Talking Grit: A Detroit Lions Podcast
Talking Grit: A Detroit Lions Podcast
Episode 12: Lions vs. the NFC North: Who Stands in Our Way?
In this episode of "Talking Grit," hosts Jason Harwood and Jacob Litton provide an in-depth preview of the NFC North. They analyze each team—Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers—discussing key player additions, losses, and potential impacts on the upcoming season. Emphasizing the significance of these teams' improvements, they also highlight notable draft picks and free-agent signings. Looking particularly at running back Josh Jacobs for the Packers and rookies like Caleb Williams for the Bears, they consider how these changes could challenge the Lions' path to the Super Bowl. The segment wraps up with a NFC North edition of the Honolulu Blitz
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Welcome back to Talking Grit. I'm Jason Hartwood and with me as always is Jacob Litton. He's here to make fun of me, make me feel like a little person, that's what we all want to hear. So yeah, no, it is not. So how you been Jacob?
Jacob Litton:Pretty good. How have
Jason Harwood:Yeah. Good, really good. Tigers are 8 2 in their last 10 as we're recording this but by the time we play this, it's probably gonna be after the All Star break, but feeling really good going into the All Star break. I'm,
Jacob Litton:About as good as you can about the Tigers right
Jason Harwood:yeah, they got the best, they've had the best record up to the All Star break that they've had, since 2016 it's just hard when they start 5 0, you get, expectations get really high. Raised pitching's been awesome, the hitting is, was subpar until the last two weeks. They've just,
Jacob Litton:All of
Jason Harwood:Turn it on. Colt Keith is lighting it up. I love it. Scott Harris needs to spend some money on the bats. He just needs, we need a thumper in the middle of that lineup, missing Kerry Carpenter hurts So you could tell that. Jacob and I follow other sports other than the Lions, but we're going to get back on task here. We're going to talk about the Lions. But not specifically the Lions. Cause this episode is going to be a preview of the NFC North. I understand this is the Lions podcast, but we're going to go outside that a little bit because to win the division, to get where we want to go, to get to that Superbowl, we got to face these three teams and the difference between this year and last year is these teams have improved. So I think it's important to go through this list so what do you think about the NFC North this year, Jacob? Are you with me that they've, teams have improved or are you going the other way?
Jacob Litton:No, I think that they definitely improved. I still think it runs through Detroit. I think we're the favorites as we should be and I, still feel like we're gonna get it done. But, let's go ahead and go talk about these teams and see their feeble attempts at trying to dethrone us.
Jason Harwood:It's right. It's nice view from the top up here. We haven't been up here before. I like looking down at other teams. I want to keep looking down at other teams. First team that we're going to talk about are the Minnesota Vikings. We're going to talk about additions they made to the team, where they ended up last year as far as like offensive, defensive categories. We're going to talk about some key players they drafted, some key players they lost, and maybe some storylines. Where do you want to start with Minnesota? You want to talk about, who they've added, or do you want to talk about who they lost first?
Jacob Litton:So for the Vikings, I didn't put every single addition that they have on here. Just some notable ones. You got to talk about their quarterback, Sam Darnold, running back Aaron Jones. end Robert Tanyan. These are all guys they signed a one year deals, just hold overs for now. I think the biggest signing that they probably made was that they got Jonathan Greenard to try to take over where, Daniel Hunter was. this is a guy that's not. quite on the level of Hunter, but he was still effective last year and they're hoping that he's gonna, step in to make up for that loss. of their additions do you think really is the top one?
Jason Harwood:Yeah. For me, the one that I'm focused on most is Aaron Jones, just cause he's still a good, solid running back. And I was so happy when Green Bay, let him go. But then again, he went right to another division rival. They rated 29th last year in rush offense. Aaron Jones is an upgrade, so I, if he stays healthy, so it gives you another person to think about in the backfield. Anything that distracts you from Justin Jefferson on the defense is tough. Justin Jefferson is going to be your main focus, but I think that could help them out. And I'm concerned about that a little bit.
Jacob Litton:He didn't really play that well last year
Jason Harwood:No, he didn't.
Jacob Litton:We also, as lions fans, we know what he's capable of and we've seen him do it before.
Jason Harwood:Yeah.
Jacob Litton:see, they gave him a one year deal. They're hoping he can return to form and help improve that terrible rushing offense. They had,
Jason Harwood:Yep, exactly. I'm not worried about Sam Darnold at quarterback but who knows how long he's going to be their quarterback because they drafted our boy J. j. McCarthy. So it'll be interesting. we talked before, but as your feelings change on when you think J. j. is going to start, the more I look at Sam Darnold, the quarterback, the earlier I think we're going to see J. j.
Jacob Litton:you know, I just, I need to see training camp. I got to hear what the coaches had to say. See how training camp goes for him. See how well he's meshing with the team as far as OTAs and everything go, it seems like JJ McCarthy's hitting it off pretty well with Justin Jefferson. And. If you're JJ, that's exactly what you want, is to get in good with the top receiver.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, no doubt. He'd be stupid to not make friends with Justin Jefferson. He's Could make you a lot of money as a quarterback, yeah.
