletic

ability if you went to watch a guy play

basketball or a guy at the combine you

know the combine's in a month or

whatever all these guys run fast 40

times and then there are guys like St

Brown who I don't know what his 40 time

is but he plays really fast Debo runs a

4 five5 well put the ball in his hands

no one catches him right so I don't know

what Brock py runs but I know when he

scrambles or when he moves behind the

pocket he moves fast enough to get away

from some guys now he can't run away

from everybody but his play speed is

really good and this gets back to

instincts and to me instinctive football

players the Lions have a lot of them you

know I mean they really do they have a

fast team so do the 49ers Fred Warner

plays really fast and Dre green law play

really fast because they're instinctive

players I mean they're good athletes but

when you can read and you know what's

coming I mean these players in the NFL

have been talking about this the history

since I've been alive about knowing

what's coming preparing it helps you

play faster and then there's the upper

level of like the true truly great

instinctive players and obviously the

49ers are full of them right I mean they

just are from KD to Debo to I think

their coach you know when he gets in a

rhythm K Kyle's weird right Ben Johnson

has just been red hot all season long

Kyle could have games where you feel

like God what what's he doing and then

today it just kind of flipped and then

he got his Mojo in the wrestle system he

tends to get a little tied to a script

and I think what happened today John is

uh he did against Green Bay he kind of

gets stuck to a script because you know

he's a smart guy and thinks my script's

better than your script we're staying

with it today he didn't have a choice

and they had to make Chang he's down a

couple they so they got a little lucky

with with Dan Campbell's recklessness so

my guess is Kansas City would be favored

by about two um I think n Niners Line's

already out it's the other way Niners

are favored by two which is two two and

a half I would I would take Kanas City

wouldn't you I mean you can't bet two

weeks for Andy Reid to prepare look at

the numbers

I don't know about you I I was kicking

myself I put money on the Ravens and

obviously I mean [ __ ] Andy Reid had me

to his house for Thanksgiving I've seen

the guy up close and I can't believe I

did it and you knew right away you're

like how did anyone even think that the

Chiefs didn't have a chance I didn't

think they didn't have a chance but I

the way that game went was just classic

like this is belich and Brady but the

2020s version and it was just I would

never bet against this team now I do

think the 49ers you know in theory

should be much more mentally capable the

Ravens melted down neutral site they're

better in a dome but Mahomes I don't

know if you saw the stat he has as many

playoff wins now as lway and John and uh

Peyton Manning he has as many playoff

wins at 28 years old as pton Manning and

John Elway's career he's two away from

Joe Montana here what's

remarkable so let's go and talk Kansas

City Baltimore so what you saw with an

offensive coach and you saw this with

McVey this year and Matt

laflor that you had a flaw odd team and

there was a unit or a part of the team

with mcve was the offensive line with

lefl was the quarterback and with Andy

it was the wide receivers you watched

real coaching over three months that mvs

Rashi rice is a one all three the Rams o

line was a train wreck early McVey

offensive coach solved the

riddle laflure over eight weeks Jordan

love was a bust to a star and I thought

this receiving this is what they can do

this is what McDermot drives us crazy is

that basically what you saw with the

Rams Packers and Chiefs was a their very

best football by the end of the year

offensively yet John Harbaugh signed off

on that game plan all Gus Edwards does

is make plays they ignored him uh uh

Isaiah Lively they ignored him and it

was like to me it's the the

opposite that what Baltimore their basic

DNA all season and then you got into the

game and Harbaugh signed off in this

game plan and by the way halftime no

changes they abandoned the Run totally

so they went this is what drives me nuts

is that offensive coaches o lines young

quarterbacks backup quarterbacks

receiving course they can fix [ __ ] over

the course of a

season I watched I watched that Todd

monan Hard Ball performance today that R

and again I'm not saying Kansas City

spags doesn't deserve

credit but the game plan and the play

calling it they basically said like

Buffalo does hey Lamar go make great

plays in throwing the ball in the pocket

right to me last week Josh Allen ran all

over the place especially outside the

numbers you know or outside the tackle

box so I thought well if he's going to

do that could Lamar run for 20 yards

Willie gays out today that they they did

the opposite they just tried to force

feed the pass against a team that

actually can hand like they have a lot

of very talented defensive backs their

linebackers were struggling to catch

Josh Allen last week Lamar's faster so

why wouldn't you have designed power

runs outside boat they just never did it

I I thought the first half part of that

game plan and let's face it the game

felt over at halftime was one of the

most embarrassing in recent memory they

they just had somewhat of you know the

blueprint last week with Buffalo about

how to use a running quarterback against

these guys and be very successful and

they did the opposite the other thing

that really hit me do you know who might

be the best coordinator in all of

football if you factor in you're never

going to lose him no one is ever gonna

hire Steve Spagnola to be their head

coach it's never gonna happen so Andy

Reid has a defensive coordinator who's

clearly one of the best in the league

that he never ever has to worry about

being hired to be a head coach this

isn't College not like someone else can

poach him he basically just just gets to

have his defensive coordinator if he

wants to coach another five years this

guy gets to just stay with him think of

what a luxury that is the the what spags

is doing these last five years

especially the last couple since their

defense has gotten good if he was a 41y

old named John Smith he would have

