Unraveling NFL Strategy: Chiefs' Resilience vs. Ravens' Missteps and Super Bowl Lead-Up Narratives

Ever find yourself shouting at the screen when a team inexplicably strays from their winning formula? That's exactly what we're unpacking with our guests, Allan and Sean, as we dissect the Ravens' bewildering decision to abandon their run game in the clash with the Chiefs. This episode takes you deep into the strategic misfires of Todd Monken, the tenacity of a Chiefs team that seized every opportunity, and whether Lamar Jackson can carry his team to the ultimate NFL glory. Get ready for a candid breakdown of a game that flipped the script on expectations and left us all debating the finesse of football strategy.

Strap yourselves in as we shift focus to the Chiefs' triumph, a victory less about highlight reels and more about resilience and exploiting mistakes. We're not just giving a play-by-play; we're delving into the very essence of what it means to win in the NFL. From the harsh reality of legacy-shaping playoff outcomes to the tantalizing "what ifs" of Mahomes in a Cowboys jersey, we cover it all. Plus, we don't shy away from the gritty psychological impact of game-changing errors and the ripple effects of defeat, drawing parallels to the Cowboys' own turbulent history.

Lastly, we cast our eyes towards the horizon of the Super Bowl and the narratives shaping up in the lead-up to the ultimate showdown. Will Dan Quinn stick with the Cowboys, or is there a shift in the winds for Dallas? Can the 49ers bring the heat against the Chiefs, or will Mahomes and his offense reign supreme? And let's not forget the Packers – their youthful resilience has us tipping our hats in respect. Join us as we spin the narrative threads of an NFL season that's anything but predictable and set the stage for a Super Bowl that's gearing up to be a clash of titanic proportions.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Welcome to Lacey's lineup. Championship weekend. The stage was set and a number one seed fell. But if you only tuned into the second game in the first half you would have thought the first seeds both fell. But crazy enough, we have a lot to talk about today with these two games. So I love that I brought on my brother, sean. He's here again today to talk to me, and we have a new guest, alan. He's a cowboy fan. So we're both not happy, but we just wish for good football and we're ready to break it all down. So welcome to the show, guys.

Speaker 2: 0:39

Hey, thanks for having us. Thank you.

Speaker 1: 0:44

All right, so let's start with the first game Ravens and Chiefs. I just wanna throw it out there. Are you guys shocked that the Chiefs pulled off this upset in Baltimore?

Speaker 2: 0:57

Yeah, and I think most of America should be shocked by it. Baltimore was not only number one in the AFC, they were number one in the entire NFL and from every other game you've seen they've been dominating their opponents. So to see them come out and basically just have the sloppiest looking offense, the defense needed some adjustments. In the first half they made them. In the second half the defense did the offense just imploded on themselves. So shocked, yes, I couldn't believe the way that that unfolded for Baltimore. I thought that they were the better team all around. I thought that the Chiefs had a good run but it was gonna stop in Baltimore. But they didn't do it.

Speaker 1: 1:36

If you look at it too, they went away from the run game. They started when they did their first drive and score I mean Chiefs score but they answered pretty quickly. But that was led, even though it was a Zay Flowers touchdown. That was led by Gus Edwards running them down the field. Why do you abandon that?

Speaker 2: 1:56

You know, I don't know what Todd Monk and the offensive coordinator was thinking on that one. I mean, running is like their bread and butter if you've looked at it all season and the fact that they only had three runs by running backs the entire game, but even those three gave them 17 yards. Why do you get rid of something that works so well and go into? It's almost like Dallas did with their defense, going into zone and moving from their man coverage. It doesn't work. And then that's when you present the problems that you see, like with Lamar and then the receivers, they get predictable and they backed away from their strength.

Speaker 3: 2:32

Yeah, I mean I'm not gonna say that I was shocked. It's hard to be shocked to beat against Patrick Mahomes and I think that more now than ever. Yeah, definitely what Baltimore could have done on offense, I think they could have made it at least more of an interesting game.

Speaker 1: 2:50

Yeah, I mean the guest bus was taking them all the way to the Super Bowl and I mean they even had Hill, and Lamar Jackson is a running quarterback. They only ran the ball on second down four times. Is that just because they were down the entire game so they felt like they had to throw to get back in?

Speaker 2: 3:10

Well, it's going back to like. I put a lot on Todd Monk in on that one. I mean I don't understand it. The way I could break it down is like it seemed like he was doing this out of a total act of desperation, which I mean they weren't that far out of hand, but I just don't understand why they would. There's really no logical answer for it. Special note too Kansas City is ranked 28th overall on run defense. So it's not that they're afraid of the defense they're facing. I don't get it. It's like it's almost like they got into a. We have to score now, and the only way to do that is give it to Lamar. He'll figure out what to do, and they abandoned it. And you're right. Like Gus has been great, I mean, especially after Dobbins going out in the first game. We think that's going to be a big hit for the Ravens.

Speaker 1: 3:54

He's shown us all season that that's not as significant as it could have been and we lost Mitchell. We lost Mitchell.

Speaker 2: 3:59

And Mitchell yeah.

Speaker 1: 4:00

But they add Dalvin. Cook Hill is a huge explosive run. And then Gus Edwards is just Mr Reliable.

Speaker 2: 4:07

Exactly.