Jacob Litton:Yeah, I think I'm more I don't know, I guess you'd be more worried and more concerned about their draft picks than versus their free agent additions. Cause
Jason Harwood:Yep.
Jacob Litton:get JJ McCarthy. Which we don't know exactly when he's going to play, we feel like it's going to be year and it's probably going to be pretty soon. Have Dallas Turner out of Alabama, who is just a on the line, huge address her. And he's definitely going to make up for losing Daniel Hunter.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, you're, You don't know how long he's gonna take to flourish, but a lot of times those top Edgerushers, they can make a, they can make a difference right away. Losing Hunter that's going to be hard to replace, especially early in the year when they're just trying to figure everything out. I think losing Kurt cousins too. I know he gets a lot of flack, they were doing pretty good early in the year with Kurt until he got hurt. They started out a little rough, but they were making their, they were making their making their waves and then Kurt got hurt and and then they had Josh Dobbs throwing multiple interceptions. And so you got Nick Mullins throwing, four picks crucial one to iffy Kirk cousins would tear us up in defense. It wasn't necessarily hard to tear up the lion secondary in the past few years, I'm glad that he's out of the division. In order to have someone else passing to Justin Jefferson than Kirk Cousins. they also lost, Marcus Davenport, left them. He didn't do much for them last year being injured, but now he's a Lion.
Jacob Litton:I feel like the Vikings roster maybe looks a little bit worse. Right now than it did at the beginning of the year last year. Like it's probably a little bit of a downgrade. However, once JJ is the starter, if he plays at the level that we, saw him play it at Michigan makes the throws we knew he can, then I think they definitely, have an outside chance. I still have them finishing last place in the North,
Jason Harwood:Yeah. And that's where I'm sitting with them. I sit down with last, I think they're the, probably the easy picked Be a last outside of injuries, knocking another team down. But they had, terrible turnover differential last year, mostly cause we talked about Nick Mellons and all of them throwing their interception. They're going to have to turn that around. Not good on, on rush defense, which is, obviously the Lions are just going to take advantage of that with our running backs. They have a strong passing offense and that's, mostly cause you got Justin Jefferson out there. They have. Jordan Addison's good outside of his, legal troubles that he's going through right now. I assume that he's going to be able to play most of the year. So I'm not, not thinking they're going to gain anything on that, but I, they're they're defense while confusing for teams. I think I think, losing Hunter is going to be a huge loss for them. And I think the Lions will be able to handle that with their line. They seem to be able to handle, their blitz scheme pretty well last year. But some other teams weren't able to do that. And it's probably because they didn't have the offensive line the Lions had. Anything else you want to add on the Vikings or.
Jacob Litton:Not particularly. We play them in week 7 in Minnesota, and then we play them week 18 in Detroit. And it's that this is one of those teams that, their entire team could look different from the time we play them from week 7 to week 18.
Jason Harwood:Depending on the wins and losses where they go, I feeling if they lose like the first four or whatever, JJ is going to be in there sooner, but say they, scrap together some wins, it's going to push JJ off. But, by the end of the year, if they're out of the playoff raves I don't Definitely expect to see JJ in that last game regardless of where they're at outside of an injury to JJ I would expect to see him there. All right The next team that we're going to talk about is the Chicago Bears Doll Bears Yeah, do that's a old SNL skit you probably do know that references or is that tool
Jacob Litton:that before, but no I don't actually know.
Jason Harwood:Oh, okay. Yeah. We don't have to go into it, but it's an old SNL skit. It's pretty funny. So a bunch of actors that you, I'm sure you read about in your history books or whatever.
Jacob Litton:yeah,
Jason Harwood:all for the bears, the main thing for them that they added was in the draft, I would say, Caleb Williams, obviously number one pick, Romay Adunze wide receiver, another top 10 pick. But then outside that they traded for Keenan Allen and along with DJ Moore, they have a strong wide receiver core. We talked last week about Bryce Young and his, having no talent. Caleb Williams is walking into a pretty talented wide receiver room. So I. Yeah, it's a good situation to go in. I would think so.
Jacob Litton:He didn't get any of this when he started.
Jason Harwood:no.
Jacob Litton:He's there for the rebuild. And as soon as the rebuild happens and he's out. They added Kevin Beyer, the safety, DeAndre Swift, Gerald Everett, just a completely different looking team from last year. I definitely feel like the bear has made a pretty big upgrade.
Jason Harwood:yeah, and I know they didn't add him this offseason. Montez Sweat came over in the trade deadline. They were a much better defense when they had Montez Sweat. So now they're gonna have him for the full season. So I know he wasn't added in the offseason, but I, Definitely think he's, someone that, was going to transform this defense even further.
Jacob Litton:They have new New coaches as well.
Jason Harwood:Yeah,
Jacob Litton:are new. Offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron, of those guys that worked under bill Belichick Charlie Weiss and Notre Dame. And then this guy, he actually was with Jared golf for a while in LA was offensive coordinator last few years for the Seahawks. They're hoping that, give him the keys to the offense and just let him with a brand new, quarterback and fresh out the, draft, they're hoping that they have a top 10 offense right away.