interviewed for four jobs all even as a

defensive coach all around the league no

one's TCH no one's even pick up the

phone no one will so Andy doesn't even

have to worry about that and like you

said the offense is always going to be

taken care of and I'll promise you this

I I still think the Niners might win the

Super Bowl but this Chiefs team will

never be as bad as they are offensively

again because they're going to get

better but defensively you know you're

in good hands because your defensive

coordinator is Elite he's taking out

bich at multiple Super Bowls I mean he's

just he's won Super Bowls now with Andy

he changed their culture defensively and

he's not gonna leave this is New England

scaria after Josh McDaniels bombed as a

head coach part of what made them great

was this institutional cohesion this

institutional cohesion and knowledge

Brady Dante Scara Bill bich Josh

McDaniels Matthew Slater on special

teams Jesus it was these like six

seminal guys that were the best in the

world at what they did and I think to

your point I think you know I monan may

lose his job after that but I think what

we forget about this um because I don't

think Green Bay wanted to get rid of Joe

Barry I think they had to there's such

an outcry but Green Bay's been one of

those places historically that you know

players don't get in a ton of trouble

you know you're not going to overspend

on free agents no crazy owner you got to

draft and develop Green Bay had a

30-year continuity of offensive coaches

Drafting and develop no chaos at

quarterback I mean now it looks like

they're going to get another 12 with

Jordan love they're gonna go almost 50

years with no quarterback chaos Marino

left Miami they've still never replaced

him the cohesion in the NFL is not

normal look at KY Shanahan he's on his

third defensive coordinator in what

three years right solah got a job Deo

there too now he's on wils who at

halftime looked like he he might have

been on his fourth but I think Andy look

at their core right obviously spags now

has been there over this four five year

run since they've been really good under

Mahomes and they you ultimately have to

choose a couple players around your

quarterback and you got to get it right

and for 20 plus years belich always got

it right well they made a decision right

they got rid of Tyreek but they just

stuck with Travis who was easy too

because he doesn't make that much money

he's a great player and Chris Jones so

their core was basically the one of the

greatest quarterbacks of all time one of

the greatest tight ends of all time and

one of the greatest interior pass

rushers we've ever seen and then they've

just built it around there with great

cohesion at coaching n Matt naggie

leaves he gets fired immediately comes

back right so a lot like the Josh

McDaniels thing you know this guy who

the co the quarterback knows cohesion is

an underrated part and now Andy Reid

historically has been used to losing a

lot of coaches right and he's he's

comfortable doing it but right now I

think they got something special with

the players and the coaches of

everyone's on the same the Niners have a

lot of that going for him with the

players right Kyle and this group of

players have all been together now for

four or five plus years that matters you

saw in the second half of course it

matters you saw it so it's interesting

with momes G look at Gibbs rookie who's

fantastic fumbled the ball Christian

mcaffry ain't fumbling a ball great

rookie ballhead plays like it matters

all this stuff I mean in fact G You

could argue Gibbs and Z flowers made the

big mistakes of the game great young

players so it's um in Detroit it's

interesting because they could take a

step back when Ben Johnson leaves he's

that good where everything could come

back down to earth if you hire the wrong

coordinator Nick serani and Philly is a

great example you miss replacing a

brilliant OC it's a different everybody

comes back down to earth it I was

thinking about Mahomes today though when

he started the game he didn't have an

incompletion to the second

quarter is that I don't think we've ever

seen anything like this Payton Manning

as good as he was was a teeth clencher

Elway had some really bad big games um

Brady was mostly an early game manager I

can say it now Mahomes is the greatest

quarterback I've ever seen I can say it

and I've watched Marino and Elway you

know I love Brady now Brady's more

productive but what we're watching here

is a player that against the best

defenses in the highest leverage moments

the biggest audience the most pressure

best defenses is significantly better

not better significantly better than he

is in the regular season his playoff

numbers they don't make sense it would

be like Derek Jeter was a 300 hitter

hitting 370 in the postseason it's like

wait time out well yeah what are we

doing here I when I watch Mahomes I'm

like okay this is he made a throw today

and it was um Travis Kelsey made a great

catch but he was running it was a muddy

pocket he moved forward and he just sent

a little floater up and it was like

Thanksgiving backyard football and it

was completed and I thought nobody cares

about that

play I I honestly today in that

environment ju toose watching Lamar and

him and I'm like if Lamar's number two

in the league the gap between those two

is the Grand

Canyon Lamar's not number two in the

league Josh Allen is and I you listen

they're never going to go on record and

say this but I'll promise you JH and

spags have more fear facing Josh Allen

than they do Lamar Jackson like that's

that's not crushing the guy he had a

great season but he's he's not as good

as those two guys you saw it was on full

display today it was on display the

first half a week ago against the

Houston Texans like he can be rattled

really easy uh and to me

momes to me I'm with you the Brady thing

it's gonna be hard even if he wins a

couple more to ever LeBron and MJ

because it's just there's so much

production and titles and trophies from

MJ but LeBron does significantly more

things better than

MJ I mean last night he was he had like

20 rebounds against the Warriors that

was incredible he's got gray hair all

over his face he's got 20 rebounds

beating the Warriors the thing that

momes does that parallels Brady to a T

is in these big moments now he can do a

sexier play because he can move around