Speaker 1: 4:07

So that's their run is more. Zay Flowers is great, but let's move on from that. You're going into halftime 17-7, still in the game, right? I mean you've dug a little bit of a hole, but you come out and I mean things just start falling apart. Lamar Jackson's fumble, but let's talk about it. Zay Flowers, do you blame him for this loss?

Speaker 2: 4:32

I'll tell you what. Right now I blame him as being a part of this loss. There were a lot of things that went wrong to cause this loss, but he had one unfortunate series of events that will be remembered more than any of the big plays he actually made. So let me break that down. I think we're all aware of that one. So he gets a great pass, big gain pass. Then next thing puts him in great position. Then the next thing that happens, he decides he feels the need to taunt the defender, which gives him 15 yards in the opposite direction. Coming back from that, they drive it back to where they need to be. He could have just cut the ball secured the pass went down. They're going to be on the one. Chances are that team can score if they ran. But he decides to reach out and, sure enough, the same defender that he taunted stops him, coughs up the ball and it turns into a touchback. So I should know.

Speaker 3: 5:25

I mean the taunting penalties. Do we change that? Does it change the game too much?

Speaker 1: 5:31

It's gotten very soft. It really has. Now, I think it was called because of the way he turned the defender over and then spiked the ball right by his head, like I think he sold it more and they had to call it. But that's a rookie mistake, right? That's a rookie, it is no one's rules.

Speaker 2: 5:51

Well, the icing on the cake, too, is the fact that even after he coughed it up, after all of that happened, he goes to the bench, and he's so frustrated that he decides to take his bare hand and slam it into a bench and injure himself too. So those are three unfortunate events that unfolded on the same drive that defined him for that game.

Speaker 1: 6:08

And it's unfortunate because he's had in a great season and I feel like the fans just had a frustration. They're gonna put that blame on him and he's gonna have to carry that, which hopefully will make him a better player next year and kind of mature through that. But I just wanna know from you guys though do you think it was more that like where you guys more upset with the taunting or the fumble and the enzyme?

Speaker 3: 6:32

I mean I think we like to see good, clean football, even if we're outsiders we're not watching the Cowboys, we're watching other teams at least make it a good game. And those stupid penalties that it just kind of takes the fun out of what I think is head-to-head competition. So I think definitely any turnovers gonna be, it's gonna be more impactful to the game yeah, yeah, I'm gonna have to agree with Alan.

Speaker 2: 6:59

The taunting is just he needs to learn discipline and he's gonna learn from that. That's unfortunate and that's things that need to be cleaned up from an etiquette perspective, and it's just we. There's no place for it. But yeah, what hurt the actual outcome of the game more? Because they did get back to where they were, but then he fumbles it and that's what. That's when things really got out of hand it is.

Speaker 1: 7:17

It would have been a three-point game at that point yeah right, mm-hmm, and that was coming down to it, and that's just where they fell apart. So let's switch gears. Though let's talk a little bit about the Chiefs. Do you think this is my home's taking this game over? Are we gonna give credit to a Chiefs defense that we haven't seen play like that all year?

Speaker 3: 7:37

I'll say this. I mean it's just a winning organization. I mean there's more than one component of it. Obviously, patty my home's is Patty my home's. The defense stepped up, everyone stepped up when they needed to, and you come in as an underdog. Everyone thought the Ravens were gonna win that and they ended up winning because all of them were clicking pretty well, yeah, and that's that's the thing.

Speaker 2: 8:01

Like my home's, he what. He didn't have an all-star performance by opinion, but he managed the game perfectly to get them to where they were with that win. If there's anything like that I can say is that Baltimore gave that. The Baltimore offense pretty much was handing them the game and they capitalized on every single opportunity out there so they didn't give away presence. Basically that's what Baltimore did. They just accepted them and delivered. So I think it was a well-rounded like defense did their part. I mean, obviously they didn't have to work too hard with their weak rush defense because Baltimore removed that themselves. But as far as like from a unit that, yeah, I think they came in, they were well prepared, they were well disciplined and they executed the way they needed to to get the job done and the more disciplined team ended up with the victory in that game yeah, and I look at it too.

Speaker 1: 8:46

If you see they did not score but three points in the second half, right? No, they were, yeah, three, they held them to three yeah, the defense shifted at halftime.

Speaker 2: 8:57

Baltimore's defense made the adjustments they needed to. They came through and if you think about the whole game, they held Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to 17 points overall. That should be a recipe to win if you look at just that stat, but then that's once again. That's why you have to keep pointing the finger at Baltimore's offense, because they're the ones that prevented that from being anything more significant for themselves yeah, so is it the headline?

Speaker 1: 9:21

is it Mahomes overcoming winning on the road and going back to the Super Bowl, or is it more Lamar underperforming and not getting there when he clearly was a part of the best team on the AFC side?

Speaker 3: 9:35

I think that's what's gonna. It's gonna say in Baltimore, without a doubt, I think from the rest of the country looking at it, it's gonna be all about Mahomes and the Chiefs, like they've been in the spotlight all all season long. But I mean, if I look at it for what it is and it's, we're looking at how well the Ravens have done and how much of a choke that was.

Speaker 2: 9:57

I mean, that's just kind of the reality of it it's a choke job it's a joke that's what the headline should be in every newspaper, to tell the truth of that game yeah, and Lamar, I mean it's.