Jason Harwood:yeah, I, with a rookie quarterback, that's a lot to ask. CJ Stroud showed that they can, you can come in and, if you got the pieces around you, you can do well. Me personally, I'm not a big Caleb Williams fan. So I'm, and plus the bears just have a Terrible track record quarterback. He's going to have to defeat the odds to to show that he can have success, but he's definitely set up for it. And, you mentioned a little bit earlier, our buddy DeAndre Swift is back in the division, going to see him a couple of times this year. So that'll be interesting if he's healthy, if he's healthy That'll be interesting. Keenan Allen one getting them for a fourth rounder is interesting. I, for Ricky quarterback, that's gotta be comforting to have Keenan Allen out there, I would think.
Jacob Litton:Definitely. Great move on their part.
Jason Harwood:Yeah.
Jacob Litton:coach can be on like the hot seat right now when their GM is, on the verge of getting a great contract extension for what he's been able to do.
Jason Harwood:Yeah. Matt Averflue's just gutted his coaching staff, to, he's got to save his job. Yeah, exactly. And It's the thing that they had the number one pick. They had opportunities to trade out of it and hold on to Justin Fields. That's taking a big risk. I don't know who's deciding that if it's just the GM that's deciding that, Hey, we're going to take care of the Williams. We've seen enough out of Justin Fields, because if you're, a new coach, it's like what Patricia, then when they drafted, um, Cornerback, I'm flaking on his name. Who is the quarterback out of Ohio state? Akuta. Yeah. So when they drafted, it's like where Patricia, the argument that they have, we could have drafted Herbert, but Patricia and Quinn knew their job was on the line, so they didn't want to put it on having a quarterback. So it was, they could have drafted Tua. They could have drafted Herbert, but we drafted. The quarterback and that obviously didn't work out and they end up getting fired anyways, it's one of those things that, you're tied as a GM or a coach, you're tied to that quarterback because you don't have that long of a leash in the NFL. If you don't have success out of a couple of years, you're not going to get a chance to go on further. So if you make that wrong choice at that draft, that quarterback it's tough. Um, the defense, we talked about getting Montez Sweat. They ended up Chicago Bears ended up passing the Lions and getting the number one rushing defense last year which, something to think about with our running game. We want to impose our will and we got someone else in the division that, is going to try to do the same thing defensively, try to shut you down and make you one dimensional. But maybe the bears had number one rushing defense because they had the 25th passing defense. People just pass on them instead of rush on them. But we'll see, I don't think, I didn't particularly see the Lions having too much trouble rushing on them last year, but we had difficult with Chicago, barely skated out one win, had to have a dramatic comeback. And then they pretty much just dominated us in their place.
Jacob Litton:I mean, the main Difference between the, those games and outside of it is both of those games against the bears, I think are Jared golf's worst games of the season.
Jason Harwood:Whether the Chicago defense did that, or it was just, Jared golf was in that he was in that weird stretch. I don't know.
Jacob Litton:out flat. It was weird.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, but just like he made uncharacteristic interceptions, like thrown over the middle and just, it wasn't even like tight windows. It was just like not seeing people.
Jacob Litton:yeah,
Jason Harwood:I don't know what was going on in that particular point. With him Jerickoff has been, since the turnaround with lines, been pretty careful with the football. So that was really just uncharacteristic of him to have that. Hopefully he can correct that with the Bears, because, you can't just turn it over to a division opponent. They're going to, they're going to beat you.
Jacob Litton:No, we got lucky to get out of there. The first game,
Jason Harwood:Yeah it wasn't an exciting game, especially the last four minutes of the game was super exciting. The rest of it was just really frustrating. They, the Bears re signed, Jalen Johnson in the offseason, shored up their cornerback room. Probably a good signing. I wouldn't have mind before we made all our changes, that was someone that I was looking for the Lions to possibly sign. I would have been happy with that at that time.
Jacob Litton:Definitely.
Jason Harwood:Looking at their Chicago's offense, they had the number two rushing offense. However, that was inflated by Justin Fields. Caleb Williams can rush, but not on the level that I feel like Justin Fields could rush. So I, I expect that to drop. They may have improved themselves with DeAndre Swift, but not enough to make up for Justin Fields. Their passing offense was ranked 27th. That I could say has some room to grow, especially with their wide receiver room has improved and, is getting better. Caleb William's gonna be a better passer than Justin Fields. That's yet to be seen.
Jacob Litton:Yeah, I still feel like we, we have a better roster than the Bears, and I feel like our best beats them at their best. The big, question, is, if Goff has a game like he did back then, are we going to be able to overcome it now that they have a little more firepower in their offense, I guess.
Jason Harwood:I think also for me, just them getting rid of Justin Fields gives me a little sigh of relief because he was too dangerous and he could just, he was tearing us up on the ground game. So I'm happy that Justin Fields is not on this team. We'll see if, if Caleb Williams rips us up through the air, maybe I'll feel different, but I feel better about this matchup just because Justin Fields is not on that team. And that just seems to highlight a weakness for the lions.