in the pocket Tom could not they never

[ __ ] up they they just refuse and in the

second half and Romo kind of mentioned

this is It's unsexy to say this word but

when you get a lead in a big spot the

game manager aspect or maybe Bill coward

did he's like he game managed like a

Hall of Fame player I'm not no one on

the other team is touching the ball

anyone around me I'm either getting rid

of the ball throwing out of bounds

you're gonna have to beat us but you're

not going to beat us because I give you

something and Tom and the Patriots were

a leite at that pyton would screw up he

would throw the ball to the other team

sometime had some awful interceptions in

in some big games right the teeth get

tight he gets loose but he's very under

control a lot like Tom it's like they're

super focused but they're very calm and

loose it's I mean how many guys in the

history of sports have had that like

tiger Michael Tom I mean it's it's a

tiny tiny list Derek Jeter in the

playoffs maybe Big poppy most guys just

naturally get a little tight you saw

Jared gof like got he just kind of got

felt a little tighter Lamar the pressure

you can feel it you don't even need to

be at the game you can feel it on the TV

you're like God this drive is huge and

then if you don't get a second and eight

all of a sudden you're like third and

eight you're like H the coaches clench

up everyone clenches up and this is

where the championship blood and the

championship medal I saw it when I lived

in the Bay Area with the San Francisco

Giants that it all starts at the top and

I'm telling you Andy Reid if you talk to

anyone that plays for him they're like

his team meetings after losses wins they

all feel the same he's not a yeller and

a screamer he does not invoke tightness

anytime you're around him he's naturally

kind of loose he's not a big screamer

but you know enjoy but he's not a big

Downer in the negative times so I think

it all starts with him and he has the

perfect quarterback for him but to me

Patrick the maturity today to be in full

control on the road against a great

defense like you said early in that game

that that dot he threw to Kelsey down

the scene was like oh these it was like

it would have been like watching Michael

Jordan 97 or 98 like good luck guys

you're in for one the throw to Kelsey

when Kyle Hamilton he was on a single

Side by himself and it was a Kelsey made

a hell of a play first time all year a

tight end beat Kyle Hamilton for a

touchdown and after that throw I'm like

he's on one okay this isn't isn't Kelsey

also a good we talk a lot about Mahomes

and Andy but think about Kelsey all year

long you're like uh is this gonna be his

last year on the Chiefs are they gonna

ask him to take a pay cut like he's kind

of getting old what happens when the

playoffs start looks like the Hall of

Fame a minus guy now he's not may not be

as dominant as he once was 32 33 years

old but he's still it's like a throwback

like Scotty Pippen like Michael I

Michael looking at him like I need you

and Travis like I'm ready and he said it

all week he's like I've never wanted a

game more than this game like these guys

their level of focus and obviously their

talent is second to none but today

they're it was watching greatness like

that that game was were you shocked you

didn't think they would dominate like

that did you like the

chief the Niners Lions looked exactly

like I thought I said on Friday I said

Detroit will probably take the lead

they're a great first half team Ben

Johnson I said pry will play from behind

it'll be go it'll be CL if Debo plays I

said he'll make two or three big plays

and they'll win I think I predicted the

score would be 3428 or 3427 so that game

now I didn't expect the Meltdown in the

huge lead but the the final result was

San Francisco just made more big plays

their physicality took over Detroit was

not quite ready in the moment that's

what I thought I would see it just how

we got there was different I do not

remember ever a playoff game with what I

perceive to be a great team

being more wrong that game first of all

my entire belief on the game was oh

they're going to Pound The Rock make

momes sit on the sideline and it was

Kansas City that had a nine minute drive

it the game looked the opposite of what

I look like I thought Bal the time of

possession I remember they put it on the

screen one time you're like this is

insane and they abandoned the run like I

thought it was going to be uh Baltimore

lead um Kansas City can't quite keep up

in the end Baltimore couldn't score they

they abandoned they if they didn't

abandon the Run they never ran they

never attempted to run yeah so that game

that game okay so let's talk about

this how do you match the experience

with the coaches on Kansas City when you

think about Andy's now been in the

league for 30 plus years and all the

spag Spagnola can can lean back on the

games against belich and his experience

I mean it's big defender of Lamar I love

how much he cares every year he gets

bigger he gets better and we cannot deny

he's a better pocket quarterback today

than he used to be no question fantastic

player I did think today it is now fair

to say it's not quite the same in the

playoffs I defended him forever I used

to say pton Manning wasn't the same in

the playoffs it's it's hard to win in

the playoffs today and again I'm not

blaming him he had no run support I

hated the game

plan but he melted a little late and I

think it's fair to say he had a couple

of bad throws I do think it's fair to

say that is he tends to be run Centric

he can melt a little he's not as good

from behind most aren't but when you

watch him and Mahomes I'm like some of

the criticism is just now I defended it

but it's

just well from a specific football

standpoint he got fidgety today he got

rushed he looked like the younger Lamar

where in the playoffs when it wasn't

going Baltimore's way he would one read

and then kind of scramble around and

kind of scramble within the pocket and

it just throws everything off instead of

all season long now granted they were

beating the crap out of most teams right

he was very under control it's like well

if this is the version of the player I'm

all in because he's calm you know kind

of moving around today he got very

fidgety he got very felt very uneasy