Speaker 1: 10:08

I still think Lamar will get to the Super Bowl. I can't take away from what he is, I think, a lot of teams not wanting him the whole controversy of him not being paid this year. I think that he made his point to where he got the team, but he was at home, and I think Mahomes is just on another level, though at the end of the day, that guy will compete and he finds a way to win and.

Speaker 1: 10:32

I gotta give it to Kelsey. I mean, kelsey had been struggling all year he had a great game came through with some passes. I haven't seen him catch in a really long time, is that?

Speaker 2: 10:44

the Taylor. Swift effect well, I was gonna, was I gonna mention pop stars on? This one, but yeah, it could be, but I doubt it. I think that was just.

Speaker 3: 10:52

Kelsey, yeah, she's been at other games where he hasn't done much.

Speaker 1: 10:57

He stepped it up for a playoff game and he's he's a winner, and that's what winners do yeah, I mean, can you imagine having just because we're all Cowboy fans, can you imagine having Mahomes lead our Cowboy team?

Speaker 2: 11:11

I could imagine it. Yeah, I see it happen. That would be fantastic.

Speaker 3: 11:16

I take him.

Speaker 2: 11:17

No, and I you know, being where we are and watching the team, that we do, I feel for Baltimore you think it's gonna be your year and you got the talent and you're you know, you're going up, going up, and you think it's gonna be the year and playoffs happen and that's, that's the NFL yeah and I have to point it out to going back to Lamar like yeah, he had a fantastic run all the way up into that game, but then whether it's I mean I think part of the part of this is gonna absolutely be effective to like not utilizing the running game, I mean for sure, but look at his turner, he had the fumble, which that was a good play defensively, but still he had the fumble.

Speaker 2: 11:55

But then what defined it was the way he managed it at the end, like, if anything reminded me the Cowboys more, it was that the last opportunity they had to do anything with that game, when he just threw that Hail Mary style interception to a tight end in the end zone without, I mean, there were other options around yeah, it was a blind throw.

Speaker 2: 12:13

It was a terrible decision and unfortunately for him. I'm not trying to take credit away because I think he's the nominal quarterback I really do. That was just a sign to show that like people are gonna know him for that last play and blame him on that too yeah, until he wins the Super Bowl.

Speaker 3: 12:30

Yeah, I mean, how many games like with Romo did we see like that and that's what?

Speaker 1: 12:36

yeah, I mean I'm not Dax still active in playing, but I mean, yeah, that's what we're looking at with Dak right now until something changes yeah, I mean, at the end of the day you can have the best regular season, but you're defined by what you do in the postseason and how many rings you can bring home right especially in a championship game. To me next to the Super Bowl, that's it yeah, us Cowboys fans are just trying to get to the championship what's that like?

Speaker 2: 13:05

it's been what? 29 years now?

Speaker 1: 13:09

man. But overall, though, still a good game. I mean it was fun to watch that it wasn't like a blowout, even though Kansas City controlled that game pretty much the entire time. There was still, if you take back, zay flowers fumble, and then they were in scoring position again when he threw that interception. So that's just bad management, but I still. I mean, do we put blame on the coach? I mean, was that the worst? It's kind of preparing for that, like you went away from everything that got you there.

Speaker 2: 13:39

I wouldn't put it well go ahead.

Speaker 3: 13:41

Alan, I was gonna say, and you know, head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterback, how much power does each one have? I mean the coordinator gives a play out and maybe a receiver doesn't execute it and he puts it in triple coverage or whatever. I think it just depends. I mean as a quarterback, doing everything that a coordinator is telling him to. I Think once they're in the pocket they have a little more freedom than that. They need to read the field and throw it away. When the throw it away.

Speaker 2: 14:10

Well, that being said too and I think part of it as well Like I mean, I have to blame it as a collective group, but I still put a lot of blame on the offensive coordinator. Now Harbaugh has the final decision, but not, honestly, in the heat of a game like that, you're depending on your coordinators to make those calls and get the play, and then the final standpoint is gonna be your quarterback reading the defense and making a switch. But if you don't run, if you make the option not to run, it's hard for me to believe that Lamar actually got up there and made the decision to not run all those times. So if you're making those play calls, that's what handicap them and led to all these mistakes and dependencies in the passing game Is that absence of a running game. So to me, like the biggest blame of anyone goes on to, you can say Harbaugh, but I'm gonna say it's, it's literally the offensive coordinator in this position.

Speaker 3: 14:55

Yeah, I'm just gonna assume Harbaugh was concerned with game management and Everything like that, but then again we don't know what's going on between those mics. You know, Going to the quarterbacks.

Speaker 1: 15:08

I just know as a fan whatever that was, throw it in the trash, burn it, don't ever use it again Like it doesn't work you do have Mahomes and Lamar, who I do think even if a play is called, they're gonna change it, and I think they have that leeway too, where Dak Prescott will follow you and do whatever you say.

Speaker 3: 15:29

Yeah, I mean I would. I would put like Peyton Manning up there too, where he kind of commanded the offense more. But I Don't know if Lamar is that type of quarterback. I don't know. I think Dak has games where he's that type of quarterback. Mahomes, we obviously know he's that type of quarterback and he's got the reins to prove it.

