Episode 280: “I Still Can’t Believe in Texas”

Introduction

• 00:00:00–00:01:37
  • Hosts Chris Horwedel and Greg Crone return after the holidays and exchange greetings.
  • Greg reflects on surviving the holiday season without major illnesses, emphasizing how quickly the NFL regular season has ended.

College Football Playoff Analysis

• 00:01:37–00:09:19
  • Discussion about flaws in the college football playoff system:
    • The need for reseeding before the playoffs begins.
    • Critique of Group of Five teams being seeded highly but consistently losing.
    • Example: Notre Dame (#7) vs. Penn State (#6), where Notre Dame is favored despite being the lower seed.
  • Speculation on Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter’s availability and how it could impact the game.
  • Chris and Greg debate Drew Allar’s potential draft stock and its implications for Penn State’s future.
  • Analysis of Ohio State (#8) vs. Texas (#5):
    • Critique of Texas’ inconsistent performance and Ohio State’s dominance.
    • Praise for Ohio State’s ability to produce elite wide receivers, including Jeremiah Smith.

NFL Wild Card Weekend Game-by-Game Discussion

1. Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans

• 00:21:11–00:22:35
  • Chargers are favored by 2.5 points.
  • Analysis of injuries to Texans’ key receivers and CJ Stroud’s performance dip.
  • Discussion about the Chargers’ vulnerabilities and injury concerns (e.g., JK Dobbins).

2. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

• 00:22:35–00:24:58
  • Ravens are 9.5-point favorites.
  • Criticism of the Steelers’ stagnant offense and poor performance in the previous week.
  • Praise for Lamar Jackson’s regular season success, with concerns about playoff consistency.

3. Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills

• 00:25:06–00:26:40
  • Bills are 8.5-point favorites.
  • Discussion of the Broncos’ resurgence despite significant dead cap space.
  • The Bills’ superior offense highlighted as a deciding factor.

4. Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles

• 00:27:31–00:31:56
  • Eagles are 5-point favorites.
  • Jalen Hurts’ recovery from concussion protocol and the Eagles’ defensive dominance.
  • Concerns over the Packers’ youth and injuries to Christian Watson.

5. Washington Commanders vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• 00:32:07–00:34:35
  • Buccaneers are 3-point favorites.
  • Discussion of Baker Mayfield’s surprising 4,500-yard season and the underwhelming nature of the matchup.
  • Analysis of both teams’ mediocrity.

6. Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams

• 00:37:20–00:40:03
  • Vikings are favored by one point.
  • Sam Darnold’s inconsistencies and the Rams’ dangerous potential are analyzed.
  • Praise for Jimmy Garoppolo’s solid performance.

NFL Coaching Changes

• 00:11:46–00:19:29
  • Discussion of recent firings, including Antonio Pierce and potential hires like Ben Johnson.
  • Analysis of job appeal for teams like the Patriots and Bears:
    • Speculation about Ben Johnson joining the Bears or Jaguars.
  • Critique of the Jets’ ownership and coaching carousel.

Pop Culture and NFL Player Workload

• 00:35:46–00:37:08
  • Chris reflects on Saquon Barkley’s heavy workload during the season and the decision to rest him in Week 18.
  • Comparison of Saquon’s 345 carries with historical benchmarks.

Closing Remarks

• 00:40:54–End
  • Reflection on the unpredictability of the playoffs.
  • Chris and Greg express their excitement for the Wild Card Weekend and sign off.