about two seconds into the plays and

part of that I think gets back to the

immense amount of pressure in a spot

like that against that opponent and you

start going we down you just naturally

kind of freak out now maybe we look back

in a couple years and he wins a game

like this and he says going through that

experience helped me out but today he

resorted back to the guy like I I I said

this last week everyone [ __ ] on Josh

Allen was he perfect no but I never

watched for a moment and thought I

wouldn't want that guy on my team if you

put that guy on a team that's stacked

you're winning with that guy it was not

his fault he did not look overwhelmed

I'm not saying Lamar looked overwhelmed

but I need you to be in complete compl

control the moment you get fidgety it's

the pton Manning thing in the playoffs

you're playing the best of the best he

used to lose the Patriots you're playing

Andy and Mahomes here they're not going

to screw up and this defense is solid

like just live to fight some other you

know get a seven yard gain right

complete some balls the balls were

flying on him the rain started coming

but to me he was very very uneasy in the

pocket and that to me you kind of knew

it right away like you you could feel it

and it happened against the Houston

Texans then he came out a different guy

why they started running the ball calmed

everything down he never calmed down

their offense never calm down monan

didn't do him any favors the way to

settle a quarterback down is get him a

run game by the way second half ners

Christian mcaffrey peeled off a couple

big runs everybody comes down the

temperature in the room comes down

little swing past the Debo Debo breaks

tackles the sideline play to KD it just

brings the temperature down it gets the

crowd into it so San Francisco after a

rocky first half by pie what are we

going to do let's get him some yards

let's not put the pressure on him they

never did that with Baltimore they just

kept dropping him back by the way and

spags is bringing extra people Baltimore

can't block them so at no point did

Baltimore say listen because they saw

what you saw God Lamar's frenetic here

let's get him help nope they just

dropped him again with six rushing and

five

blocking if I told you this morning that

before the game kicked off the Chiefs

are only going to have 17 points you you

would probably assume they're going to

lose right

like I didn't Envision a spot where they

could win 17 to 16 or 17 to 13 or 17

to10 but what happened today awful pick

in the end zone in a triple coverage

carlosz gets a big strip sack against

him obviously the Chiefs came through

with turnovers you can't afford to have

the 49ers overcame the pick party it was

early would they would not have been

over able to come overcome a pick in the

second half and let alone countless

turnovers stay flowers Lamar Jackson the

fumble strip sack I mean that's

you're not overcoming that against you

know the new Dynasty it's not possible

but it starts with him I mean I the

whole building I I would imagine every

guy and and and female that bought a

ticket felt it early like oh we're in

trouble this quarterback looks a little

off-kilter and let's face it he was

yeah I think the Super Bowl is going to

be interesting for a lot of

reasons um San Francisco as you noted

comes out a favorite I would bet Kansas

City um I think line will come storming

down don't you yeah I mean listen um

this

institutional coaching the Chiefs just

won the Super Bowl last

season they won the Super Bowl they're

back in it how are they not we played

them before Mahomes wasn't making the

money the roster was a little deeper on

the defensive side more experienced uh

PR's a better Runner than Garoppolo I

think he's I think he I I always thought

Jimmy threw a great ball between the

hash marks could didn't move much pretty

gives you a new new element uh mcaffrey

wasn't on that team so this team has got

some elements Niners offense is way

better now their def their defense is

not as good as that team that defensive

line was at Buckner that defensive line

was good I I would take Kansas City in

the points um you know because I've

watched San Francisco play crappy

football for three quarters against the

Packers and two and a half quarters

against the Lions so my takeaway is

where I I haven't seen Kansas City have

a bad quarter they've had 12 excellent

quarters with with San Francisco Isco

they've overcome I mean let's let's not

kid ourselves that green go back to the

Baltimore game they've had some bad

games over the past month it's not even

just the playoffs they've been off so um

I just I gotta tell you I find

uh I don't know why I bet against Kansas

City there's just so much institutional

intelligence um you know and it was so

clear today early on I mean Kelce had

one of his best halves ever and not even

just touchdowns just making diving catch

after diving catch Fant there's been

this sort of narrative he's not focused

there's Taylor Swift and I'm like well

he's showing off for today because that

[ __ ] what I'm

watching that maybe he has a ring in his

pocket he's delivering tonight because

that was like one of the he was engaged

I I I thought Travis Kelce really set

the tone and you know what else I liked

in big

games Baltimore didn't give it to Gus

Edwards it's like what are you doing

didn't um they didn't go with their

strength what did Kansas City do Travis

Kelce Travis Kelce Travis Kelce Peko

rice who's become I love their game plan

which is What's

spags um rep pressure what did they do

played right into his strengths go look

at everything Kansas City did today it

was all the best version of what they

did and I and I think San Francisco's

second half by the way way looked

exactly okay here guys at half this is

who we are let's go do what we do now

Detroit did the same thing which is

reckless but I Baltimore's the only team

this weekend I thought what what was

that I don't get that I thought I

thought Kansas City and San Francisco

nine or second half really that's who

they

are you know one thing that Andy has

changed definitely the last couple years

a part of his Tyreek gone is the knock

on him was always pass pass pass he has

no problem given to Isaiah who against

the 49 I mean look at them they can't

stop the run right now so I would expect

for this Super Bowl a lot of poo because