Speaker 1: 15:50

Yeah, I agree at that. Well, like I said, good game chiefs back in the Super Bowl. I don't. We'll get to what that is in a little bit, but I'm telling you right now, really not looking forward to a Swift Bowl and I'm not looking forward to a back-to-back champion. I don't want the Kansas City Chiefs to be the next Patriots where they're there every single year On to the second game and I know you guys all watch this and it was crazy. I mean, deep down, you got to go. As cowboy fans, you don't want the 49ers there because you don't want them to go ahead in the Super Bowl wins right again, because we're tied with the Cowboys right now. But right your heart.

Speaker 1: 16:33

I mean Lions kind of were that heartfelt team that you wanted to be there in the end and they came out Explosive. I mean this was a game of two halves, so let's start with the first half. Was this more Lions offense or bad defense by the 49ers to start this game?

Speaker 2: 16:51

I'm gonna have to chime in and say this is all. Lions offense was red hot. They had a great scheme, they executed it perfectly. I didn't see anything where I thought the Niners defense was broken. Detroit just came out and executed so well that, like it's very Hard to defend that. So when men was on their side you were they were obviously fired up, and they should be. They've had such a fantastic historic season and you know, the whole country is most, for the most part, definitely not the people that, the Niners fans, but they were all behind them too, because it's the Cinderella story that we have right now, and you know. But they knew it. They were fired up. They played with passion.

Speaker 2: 17:24

Campbell gives him that and you know I can't say that it was the Niners defense at all. The Niners had to make adjustments, that's for sure. But the Detroit running game was phenomenal. And then when, when that happened, that opens up golf takes pressure off him and he was throwing good passes. They were and they were moving down the field. So they in the first half it was just purely good Lions execution on the offensive side.

Speaker 3: 17:50

Yeah, agreed.

Speaker 1: 17:52

Yeah, I mean it was everything was clicking for them. I mean it was a little premature because you can't count the 49er. I mean 27 7 for Cowboys. It's crazy because we had that right like it's a little too close to home and we knew our season was over there. It's crazy that they were able to punch back. So let's go to the second half. I mean we know the first half was all Lions. I mean the 49ers have been bad in the playoffs this entire time. I mean they should have lost to the Packers. They, you know they were definitely losing to the Lions, but they're finding a way to win and it's all been in the second half. So is that Shanahan adjustments? Is that where his mastermind comes in, or do you think the pressure started Building on the Lions as they were chipping away?

Speaker 3: 18:40

I think it's a couple things. First off, shanahan is a very intelligent coach and can make adjustments. Detroit Fights hard, they just do, but momentum, I think, started happening. You know, detroit Misses a few catches that were, you know, on the line and they turned into stops, and that just momentum has changed.

Speaker 2: 19:09

Yeah, I agree with the Shanahan analysis. Like San Francisco has shown, they've come back. They even did it against Green Bay as well. Like they have made halftime adjustments, they play a decent first half, sometimes Not as well as the other team which we've seen, but they are smart, they never give up. You have to give that to him because they they would never hung their heads during that first half. They went in a halftime just figure out how they're gonna come back, when they're gonna come back and win the game. But what teams need to realize about San Francisco is that you cannot give them any Opportunities because they will destroy you on it.

Speaker 2: 19:42

And this was a prime example in the second half of Detroit Not necessarily do anything bad right out of the gate. Until they did and it was the turnovers they scored. Like San Francisco got it rolling because, if you think about it, they came out San Francisco at the ball first, they marched down the field and I think a lot of this. I know I was thinking like, oh, here it goes, they're just gonna start their run, but Detroit still held them to a field goal. So Detroit is still, in my opinion, at this point, like at that point in the game. They are In command of the game still, but then you get to the fourth downs, you get to the fumble and it's just rapid repeat, like rapid fire For the night they're gonna make a live.

Speaker 1: 20:21

Yeah, I want to hear y'all's opinion. What was more crucial for the Lions in that second half? Was it the Gibbs fumble or was it the Reynolds fourth down wide open drop?

Speaker 3: 20:36

I Think there were a couple of those. But I mean, at the core of this, what we've been saying all season is San Francisco has the most talented roster out there and I think it's just a few mistakes that happen. You lost a little steam from the first half and that talent just kind of caught up with you and and San Francisco does what San Francisco does. They had injuries earlier in the season with those three losses in a row, but you know they're pretty healthy and they were fired up and they overcame but you know Pretty big deficit, which is impressive. But I you know they're just a talented group overall.

Speaker 2: 21:19

So I mean I'm gonna have to point it out that you know, going that first, like when they went for it on the fourth down and they didn't get it, and one that you know it still hit Reynolds in the hand. So I'm gonna have to say, like you got to make those plays in a championship. But that aside, niners can mark the other way back down. The IU catch my goodness the most. The pivotal point where I mean that the fourth down was what kind of started. I cranked the engine for the 49ers but the Gibbs fumble on the first play deep in their own territory quickly after that. That's when that they think that's what cost them the most, because Kershaw McCaffrey didn't take any time getting back in the end Zone immediately on that one. And then that's when the panic happened.