Jacob Litton:Yeah. But at the same time, Justin Fields is more like a backyard football kind of thing where he's dropping back and we're actually covering his receivers. And therefore, he doesn't give it more than just a couple of seconds before he's trying to take off. you know, Caleb Williams and he's got better receivers. We also have better corners. Definitely just a different kind of offense. Like you said, it's not that he can't run, but I, he's not as much of a threat as fields, and I think that his go to is always going to be to throw first. He's not going to be as quick to just tuck it and run.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, I agree. Rookie quarterbacks also tend to tuck and run. This first year, at least during their rookie year, cause they get, they get happy feet and they got to get out of there because the rush is coming or whatever.
Jacob Litton:Turtle up and go down.
Jason Harwood:yeah hopefully they see Aiden rushing and our DJ reader coming out the middle. That scared the heck out of me too. I'd fall to the ground. One other subtraction they had that we haven't mentioned is The other St. Brown, Amin Rao's brother was on this team. He's no longer on the bears. I think he signed with the saints. That's it was always interesting on the St. Brown podcast, them talking and, with them playing each other twice a year, that was just, a fun little banter that they would have back and forth. And interesting aside, I don't know if you heard about it, but, uh, Aminara's brother reached out, his agent reached out to see if the Lions were interested in signing him and the Lions did not reciprocate. So that was interesting to me.
Jacob Litton:Yeah, it doesn't really make sense. It seems as a deaf piece for a receiver, I don't know if he was asking for, a certain amount of guaranteed money or a guaranteed position or something like that. I, I feel like we probably should have brought him on just to see what he's got.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, I was interested in that too. I don't know what the thought process is. The only thing is I could see that his agent, came in too strong with a contract or, or maybe, maybe they don't want to play together.
Jacob Litton:He joked about that too. He said, Amonra Did not put in a good word for me and they went a
Jason Harwood:Yeah I mean that I don't think so. I think that they're, they don't have a podcast together. If there are, they're brothers, they say that kind of stuff. So like you say, mean stuff to me all the time and I don't think you really mean it, do you?
Jacob Litton:No,
Jason Harwood:Okay, good. Yeah, I know. That's I'm just, I'm such an easy target that it's just, you can just come at me so well. I think the bears are going to be better next year as a whole team. But I still think they're going to finish third in the division. That's how I got it. How about you?
Jacob Litton:I actually have it the same.
Jason Harwood:Yep. Anything else you want to add on the bears?
Jacob Litton:No not just yet. Not really.
Jason Harwood:Okay. The next team is the team that we. Both hate that any NFC North, um, all the teams have the equal amount of hate for the Packers. I think, if you're a Vikings fan or if you're, Bears fan, but Alliance fan, I, we all just hate the Packers, especially with their success that they've had, since the, the Favaro started, it's been tough. They're going to be a tough team to play this year. Their big addition is Josh Jacobs. What are your feelings about Josh Jacobs? I know that we talked about last week that he was rated ahead of Jameer and ESPN's top line list. Are you thinking that this is going to be a difference maker for them on offense?
Jacob Litton:I do not, I really feel like his best was behind him. He was already starting to decline with the Raiders. He had that one really good bounce back here trying to play for the contract and everything like that. And then, last year he really didn't perform again. then here we go. The Packers give him a deal. They're hoping that he upgrades over Aaron Jones. I just don't see it happening. And I think that, historically the Packers, they like to split carries with the running backs anyway. Maybe that makes Jacobs more effective because he's not out there as much, they drafted Marshawn Lloyd, another running back who's probably going to get some carries. Dylan is still there too. I just don't think that he's going to be significant upgrade over Aaron Jones,
Jason Harwood:Yeah them both being healthy, I, Aaron Jones I worry about him more than Josh Jacobs. However, Aaron Jones has had the injury risk, not that Josh Jacobs hasn't, but, I I don't think Josh Jacobs is going to be as big of a difference maker as they think. However, depends on how their wide receivers pan out, and Jordan Love., last year. Josh Jacobs was the focus, on the Raiders at offense. Didn't really move too much. You knew you had to stop Josh Jacobs and you take your chances with their quarterbacks Jordan Love had a really good second half, and if he ends up being, that good again for a whole year, Josh Jacobs might not be the focus, and, he's still a talented football player, so it depends on how their offensive line does. I don't think he's going to be a huge difference maker, but I could see him having a solid year if he's not the main focus on, defensive coordinators mind.
Jacob Litton:right? And he's younger than Aaron Jones. So I guess he's got that going for him too. Yeah, like I said, if there's split and carries, if he's not, carrying the ball 30 times a game with a stuffed box in front of him, then maybe he does have some success.
Jason Harwood:Yeah I, I agree.
Jacob Litton:just on the surface, don't find him, dangerous of a player,
Jason Harwood:yeah, I don't think he's like the game breaker type player, but he's a player that, gets all his carries. He could, he can do some damage. It's interesting, that the Packers usually don't spend very much on free agency. So it was interesting. They went after a running back and free agency. I found that very I was just shocked by that signing in general. I did not see that coming, especially from the Packers. Were you surprised by that?