stopping the run is not and let's face

it their outside passing game with the

Kansas City Chiefs is not as good as

Detroit's so the 49ers are going to have

to find a way to slow down this game

because that that if you're just giving

up five six yards a carry you're just G

to be up against the ropes it's

impossible not to be because it keeps

your offense off the field you know

obviously this guy on if it's third and

three they're talented enough to get

those and they have the greatest

quarterback of all time time but you

have to stop you cannot stop the run

like they would have lost this game the

version of the way their defense was

playing to the Kansas City Chiefs and

now it's inside fast now that benefits

the 49ers too but the other kind of

Swing is think about Mahomes these last

two weeks just perfect he's just been A+

A+ H's you know been been a little bit

of a roller coaster I I don't think you

can afford roller coaster pry throwing a

pick six or something against Kansas

City and being down 10 nothing to the

level of coaching staff you're going to

go to now maybe the Niners can figure

out some defensive stuff but here's one

problem Colin when you invest a lot into

a certain position like ultimately like

why are the Chiefs struggling with the

wide receivers well they they don't have

a great player like it's not like

they've bought one guy who's not living

up they drafted a guy in the second

round Sky Moore didn't work out whatever

rice is whatever a third round pick like

they'll be fine they will invest more

into that the 49ers have invested a ton

into the defensive line right now Bosa

made some plays today but Chase young

they trade a third round pick for he's

no way where uh Armstead and hardgrave

today were many places to be found by

the second half at least Fred Warner and

Drey Greenlaw started making some plays

but when you invest in an area this was

the downfall of the Philadelphia Eagles

when you put all that money in the

defensive line well if the defensive

line doesn't play at like an A minus

level and if you put them at like a c

plus B minus you're going to be screwed

because you're going to have major

liabilities other spot this is a

business that you build the pie chart

over and the Niners are very dependent

on this defensive line and right now it

is not good beside Bosa none of them are

making play cons and they definitely

against the Run they're all getting

turned around in these gaping holes so

Andy Reid might have been a passing

coach but I would imagine that you're

going to get a big dose of running game

uh come the Super Bowl yeah I I don't

have a strong feel because I I will say

this I think Kansas

city has the best quarterback I've the

best player I've ever seen so that is my

Edge and I think Andy Reid you know I

yeah I think I've told you this before

that if the NFL would have written that

CTE check to the players Union 10 years

earlier and the league would have

pivoted to offense andy'd be the best

coach in belich probably wouldn't have

two or three of his Super Bowls but it

was late so Andy was working against the

league and these offensive coaches

defensive coaches reign supreme for

years and decades in this league well I

mean now you you you watch John

Harbaugh's game plan today you look at

McDermot Mike Tomlin how these teams

struggle on the o line Run games it's I

mean is it a surprise that Kyle Shanahan

and Andy Reid yeah are in the

championship game only McVey to Me Maybe

Payton but that's kind of the highest

cut of the cloth in this league

offensively is it not is it not

Shanahan's the best scheme guy in the

league Andy's the best play designer and

pl Play caller mcvey's the best

offensive culture Builder and then I

think you could I think pton and leflour

deserve a lot of props Ben Johnson's

probably the best young coordinator

Shane styken I think is getting really

close to put into that yeah he's damn

good

it's not a surprise this is the coaching

sport NBA is a players League Baseball's

a pitcher sport football quarterback in

a coaches League we have the two best

offensive

coaches yeah for sure I mean I and I

think both of them and this is what my

issue we talked during about college

football during the season with Lincoln

Riley and some college coaches is they

don't even look the defensive side of

the ball that they don't they don't

attack it till it's too late is Andy

Reid and Kyle Shanahan are huge

Believers now it doesn't always work

work but doubling down on defensive

lines getting aggressive players paying

for Corners drafting guys high at on

defense cuz part of my ability right is

going to be I can help the guys out on

this side now it helps when you hit star

players like Kelsey or Tyreek Hill or

trade for Christian mcaffrey but that

Jawan Jennings no one heard of the guy

three years ago and now he's making big

plays every single game right that they

can they can create that with no names

and defensively they've always you know

allocated a lot of resources over there

there and sometimes offensive coaches

you know are either two hands off I give

Shawn McVey a lot of credit look how the

defensive coordinators he's always

invested in how much uh emphasis they

put when they do have draft picks on

that side of the ball right because you

you cannot win in these big spots

obviously the Niners were getting

shredded but their defense came through

in big spots that are highly paid right

obviously Kansas City has a fantastic

def the Baltimore was there because they

had the number one defense so offense is

huge and the offensive you know head

coaches are

the uh ultimately like the swing part of

it but you got to emphasize defense as

an offensive coach because you're going

to need that side of the ball and the

Chiefs have really benefited from that

this year because their offensive

Personnel is not as great but they keep

getting better right and obviously Kyle

since he's been since they've been good

they've always had very physical defense

I also think practicing physically is a

really really big thing and Andy Reid is

still known for running the hardest

training camp Kyle Shanahan talk to

their players Monday through Friday is

not that that fun it's a very very

intense environment it's not negative

like belich but in terms of

football-wise you better know your [ __ ]