Speaker 2: 22:01

49ers had Match the rush game on that one, like they are adjusted to it, sorry, they knew how to play it better. That's when the lion started abandoning their rush, which is a no-no, but they couldn't really get anything done because it was predictable. Now, but having those points that fast, having the game pivot and then having momentum completely on San Francisco side got the fan, the crowd, everyone. All that stadium was all about it. They were back in the game and Detroit just started playing in a shadow, and that that's what dwindled them down. They lost that explosive them they had in the in the first half because of that. One single play turned the tide.

Speaker 3: 22:36

Yeah, it's not just what bad plays happen, it's when and where, and that was just pretty unfortunate. They still had time to come back, I think, but at that point, yeah, it was a San Francisco. It's fired up.

Speaker 2: 22:51

Yeah, well, you got to think about it too.

Speaker 1: 22:52

That was also a miscommunication on the handoff as well, because Okay, so let's let's raise our blood pressure a little bit and talk about what everyone's been screaming about. Dan Campbell already missed it on a fourth down, but instead, like you said, they go down and they go ahead, but they only go up by three. You get the ball, you're marching down the field and you're on fourth down again. You just lost a 17-point lead in eight minutes. The momentum has shifted. You're playing on the road. Why go for it on that fourth down instead of tying the game?

Speaker 3: 23:38

That was a mistake. At the same time, that's the type of decision that Dan's made all through the season that's got them to where they are. I get that. I do understand that.

Speaker 1: 23:49

But there's also a time and place the first four down. You go for it. I do get that like that made sense and he's always gonna go for it. But in that moment you got to put those factors in and realize that we got to stay alive and at least get points on the board.

Speaker 3: 24:08

Yeah, I was just gonna say I mean we. It was no different than the Dallas game.

Speaker 1: 24:14

He kept going for it, kept going for it at cost and it cost him the game he should have learned for that.

Speaker 3: 24:20

Yeah, yeah, I agree, but I, again, I, it's hard to put a loss on one player, it's hard to put it on the coach for one decision. I mean it, I don't know. I there's just too much into it.

Speaker 2: 24:35

Well, you know, the thing that I want to say is my, my opinion on it, like I'm. I know statistics and analytics are all in the NFL now and they're saying, oh well, if you're at this yardage and whatnot, you go for it. But I don't want people to lean on that. So, yeah, then Campbell has literally been aggressive as anything I've ever seen all season. I mean, look, even the Cowboys gave like what. They kept going for it for two, like three times in a row, like at what point you just take it to a tie.

Speaker 2: 25:01

I think this is that kind of position here. You're in a championship game, you're tied, you lost that 17-point lead. Take the points, kick the field goal, get the lead back, get some momentum going back with your team, because now you're ahead again. But the the other way to look at this too. We wouldn't be having this conversation as much right now if Reynolds would have caught that pass, which I mean it was in the hands, he was open, he'd missed it, he'd make he looked down field too fast and dropped it. Had he made that catch, they had another set it down. Who knows what would have happened.

Speaker 3: 25:33

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 25:34

But you know, I mean either the hero or, you know, you cost him the game. I do understand that. I just think his emotions Can either be great and they ride off of him, or it can cost him and it has. I mean it has.

Speaker 3: 25:50

I still say take the points.

Speaker 3: 25:52

Yeah, in that specific case, yeah, but you know what? He's gonna come back next year and he's gonna be aggressive because look at how that teams, you know, trended up the last and wins the last, you know three years. I mean I think you know they could easily be in the Super Bowl next year at the rate they're going. He's gonna be aggressive. He may have learned a few lessons on, I mean, there is such thing as too aggressive, but you know it makes for good football and you know they're they're fun group to watch and his, you know His pressers are great.

Speaker 1: 26:24

So yeah, they're young, I mean, but and that's another thing too St Brown Barely saw the ball in the second half.

Speaker 2: 26:35

Yeah, they covered him well, but that's because they started abandoning the run game when they started getting into panic mode, so then the offense becomes more predictable.

Speaker 1: 26:43

Yeah, Exciting game. I mean I was really rooting for the Lions. I mean I just they had my heart. They're a young group. Their journey has been awesome and I said it on my podcast from the beginning of the weeks I wouldn't be shocked if the Super Bowl went through Detroit, Like that's how much they were playing great ball. I mean La Porta, Crazy good St Brown, and then they had Gibbs and Mount Gummery. I mean they just had weapons everywhere.

Speaker 2: 27:10

But yeah, no, and I remember you and I talking about Lions I think it was back in like wheat six or so, and we had our last Cast together, but yeah, you even had them at one. So look what happened. I mean, they came so close. So, yeah, it hats off to him. They had an immaculate season. I think they're just gonna keep getting better from here, though, so we haven't seen the last of Detroit. This is like a new franchise era for them, so look forward to seeing what they produce and seasons to come.

Speaker 3: 27:34

Yeah, I agree, and they may lose a coordinator here there is.

Speaker 1: 27:39

They're obviously pretty good yeah but their offensive coordinator was supposed to go to the commanders and he announced today that he's staying with this team.

Speaker 3: 27:49

Good, so well, good. Yeah, that'll be fun to watch next year. Looking forward to it.

Speaker 1: 27:56

Side note before we finish this, though, because you guys are both Cowboy fans. Do you guys see Dan Quinn taking the Seattle jump?

Speaker 3: 28:03

I think it would have happened by now.