Jacob Litton:Yeah, no, I didn't see it coming. Like you said, we Karen Jones was out already. He didn't know what route they were going to take or what they were going to do. I didn't see Josh Jacobs coming to green Bay, even for Josh Jacobs perspective. I guess they finished the season really strong and there was a void there and maybe that's why he wanted to come.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, I'm not sure. Maybe they just had the most money on the table, which would be. Interesting for, for agent running back, those guys usually get franchised until they, the wheels fall off and then, teams discard them and then, they signed for, running back two or three money, but, he got his money and that's good, but I just don't see that being huge difference maker, but they had the 15th rated rushing attack last year. I, I'm thinking they're, they're going to be around that same number this year. I don't, I really don't see it making a huge difference. Yeah.
Jacob Litton:Unless that running back that they drafted shows up really well,
Jason Harwood:Yeah. And we'll see they're running back out of USC there. Um, their first round pick was Jordan Morgan offensive line. They're trying to show up to offensive line. They probably wanted Terry on, the lions played the villain and we jumped right ahead of them and drafted it. So it was God, I still that, that picture of the Packers fan at the draft and the lions fan, just ragging on them is just. I love that. I just, we should just have a meme of that. So it'd be great, just that should be our, that should be our logo on Twitter or something like that. Just that guy just getting shamed. I love it.
Jacob Litton:after the draft. They
Jason Harwood:I know.
Jacob Litton:going.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, it was yeah, it would have been awesome.
Jacob Litton:real quick, outside of the draft, they did sign Xavier McKinney, the safety. And that was a pretty good get for them.
Jason Harwood:Yes, I agree with that. Yeah, they didn't have really good safety work last year, and yeah, to get him was, good upgrade for them. They also lost Dave Bakhtari um, their left tackle. He was injured but, yeah, he was a
Jacob Litton:though.
Jason Harwood:long time Packer, heart of that team. That's the tough, they lost another offensive lineman, John Runyon and then Jonathan Owens left and he went over to the Bears. We didn't mention him before, but yeah, Jonathan Owens Simone Biles is now going to switch, from being, fan of the Packers to the fan of the Bears. So I don't know what it will be our turn that Simone Biles will be at our, Ford Field, not quite on the level of Taylor Swift, but huge respect for Simone Biles doing things that very few human beings can do.
Jacob Litton:Jonathan Owens, was the one that returned that slash incomplete pass.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, I don't know.
Jacob Litton:that game.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, I'm sure Simone did like a back flip after that, she was pretty super excited. This team is going to go how Jordan Love goes in my opinion. And if he shows up like he was in the second half of the year, when he seemed to get on page with his wide receivers that could be, they're going to be dangerous. And I'm, this is a team that I'm most worried about along with Matt Flofloor, I think he's a really good coach and I they scare me. They could dethrone the lions. I really think they have a realistic shot to win this division. Are you on the same page with me on that? Or are you, yeah,
Jacob Litton:threat. Just to break it down for you though. So halfway through last season, they had a three and six record. had 14 touchdowns and 10 picks. And they were talking about maybe he's not the answer. And maybe he's not the long term quarterback there. Some, something happened in the room coaching scheme, who knows something happened and then they flip the switch. He finishes the season, 18 touchdowns and one interception. And he's the talk of the town. And he possibly has parlayed that into a top five contract. They're talking extension right now. Like you said, I don't know that we've seen enough. If they continue that trend and play like they did last year, they beat the Cowboys in the playoffs as well. Then he didn't have a great game when they got ounce, but he's still young, there's still, a question mark there. You don't really know exactly how it's going to go
Jason Harwood:I think for them, they have for a pretty like pretty decent wide receiver core. They just don't have a true number one, in my opinion. Do you need a number one, some teams can, Function with a good wide receiver core, but you don't have a true number one. I think you work best when you've got a go to receiver and maybe that changes week to week for them. But I think that's going to be an interesting thing to see who emerges out of their wide receiver core to be the true number one.
Jacob Litton:right now. You don't know who they're throwing it to.
Jason Harwood:Yeah.
Jacob Litton:turns and have their different streaks.
Jason Harwood:And that's tough. We've talked about that a little bit, before that in the past that, when you have a true number one, You have a tendency to force that ball in there and defense is nowhere to focus. But if you don't have a number one, it's a guessing game. If the quarterback could spread it around, that can be dangerous too. However, I like having the idea of a true number one. You need a first down, you know, who to go to. The quarterback has confidence in you. The team has confidence in you. I think that's, I think that's important. Um, it's on that quarterback to spread the ball around and it's on the offensive coordinators to scheme open your number one wide receiver if you have that dominant wide receiver that a team's trying to take you out of, whether you're going to run them on a reverse, whether you're going to, move them over to the slot and try to, or put the player in motion that's on the offensive coordinator to do that. So it's on the quarterback to look players off, they're, There's a lot of things that you could do if you have a, to get around, someone just taking a wide receiver out of the game,
Jacob Litton:Yeah, you got, to call around that game plan around it and find a way to get the ball in his hands.