or people are on you and practice is not

just Lolly gagging around in sandals

what was the knock on the Eagles this

year I like ah they weren't really

practicing they were an older team well

that's I get it but if you do not

practice in football you practice four

or five times more than you play every

week so you the practice these coaches

are addicted to practice Andy Reid and K

they like practice as much as they like

the games their excitement getting ready

because it's the preparation for but

it's also getting setting the team's

tone it's why Harbaugh is such a great

coach his practices are physical like

his team doesn't just show up and shove

people around it starts in the offseason

it starts in training camp and then it's

through the weeks during the season it

was always something famous bellich did

when they were always the number one or

two seed and they got the bye I heard

Joe and Edelman is like we used to

scrimmage and full Pats like it was to

set the tone for physicality we didn't

want to lose that because that is the

separating Factor offensively and

defensively and when you practice

practice hard everyone gets better what

do you watch when you watch the Chiefs

and the ners I mean people are getting

hit hard offensively defensively and it

starts with the head coach you can't

fake that listen most people in in life

aren't tough like Dan Campbell's a tough

guy you know Jim hara's a tough guy you

go is Kyle a tough guy well the way he

views football philosophically 100% Andy

Reid's always smiling and hugging people

I promise you and he loves throwing

bombs loves toughness in football and

and it shows in the biggest moments

because that's where he needed to come

through John middleof former NFL scout

three and out um podcast for the volume

this is always great um so I think we'll

we'll meet again next

week um listen we have the best coach

and

quarterback against maybe the second

best coach and best roster and so uh the

conspiracy theorists can say the league

wanted um Taylor Swift in but it looked

like Todd monan wanted the Chiefs in not

Roger gell with that goofy game plan um

it's been a hell of a year you know I I

look at this year and these ticket these

ticket prices to get in I I might need

to get in that building call and I might

need you just to call some people to

call some people because this this

ticket price the get in price could be I

bet it's going to shatter records I mean

in Vegas right in Taylor what do you

think that Lions ners rating is today

fox has been on a roll Jesus fox has

been on it 40 48 million people you

think but listen I like the NBA I

watched both the Celtics Clippers game

Saturday night first half second half of

the Lakers Warriors I love the NBA NBA

is dying to get like 1.9 million for a

game I know the NFL and I think

legalized gambling is jet fuel is

completely pulling away

I three or four things are happening to

the NBA one the NFL took Christmas back

which was a huge marketing day for the

league NBA NFL said yeah we're done with

that we're going to own it hurts that

was a real launching Point secondly the

league is getting highly European most

of the best players Luca Giannis yokich

doesn't bother me I love it but it is

getting our domestic players have very

little imprint these guys come you know

wem's the next great player SGA is from

Canada it's it's and I'm I'm not opposed

to it I like stylistically I love

watching yic play but you know fans

often they kind of root for their own

they want to see their Kansas guy and

their Ohio State guy so that's second

thing the third thing um with the NBA is

that Stephan LeBron carried the league

for 15 years and that was so much fun as

I watched it this weekend and as I

watched it I thought is this the last

meaningful game between those two I

literally was getting romantic I'm like

we're not getting any Steph I mean Steph

LeBron this could be one of the last

times they really light the world

up where is like five games under 500

they're not going to be in the playoffs

I thought can the NBA you know how golf

gives sponsors exemptions like could you

give a sponsor exemption to get Steph

Curry into the playoffs because that's

got to be the highest rated NBA game of

the year do you know one thing I think

in the NFL and I'm sure you've talked

about this but I really noticed it in my

life whether it's my girlfriend or her

friends whether it's just other ladies

in my life my mother and her friends a

lot of women watch the NFL you know my

my mom watched every snap today and she

W she because I worked for Coach Reed

and he was so good to me she she doesn't

miss a Chiefs game she's a DieHard

Chiefs fan

you know and I know so many moms that

you know I'm from Northern California

they don't miss a snap of the Niners and

I think that's probably the same moms in

Philly women in Philly Dallas I think

you go around the country no way

basketball has that I mean I think the

under and this is not has anything to do

this is well before Taylor Swift ever

showed up Dayton Travis I'm telling you

I I think the the audience uptick in

women watching football specifically the

NFL has got to be alltime high wife

doesn't like sports glued to the game

today with her sister my sister doesn't

like sports became a Seahawk fan with

Russell Wilson my sister and my wife do

not watch sports anything ever I mean

they they the idea of taking my wife to

a baseball game it it it would be like

taking her to a bingo game in an old

folks home yeah she just wouldn't do it

no I think you're right in fact I saw a

number was six or I just got to Fox

about 7even years ago and they were

showing um I got some research from the

people upstairs Mike mulva Hill and I

stopped by I used to see him like once

every few months and I see him a couple

times a year very bright guy all the

numbers and I was shocked I follow on

Twitter like it was like 50% of the fans

were women or close to it I was like no

that can't be true it

was like people up in Seattle and your

sister's friends and just random females

over the last 10 years when Russell

Wilson came onto the scene how many of

them do you think followed the Seahawks