Speaker 2: 28:07

Honestly, I think Dallas is gonna keep them, I think at this point, like they, I think do we want him to say as long as he forgets the zone and we don't play Green Bay and we don't play Green Bay. But I mean, you can't blame it on him too much. In the Cowboys have had an awesome defense, so he had a bad game. I hope we don't see that again, but hopefully he's, just like the players, learn from that mistake.

Speaker 3: 28:28

But yeah, I don't think that last game helped his resume too much, and that could be a reason why he's not signed to the other team yet.

Speaker 1: 28:36

Yeah, but there was talks, if he goes because they still haven't named it that Ron Rivera would be the replacement. Thought of some thoughts on that. Hmm, are we training old school for old school at this point?

Speaker 3: 28:51

Yeah, look, how boys do that I think the game's kind of left them. I mean, ron Rivera, you're talking about going back to the Bears in the 80s.

Speaker 2: 29:00

Yeah, well, in Carolina is what I think too.

Speaker 3: 29:04

Yeah, I mean he's. Yeah, well, you know me I side note to the Cowboys I can't ever stop talking about them.

Speaker 1: 29:12

I just wanted to hear your take on what your thoughts on that are one of the last ones, but overall the games this weekend I mean 49ers played from behind both playoff games at home and they prevailed. So we're looking at 49ers and Chiefs in the Super Bowl. I mean, do you think Chiefs are going to give them a game or do you think they're going to come in and clean house?

Speaker 3: 29:42

I'm not betting against Patrick Mahomes, I mean that guy. I'm just not. I wouldn't be surprised if it's San Francisco year. Just with their coaching staff and just their level of talent on that team, on every side of the ball, you would think that they would win. But you know, I've been wrong on both these last two games. So on paper I'm saying San Francisco, but if I'm betting money I'm saying the Chiefs. I just think that they're rolling hot. And again, patrick Mahomes. It's hard to bet against that guy right now.

Speaker 2: 30:20

Well, it's kind of like how we used to think about Tom Brady. It's like you know the Patriots every time they're in there. I mean, look at the Atlanta game, just pick it and take Quinn they were blowing him away and then he comes back, but Mahomes has that. So, that being said, I think this is going to be and this is mainly coming from just the playoff performance as well from both teams, their comeback abilities, their game management abilities this is going to be an offensively driven game, because neither defense sticks out. San Francisco, in my opinion, has the edge on defense, but they both have so many offensive talents and I think this is going to be a shootout kind of style game. So I have the Niners actually pulling this one out, though I feel like it. That's who I would rather, and it's nothing against the Chiefs, except for the fact that, like you know, we have seen them. I mean, they've got a great thing going for them.

Speaker 2: 31:08

If they win it, they obviously deserve it, but I would personally rather see the Niners win. I know it's weird hearing that from a Cowboys fan, but just to mix it up. But the Niners have had a great season and you know, each team deserves to win this. They've made it this far and they've had a great like. I mean, kansas City overcame the biggest deficit in the regular season. I didn't even think they'd be here at all, like not even in the playoffs hardly. But look at what they've accomplished and they've had the hardest road, like you know, and basically they've ever had, because Mahomes didn't have its home field and they're just going to just all the way through this time. So it's going to be a good one, but I just I still think the Niners are going to find a way.

Speaker 1: 31:45

I think it's going to get interesting because Chiefs' defense has stepped up and the 49ers' defense looks to be very unorganized. They come through in certain moments, which has helped them. But there was headlines this week that they might bench Chase Young, so they just said that he's been costing them and not doing what he's supposed to do, and so I feel like there's some ripples in that defense right now that I'm not sure if that's going to play a factor in this game.

Speaker 2: 32:20

I mean, defense wins championships, right, right, it does. But I mean think about what happened like we were talking about with the Lions Niners game. Like it wasn't that San Francisco's defense was bad, they just didn't have it put together to stop that hot offensive attack. But they made such good half-time adjustments. So don't put that past them. They're going to depending. I'm not even going to really predict anything in the first half of this game. I'll tell you that right off the bat We'll see what happens right out of the gate to the second half and that's going to show you if the adjustments were made, if need be. We don't know where we're going to be at that point, but regardless of where they are, shanahan has proven that he can make the right adjustments at half and they are never out of that game.

Speaker 3: 33:01

Yeah, and I think one thing, especially Brady Aira on we've always been told that defense wins championships and we definitely saw that with Denver, you know, against Cam Newton. But it seems like defenses get you to championships. Quarterbacks are winning the championship that particular game.

Speaker 1: 33:23

Yeah, and we didn't even talk about that with the 49ers, though Purdy running.

Speaker 2: 33:29

Yeah, that was unreal. I mean, you want to say I mean?

Speaker 1: 33:33

Purdy's got a lot of slack this year. You know just saying he's only good because of the weapons around him, but you can't put him in a category with Patrick Mahomes. But he's holding his own, Like some of the plays, and him extending them and then knowing that he has to get up first. I mean he might not look good running, it might not look right, but he was running and those running plays to get that first down is ultimately what won them that game.