Jason Harwood:right, you could have a sauce gardener that can lock down, and take it out. That's a totally different situation, even that, as a offensive coordinator, you need to scheme open your guy, you need to find, you need to pick your spots and a quarterback, just, Needs to be able to get the ball to that guy when he needs to get them. I do have an interesting question for you last year. Packers end up losing to the 49ers. We ended up facing a 49ers. Let's say if the Packers beat the 49ers, we get a home game would you want that? Would you have wanted that? Like having that NFC championship home game, but it has to be against the Packers. I'll tell you why I'm really nervous about it.
Jacob Litton:So even despite the Thanksgiving game and the way that all played out, that was just like a bad dream that you're watching unfold. Everything seemed to not go our way in the Thanksgiving game. But even after that, I still, I feel like I would have rather seen the Packers than I would have seen the 49ers. Even though I think the Packers would have been, had they beat them, that would have been, they beat the Cowboys, they beat the 49ers. think they're at an all time high. Their confidence would have been at an all time high. Love's probably feeling better than he ever has before. think they're probably potentially even more dangerous than they were for the Thanksgiving game. But with that being said, we also were on a tear. We also had that confidence. We had the city behind us to be home in Detroit for that championship game against the Packers. I definitely would have taken that.
Jason Harwood:yeah. On the surface, I want the home game, right? You feel like you're going to win that home game at the NFC championship game gives you a distinct advantage. However, I'm going to pose the risk of that happening. Number one, we faced the Packers the third time. I hate the Packers and the thought of us losing that game. Right now would have left a terrible taste in my mouth. I know I hated what happened with the 49ers It is though because then you go into this year thinking you're not even king of your division right now We're going we're like, we're king of our division. We won our division We made it further in the playoffs we should have been in the Super Bowl Okay, say that doesn't happen say the Packers do end up beating us I think that the season just feels different because someone in our division You Jumped us like we, we know we were, set to dominate, we won the division, but then if the Packers would have beat us and meant to the Super Bowl I just feel like coming into this season, it maybe has a totally different feel like, Oh, like a same old lions feel like, Oh, you won your division, but you didn't even beat, the team in your division. And then they're in the Super Bowl.
Jacob Litton:Maybe, maybe if they won, if they beat us and then won the Super Bowl, I get that it's, anytime you lose to a division opponent, especially in the playoffs, it's not going to be fun. But even when you're looking at it this year, there's a chance that lions, the bears and the Packers all make the playoffs. once you get to the playoffs, then it's like it doesn't really matter who won the division, you still gotta beat us to get out.
Jason Harwood:I would've felt terrible had the Packers just went further than us in the playoffs. It would've left a really bad taste in my mouth. Worse than what, Was with losing to the 49ers and I don't know if I could just handle that and then just the talk of Packers like fans,
Jacob Litton:fans always make it worse. That's the same with the Ohio State and Michigan.
Jason Harwood:They do you're in your division and that's just a tougher tough thing But I just you know, then the Jordan love hype would have been crazy we brought him to his first year as a starter brought him to the Super Bowl he's the next Aaron Rodgers Brett Favre. He's the heir apparent
Jacob Litton:They're saying all That already, man. they already have them rated higher than golf and everything.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, I know, I get all that, but then they would have had that, they would have had some things to back it up too, saying he got him to the Super Bowl.
Jacob Litton:think of it this way. If they made it and we made it and we were in Detroit for that NFC Championship game, I think 90 times out of 100 we win that game.
Jason Harwood:yeah, I think we win that game too, but just the risk of losing it, and then losing,
Jacob Litton:such a Debbie Downer.
Jason Harwood:no man, it's you gotta think of that that, that risk of losing that I, we had, Momentum, we, we ended the previous season beating the Packers, like asserting Hey, we are an up and coming team. We go ahead and win the division that following year, assert ourselves like, Hey, yes, we are the team for the next decade. We are just going to be in your face. And then. The Packers would have, could have stole all from, all of that from us by saying, we, we got to the Super Bowl before you guys, and, we're gonna impose our will on you next year. I, I, there has been a lot of risk. Yes, I would like to have the home game of the NFC, but the risk of us losing this momentum that we have going into this year, thinking we are the heir apparent, we are going to overtake the 49ers this year. I, it would have been a big risk. I don't know. It's a good argument to have. So I, you're on the point there.
Jacob Litton:this goes with this year. But like I said, I still feel,
Jason Harwood:You're telling me that,
Jacob Litton:North? Would you rather have an NFC North title, but then you get bounced? Or would you rather play in the NFC Championship game?