really closely I bet it was pretty high

yep and I and I also think there's

something about football it's once a

week so you don't feel I mean women have

big broad lives careers kids yeah one

game a week by the way it's Sunday and

so husbands are around family's around

it's a it's kind of like lunch dinner

beer it's a real it's real family

feeling football it's once a week it's

also to be honest with you um I mean I

do think there's something to be said

you have to be a real baseball fan to

get baseball there's literally 162 games

spring training postseason there's over

200 it's a maze of games I'm a sports

caster I get lost with it NBA so many

meaningless games load management NFL

players once a week they play hurt and

you know for most of your stars the

careers are 10 years so you just get

used to seeing people and by the way

many of those players that are great in

the NFL they were great in college so I

just followed you can go follow Caleb

Williams at USC to the Bears so you have

some connection to him

I I also think one thing you know most

of my friends either from college or

high school if I went on Instagram the

day I I swear to God 80% of them were at

the Niners game and I think if you grew

up in an NFL City like Philly or Dallas

or wherever or the big college cities

it's such an event right it's fun to go

tailgate it's it's getting out of the

house going to hang out it's it's really

just all day it's a positive thing now

the game might not turn it it was going

to be a negative thing if they lost but

it it is something fun to do and like

you said it's not one of those it's once

during the season right it's every other

week if you're a season ticket holder I

mean I know countless season ticket hole

it's very easy thing to follow it's

always easy to get rid of your tickets

and I don't know many people that are

associated with a team as a season

ticket holder or go to games that

complain about it and I think it's the

opposite in the other sports where uh I

know so many people over the last five

years that have taken their kids to see

Steph Curry and just for whatever he

didn't play right and and that's

dramatically hurt the game you know when

you're going to a Kansas City Chiefs

game or a 49er game that if I'm wearing

a Debo Jersey or I'm wearing a kelse or

Mahomes Jersey that guy's gonna have to

have a broken leg or broken shoulder or

else he's playing and if he's playing

he's going to give me everything he has

it's totally relatable I mean MB doesn't

play against joish and we're both I'm

we're both NBA fans I watch a I watched

I watched again I watched Clippers

Celtics I'm dipping I I I I I've gone

the it's just I I found it with the with

the the load management and the effort

I could last night was pretty remarkable

but that felt like a game from 15 20

years ago right the Lakers and Warriors

that that's not what the NBA is anymore

they they've lost the guy's making so

much money the urgency of the sport has

been lost that's what's amazing about

football is the money has like Patrick

Mahomes signed a $450 million contract

and if I told you that guy was playing

for his career you would have thought

today like his you know his contract was

on the line so the the money hasn't

phased any of these guys you might not

play well but you never feel like

anyone's mailing it in everyone's always

trying and I I do think it's a culture

of football from from peew to high

school to to college to the pros guys

are coaches yell at you right you're

just getting yelled you're getting

humbled you go look at the NBA media

coverage it's like sick of fan oh it's

too POS it's just it's just basically

they're all PR people because nobody

even the ones I respect they don't want

to lose access to the top four agents in

the top 12 players in the NFL there's

there's just I mean Kansas City I mean

take Kansas City Travis Kelce gets

pissed off at you I'll go talk to

Mahomes I'll talk to Reed [ __ ] they two

corners there's just guys to talk to in

the NBA there's like a player a team

that you have to have the access to I

used to have a buddy that covered the

San Francisco Giants and he's like man

those guys will turn on you like those

guys will turn up well if you you had to

be nice to Barry or else he'd throw a

bat at your face so it's like in the NFL

it's just the the media is hard but

supportive I mean we're not here taking

I mean I used to be brutal on Baker I've

I think he's great I love his Redemption

story so don't you think most guys most

players are are unfazed by it like in

the NBA they they go into the tank and

they get mad and they start lashing out

and the NFL it's like whatever I'll see

you next week NFL players because they

have shorter careers and they stay in

college longer a lot of them marry their

sweethearts in college and because of

the sport families families and kids

sooner and so they're not on their phone

all day I mean if you're if you're some

of these NBA guys you're 27 never

married no kids you're doing your thing

you're on your phone all day at your

hotel I I tell people this all the time

that people I've had not in a long time

but I pretty much have my staff except

for games like today when they're big

games but I have my staff pretty much

run my social and and I tell people all

the time you there's no value in reading

it but NBA again but I'm married kids

business podcast if I was a 28-year-old

sports caster and I didn't have any of

that I'd probably be on the phone all

day

so I I think I think NFL players tend to

come into the league more mature they

see the they also know one injury and

they're done so they put their money

away you don't hear a lot of NFL stories

of guys going bro most of the guys put

their money away because they know

they're just the one hit from being

done you know yeah so what's your what's

your guess on the numbers today we

talking over 50

million I'll say 40 that Niner game got

pretty good in the second half say 46

and a half

million um

Super Bowl get over 50 I mean you know

it's so funny when the season started I

think we were a little concerned at Fox

I'm not going to speak for our upper