Speaker 2: 33:58

Yeah, he's a competitor and you know, when he was without his weapons during the regular season and he kind of got exposed and we were all saying, oh wow, brock Purdy is human Well, he is, but he's developed even more from that and I've seen a side of him where I'm seeing a really good like game management, want to win quarterback. He doesn't make many mistakes. There was a lot of times where he made the right decision, like where he could have forced it, but he's not going to be able to do that. I mean, he's playing smarter, he knows what's at hand and I just I got to tip the hat to him because he's really impressed me, especially in his later half of the season going into postseason for sure.

Speaker 3: 34:38

Yeah, especially with that at that age. What he's done you know, since he's been starter. I mean there's no denying his skill level and I think it's only going to get better. You know they may it may be time for him to get paid big and they're going to lose some talent elsewhere, and I think you know they're still going to be a competitor every year that Shanahan's there.

Speaker 1: 35:01

So of course, because he tends to make deals that are unbelievable, like.

Speaker 2: 35:05

Christian.

Speaker 1: 35:06

McCaffrey right.

Speaker 2: 35:07

Unreal yeah.

Speaker 1: 35:09

It's just crazy. So, but I think I mean, are we excited about the Super Bowl, Like, is this a game we're getting pumped about, or are we just hoping for good football at this point?

Speaker 2: 35:20

I'm hoping for good football. I'll just say that.

Speaker 3: 35:25

I, yeah, no one wants to watch a blowout game. And you know, do I want San Francisco to lose? Just the image of Kettle popping off his jersey during that Cowboys game and having that done for sure, I'm like I want them to lose. You know, I just do. No one wants the Chiefs to win. I don't know. I kind of wouldn't mind seeing Patrick Mahomes beat Tom Brady's records. He seems I don't know a little more down to earth of an a guy. I would like to see him be right there with Tom Brady. So I'm not opposed to the Chiefs winning. I do wish they pulled it off. I hope it is a competitive game. But yeah, no one wants to blow off a blowout game.

Speaker 1: 36:07

The only thing with Chiefs winning, though, is we might never not see Taylor Swift again if she takes a Super Bowl.

Speaker 2: 36:17

Yeah, I was going to mention that but now that you brought it up, that's true. Yeah, who did she play with?

Speaker 1: 36:24

They're making shirts that actually say Go Taylor's boyfriend. Yeah, can't say that I've seen those. That's bad, but all right. So final thoughts, just real quick, since playoffs are done, super Bowl set. I'm getting emotional because football is nearing the end and we got to wait again to see if it's Cowboys year next year. But just out of all the games played, what team, even if they lost, most impressed you in the playoffs? It could be current or ones that went out.

Speaker 2: 36:59

I'm. You know that's a tough one because there were some that I really think stood out. But in all honesty I can't believe it. But I'm going to have to say the chiefs, because going back I kind of mentioned before they were on the road. They played at home the first one against the Dolphins in freezing temperatures, which they're used to, but still no one likes playing in that one. But I mean they they delivered really good against the Dolphins. That was no contest really.

Speaker 2: 37:24

But Buffalo going next to another cold game when they had home field advantage we all know how the Bill's Mafia is. Buffalo has been playing solid lights out football for the last half of the season, like they were just on a run and to come out and get that win was huge. And then going to Baltimore, the number one seed at home for the championship, and playing the best they should have, like I mean the way they executed and got it done. When I had all the doubts of them in the regular season at the beginning, it was just incredible to see how they put that together. I mean you would have never thought that they were lower ranked than the opponents that they were facing by the way they played. So I say that that was the most impressive thing to me.

Speaker 3: 38:04

I would have to go with Green Bay because I did not expect them to be in the playoffs at all. They did what they did to Dallas. They're a very young team and they hung in there with, you know, san Francisco. I just I think they impressed me the most. The chiefs, I'm not surprised about San Francisco. We all predicted won the Super Bowl after like game three, but in Baltimore they choked. I would have to go with Green Bay, just based on their age.

Speaker 1: 38:35

I'm actually going to agree with Allen on this. I think Green Bay too, I mean I definitely overlooked them. So did the Cowboys. I wanted to play them over Buccaneers, like even two, when we ended up getting the second seed. Green Bay was scary to me, or wasn't scary to me, and they came out just fearless. Like you said, the way Cowboys played the 49ers, where most people played the 49ers, they came in and I think that's a big hats off to Matt LaFleur. I mean he does a really good job and they're young, I mean just like the Lions. They're just not as far as the Lions or probably the Lions of next year. But they came in and took no business and it came down to a bad decision by their quarterback love at the end to throw across his body, and that's what cost them a trip to the championship game.

Speaker 3: 39:27

Those are going to be some fun games with the Lions and Packers next season. I'm looking forward to it.

Speaker 1: 39:32

Yeah, but that's what I mean. Like I said, I don't get shocked with the Chiefs either, and the worst thing they could have done is say that, uh-oh, we got to see Patrick Mahomes try to win on the road when he's always won at Airhead. That's still the deal. Like you, don't tell a Patrick Mahomes that, because he is going to show you that he can do it.

Speaker 2: 39:51

That's what I thought was impressive.

Speaker 1: 39:53

Yeah, and I want to say but I think we're going to all be in a grants and y'all can just tell me but the least impressive team of the playoffs Dallas. I mean I'm shocked if you guys had anything different.

Speaker 2: 40:06

I'll just stop you right there. It's going to be Dallas. That was horrible. That'll give you, lose you got embarrassed.