Jason Harwood:I'd rather be, I'd rather be in the Superbowl. I would rather have been the Packers in that situation. I'm being I'm saying is that you lose all that momentum. Like we've, every year we've incrementally got better. We started out. Three 13 and one Dan Campbell's first year started out the next year. Terrible. But then just went on that amazing run. And just totally changed the dynamics of this franchise. We didn't make the playoffs, we bounced the Packers from the playoffs. We basically said, put the NFL on notice enough for them to give us the number one. The first game, the following year, right? We done enough to get that, the amount of respect. And that is a huge amount of respect to play in that very first game. They put teams that you think are going to be, difference makers in that first game. Yeah, exactly. And so then. Then we go ahead, we do win the division, right? We, we had those expectations coming there. We win the division, we get the playoff game. We win that first playoff game. We win our second playoff game. And then, lose. To the 49ers. I realized that we were up huge by 17. We should have won that game. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth. If we would have lost to the Packers that I would feel way different going into this year. I'd be a lot less confident going into this year I still feel like we're the front runner, but I feel like. Had they come in and beat us, then it would have been just a terrible taste in my mouth that someone in our vision bypassed us and, and it being the Packers would have made it even worse.
Jacob Litton:I do hate the Packers. And, you know, even to see them beat the Cowboys like that was like, man, you know, I didn't I didn't want them to advance any further than they already did. Yeah. the same time, we get to play them twice every year, potentially if a third one comes up in the playoffs, it comes up, but with you got to settle that on the field, I don't know, I get what you're saying and I hate the Packers and everything. I don't know that it would have made me feel much worse than the 49ers did. I definitely feel like it would make us look at this differently as far as are we the favorites in the division now, because then even if we won last year, hypothetically, we then lose to them, it's like crap is the division really ours or, how is that going to go? Like I said, I still feel like even if we would if we don't play the package at home, I feel like we win that game and we don't have to have this talk anyway.
Jason Harwood:It's an interesting talk and I, I don't know how,
Jacob Litton:hypothetical talks that bum everybody out. I don't understand.
Jason Harwood:these are thoughts that go through my head. It's not like something I'm like, Hey, I want,
Jacob Litton:about it right now. We didn't
Jason Harwood:I, I do, I do, but this was like a thought that I had. At the time, we didn't have a podcast voice at that time, but that it was a definite thought that I had in my head and I just wouldn't have been able to handle that I, it would have just put me back in SOL lions. We would have, it would have been like that conversation. We won our division, but we still got bypassed by a team in our division. What I've liked to have the NSC championship. Game and just be able to, be in the stadium and root for my team chance of the Superbowl. Yes. I would have loved that. I would love that opportunity, but I feel for the projection of this team, I think this is the best. The path that we're on. This is why I liked the way that we're going. And I think that we might've taken a step back now. Who knows? Dan Campbell could have flipped that. He's a great leader. He could have, it might've been fuel to the fire just to come out and dominate the Packers this year and say, see, we're not there, but I I just, I'm okay with the way things are going and I, I think we're on the upward trend. So we're getting Super Bowl this year, man. It's going to happen. And that's what I'm going to believe.
Jacob Litton:The game we lost to Green Bay last year though, too. They came out with that, huge first drive or moving the ball. I think everyone was Oh, But, we're okay. We still got it. We respond. Love had a pretty good game because of our secondary,
Jason Harwood:yes,
Jacob Litton:run the ball very well against us. They had that like incomplete past thing that shifted some momentum and we went for it on fourth down. We didn't get, I think we maybe got one of our conversions. We went for it on fourth down five, six times. That's all difference makers, that things that we usually make and things don't usually happen to us. One or two of those things change and then we win that game, too.
Jason Harwood:I agree. And it was like in that weird area where Jared Goff was just not playing his best football. It was like in that area where he was fumbling the ball and just didn't look right. I don't, I, Really can't put my finger on it. As far as what was going on with him, it might be just coincidence. I just had some bad games back to back, but it just seems like he was going through something, not seeing the ball as well, like you said, the ball was not coming out of his hand as well during that time I think we match up well with the Packers, but I think they're also really well coached. And so that, that does concern me. You have a good coach, they can come up with things, we dominated that game in Lambeau field. I know the Packers came back with the, in the second half again, is a third bad third quarter. They also had that clock where the clock should have been. Stopped and then they gave him that play at the end of the quarter, that kind of stuff that just seems to continue to happen in Lambeau field where the refs are just, not, judging up to a hundred percent of their abilities or whatever it seems to happen against the Lions, but it'll be, this is a team that is a measuring stick for the Lions. As far as the division, we have to beat this team. But. It's going to be a tough match up there. They're good. And if Jordan Love can play like he did the second half, it's going to be tough, but I like our secondary improvements and hopefully that'll help us. So they can't just walk down the field on us like they did last year in the Thanksgiving day game.
Jacob Litton:Play them this year. Week nine, we play in Green Bay, then week 14. We have a Thursday night game in Detroit.
Jason Harwood:Yeah. What's with Thursday night games, three out of, that'll be three out of the last four,
Jacob Litton:right.
Jason Harwood:we played both Thursday night games or Thursday games, one during the season and then one on Thanksgiving, and then we got another Thursday game with them. Yeah, I,
Jacob Litton:us on national TV somehow.
Jason Harwood:They do, and I'm okay with that. Yeah, I'm just glad that, cause I knew when we were playing on National TV when Aaron Rodgers was, playing that he was going to get some stupid call and, trade flowers, face mask, yeah, just like that kind of crap, and now I don't feel like hopefully it's Jordan Love getting the raw end of the stick on that, whatever.