management but the AFC quarterbacks

Aaron had left the AFC and Russell

Wilson the year before had left the AFC

and we're like I Jared Goff how long

Stafford playing I mean it was I me it

was like

no but what's been great is the NFC has

these great rivalries Dallas against

Green Bay Green Bay San Francisco just

going and then Detroit such a

heartwarming story is the nfc's got

these the afc's got a lot of like Philly

Philly's just interesting even but in

the if you go to look at the AFC it's

tennesses and Jacksonville's and the

Houston Texans yeah Kansas City's

obviously a a profoundly popular uh

franchise but in the NFC you've just got

these built-in 60 set even the bad teams

the Bears were kind of fascinating this

year is Justin Fields going to work um

and Washington's going to get Ben

Johnson richest owner most cap space

that'd be kind of interesting the NFC

has these big

foundational uh people don't understand

John out east they have no idea how

popular the ners are out west they have

it well wouldn't you say that the NFC

East if we were going to compare it to

college football would be like the power

of the SEC and then if you took like the

Packers and the 49ers that's like

Michigan Ohio State I I'm not obviously

I'm the AFC is really good I'm just

talking the power of the brands I mean I

don't think people understand like when

the 49ers and Green Bay play each other

how many people are watching that game I

mean you're talking about my entire life

that's a rivalry Going on 30 plus years

these two teams have been in the biggest

games in the biggest sport now for

decades the great late John Madden used

to um have a line and he used it at Fox

and and management often um kind of

hearkens back to it does the game sound

big San

Francisco miners sounds gigantic Dallas

Packers

sounds Cleveland Browns Houston Texans

it just doesn't sound that big couple

years ago Jacksonville Chargers it just

doesn't sound that big well you could

argue this is the best Super Bowl Ma I

mean obviously the Cowboys being in it

given the quantity of people but the

second best matchup would be the 49ers

against Mahomes no no I think it's

listen it's

it's again people I would say the ners

of Dallas got to get get to the NFC

championship for that ever to happen but

you just know what I mean the brand the

winers are the Yankees of the West the

Lakers are popular but it's the

NBA I think the Niners are even bigger

than the

Dodgers how many Niner fans live in Los

Angeles did you see this year was it

this year the Niners play the Raiders

well it's been the last three years

Colin they sell that place out they call

it niner South crazy I mean I went to

Starbucks this morning so I got a great

workout in I went to Starbucks there are

three guys in ners full Niners gear it

was like 850 and I'm like and then where

else did I go oh I had to go to a

pharmacy and there were two more Niner

hats in there and I'm like people just

when you're in Los Angeles it is Dodger

hats Lakers shirts and niner

hats you know Kyle always had said

before he took the Niners job that he

was only going to go to a job that he

felt had a good quarterback situation

because he had seen so many people fail

and then the Niners offer him the job

well he he had been there with his Dad

when Steve Young and they were winning

Super Bowl so it's hard to say no and he

went because of the power of His

experience there and when you win with

the 49ers

like to me they're one of the biggest

brands of my lifetime any sport they've

just been consistently good and now I

mean they are just rattl like they're a

bigger brand than Kansas City obviously

Kansas City could win back-to-back Super

Bowls but it's not even close in terms

ofans how many interesting quarterbacks

John Brody uh into Montana into Steve

Young even like into Kaepernick Alex

Smith was capable with J Garcia was

going to Pro bowls going toe-to-toe with

far and then now then they had garoo got

him to a Super Bowl now it's Brock pry

they haven't all been great Montana

young were but they've always had

interesting even Kaepernick they've had

interesting quarterback stories and good

enough to win a bunch of games I mean

God they got to a Super Bowl with

Kaepernick garoo and now pie how many

organizations could do that do you think

the reason Brock is such a polarizing

story is just simply his draft spot or

simply because of his draft spot and

he's the 49ers quarterback you know I

don't here's what I think I don't think

he's polarizing I think it's a we live

in a debate culture and I fall into the

I think he's good I don't think he's

great I think he's good I don't think

he's big enough his arm but he's good

and I thought his second half today

running around he was really good and

then there's those that say you know my

my buddy Jason McIntyre he's great and

I'm like no that Scouts know what

they're doing I mean there are these

occasional CT Warner stories or Antonio

Gates where GM's and both of those by

the way there were circumstances why

they didn't get drafted but I think

there is this he's great he's this I

think Brock pry is a good quarterback um

if if I argued he's kurk cousins with

Mobility that's a pretty good

quarterback CJ strout is Jared G with

Mobility that's a pretty good

quarterback so if I said to you he's

kind of kurk cousins you can win a lot

of games with Jared G you win a lot of

games with Kirk Cousins imagine if he

could move oh you can it's called Brock

pretty that's what he is when when CJ

Stout came out all the scouts were like

he's Jared gof well is really except he

moves better well [ __ ] Jared's good

without moving so what's he like when he

moves so I think I think the comp is is

like CJ Stroud to me is I mean Jared

throws a beautiful ball Stroud throws a

beautiful ball he just moves better so I

think I think Brock pretty feels like to

me kind of a pedestrian arm uh

pedestrian oh AR arms average body but

he moves and that's a good player he

makes plays in big spots

yeah budy

see John middleof former NFL scout we

love him three and out podcast always

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