Speaker 3: 40:12

I'll give you a clue. It starts with a C and it ends with an Alboyz.

Speaker 1: 40:21

Is it ever going to be our year, guys? Are we going to see it in our lifetime?

Speaker 3: 40:25

Soon as I invent that time machine.

Speaker 1: 40:28

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 40:30

I'm going to pull out the VHS to get Right.

Speaker 1: 40:33

Oh well, it took me a couple of weeks to get over that. One Still hurts to see it, but it is what it is. I won't be over it till the draft day, and then it kind of seems like we kind of reset in that that April, and then you know, I really thought my McCarthy was going to be gone, though and I'm not saying that to be mean I just feel like we need something, and unfortunately, he was that sacrifice. I think we need a young coach, like a little floor.

Speaker 3: 41:00

Well, the players in the hand. The players need a different voice because after five years and you don't make it to near a championship, the message doesn't change and that's just statistically proven with college, professional and it could be baseball, basketball, professional football. If your team wins a championship, you know it had been done. Your head coaches first, three years and we've passed that. And now I just don't want this to turn into another 10 year of Garrett, you know, thinking you're going to go against the odds, and it just is not going to happen unless you pull something out of your hat.

Speaker 2: 41:43

And it's just so monotonous to.

Speaker 2: 41:45

I mean, if you look at it.

Speaker 2: 41:46

I mean the one good thing that we could say about the Cowboys in the last maybe five, six years or so is at least we're not an eight and eight team anymore. So there's that, but all I mean. But, in all honesty, like if we're this excited, like we could say it this year, but if we're so excited just to get to the divisional round of a playoffs, like we haven't even seen a championship, but it's like it's, it's yeah, we're always excited when we make the playoffs, but the team needs to be fired up and I don't know what's broken, because as good as we've seen them be during multiple seasons this one included, I mean even going back to the Roma days during the Descada era like those teams were like really good, but what broke? You know and it's, but it's the same thing every season. It's almost like it's expected and I just it's going to take a different leadership culture within this unit to really fire them up and change the dynamic they need, like a Dan Campbell or someone I mean that's what we need.

Speaker 3: 42:39

They do and I mean you can blame Jerry all you want and I get that. He creates culture around that place, but you know he's not on the field getting.

Speaker 1: 42:50

But he's in their ear. I mean, he's the first. What other manager owner is interviewed first after a game?

Speaker 3: 42:58

Yeah, but does that? Does that really affect the locker room? I don't think it should. I mean, it's the same man who was there for the three Super Bowls, and it was because they had the voice of Jimmy firing them up. They need that.

Speaker 1: 43:11

But he also fired Jimmy.

Speaker 2: 43:13

Well, yeah, that could be a whole other topic.

Speaker 3: 43:16

Yeah, we don't have time for that this time, but you know what was exciting?

Speaker 2: 43:19

just to wrap that up on the Cowboys for my end, during that, during the halftime of that game, did you see how fired Jimmy was? I was like, yes, put him on the field. Like that's what we need.

Speaker 1: 43:30

We don't know that was the only excitement I had in that game.

Speaker 2: 43:33

Exactly, that's why I had to point that out. That brought back a little nostalgia from the early 90s.

Speaker 1: 43:39

Yeah, I mean, I was ready to go put my pads on, I was ready to play.

Speaker 3: 43:43

Yeah, the man speaks the truth.

Speaker 1: 43:46

He does and that's the fire he needs. I mean, think about McCarthy's, probably halftime. It's OK, guys, we'll figure it out one at a time. Like I just feel like he's so, like you need someone that's like in your face and like Doing what.

Speaker 3: 44:00

Jimmy Johnson. I would. I would picture McCarthy being more of the coordinator type. I don't, I don't picture him motivating a locker room. Now I'm not there and I've heard some good interviews with them, like on the ticket, like he's a personal guy and a nice guy, but I just, yeah, yeah, I just can't in my mind picture him like like putting the fear of God and someone to. I really need to put 110 percent out here and focus and you know, I just don't see that.

Speaker 2: 44:32

But yeah, that's almost like everyone gets an orange life at halftime. We're all going to be buddies here. Just do your best, That'll work out. No, we do need some. It just I think that's the only thing we can point out is that the lack of intensity and focus, especially on the big stage with the Cowboys or against big teams too I mean, you can look at our regular season record on that Forty Niners could have something to say about that as well.

Speaker 3: 44:56

No offense, Mike, if you're listening.

Speaker 1: 45:01

Well, I appreciate you guys coming on. It was fun. At least, like I said, it was good football, no matter what, some head scratchers, but enjoyed it. And here we are, super Bowl. We'll get the Pro Bowl, which is now flag football, dodgeball, a whole different type of Pro Bowl, which I think is actually more entertaining. So I enjoy it. But we'll see the Super Bowl in two weeks and then hopefully I have you guys on this time next year. And we're talking about the Cowboys headed to New Orleans. Sound good.

Speaker 2: 45:31

No, that sounds great. I hope so too.

Speaker 3: 45:34

I'm going to pencil that in Cowboys. That's a good call.

Speaker 1: 45:38

All right. Thanks for coming on, guys.

Speaker 3: 45:39

All right, thanks, lacey, thank you, see you, lacey.