Jacob Litton:By week 14, there's going to be a lot of film out there. We're going to know a lot about the division, Not going to necessarily be make or break. That kind of
Jason Harwood:Yeah,
Jacob Litton:gauntlet for us towards the end of the year where, it may be crucial. It may not matter as much. There's a chance we could split this from them and still win the North in. Just not. I'm glad that the Packers, the last game we play them as week 14 instead of the last week of the season.
Jason Harwood:I thought for sure. I think we talked about this at work. I thought for sure if I had to bet, if you could bet on like what the last game of the year, I thought for sure they would pick the Packers and the Lions. I was shocked when it was the Vikings. I thought, to me, I think it was pretty obvious, we're both in the divisional round where the two top teams are probably going to come back next year. You would think they would set that up, That matchup at the last game of the year, cause that could be potentially for the division, and we always seem to play the Packers at the end of the year. And it always seems to be in green Bay. A couple of years ago, we, we got to knock them out of the playoffs, like we talked before. It is what it is. I I was just, like I said, I was just shocked that they didn't put that for the last game of the year. gave us the Vikings, which, we project to be the last place team in the division. So it's interesting how that worked out, but
Jacob Litton:have the same prediction, right? You got
Jason Harwood:yeah. Oh yeah.
Jacob Litton:Lions, Packers, Bears, Vikings.
Jason Harwood:Yep. Yep. That's I think that's a fair prediction.
Jacob Litton:I mean, I think that there's a chance that the Bears make the playoffs. I think that there's a chance three three of the NFC North teams get in.
Jason Harwood:Yeah. There's, it's a strong division and, even. The Vikings are certainly an offense are going to be dangerous. You got Justin Jefferson out there, even, they, that's going to be a tough, that's not, the division's not going to be easy to roll through. I can tell you that it's going to be tough. And even,
Jacob Litton:and blue.
Jason Harwood:even if you, yeah, like you said, even if you win, you're going to take your lumps and you're going to, it's going to be a hard fought game. These are. These are some tough teams then it's, they both,
Jacob Litton:though, you just got to you got to make the playoffs, get your foot in the door, even if things don't go our way. And we you know, if we don't end up winning the division, we got to secure that wild card spot and just get in there.
Jason Harwood:I agree. And I like,
Jacob Litton:for a late season run. We've got the team that can do it. We can beat anybody
Jason Harwood:I agree you as strong as we are on the lines, that's going to make a huge difference in the playoffs. If we're healthy there and having that running game, having a complete offense, you don't know how we're going to attack you. I think makes a huge difference. So like you said, just get into the playoffs. Of course, we want to win the division. We'd love to get a week one by get some extra rest. But you just need to get in, anything could happen when you get in there. And I, I have a lot of faith in Dan Campbell to get us there and, to motivate this team that the way they need to be motivated, I think the line is going to win this division, but I also don't think it's going to be, a game. Yeah. It's not gonna be a cakewalk, but even if, like you said, they don't win the division, they get in the playoffs, that's still, Better than we've had for this franchise in the past. You traditionally, we make the playoffs. We don't make the playoffs for two or three years. It's we make that appearance every three or four years.
Jacob Litton:right?
Jason Harwood:and no back to back years, let's get a playoff win again. Let's just make that the norm and, let's, let's just move ahead. So I full faith that we're going to get to the Superbowl this year, but the division's not going to make it easy, iron sharpens iron. Let's play some tough competition and, get, move on. That's just the way it is. All right. Anything else you want to add on the divisions or your thought about that?
Jacob Litton:Nope. I'm good.
Jason Harwood:All right, man, we're going to do the Honolulu blitz, all these questions we came up ahead of time Jacob and I decided that we're going to do and NFC North edition of the Honolulu Blitz. Jacob's going to ask me questions first this time. So let's get started with the Honolulu Blitz.
Jacob Litton:It was interesting getting prepared for this one just because it was like, I'm doing some research about the NFC North and NFC North related questions. Man, what if he has the same questions as me? Or what if he just researched that stuff? And now he knows.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, all right. Go ahead.
Jacob Litton:How many NFC North teams have been to the Superbowl in the last 20 seasons?
Jason Harwood:Oh in the last 20 seasons. So ever three out of the four because No, Minnesota hasn't so two out of the four So 20 because with the Bears were in with the Colts that was that within 20 years? When was that was right around that time?
Jacob Litton:I don't know. Is that what's your answer? What are you
Jason Harwood:I'm gonna say two.
Jacob Litton:Yes.
Jason Harwood:Yeah.
Jacob Litton:correct. So the, that was in 2006, the bears went
Jason Harwood:Yeah. I knew.
Jacob Litton:one in 2010.
Jason Harwood:The Bears made it. The Bears. Ugh.
Jacob Litton:Yeah. That's when they had Devin Hester and had a decent they had a really good defense.
Jason Harwood:Back when you could return a kickoff. That'll be different this year. Back to returning kickoffs, hopefully.
Jacob Litton:all right. Which NFC North team went to the Superbowl four times in an eight season stretch, but never won.
Jason Harwood:That's the Minnesota Vikings. That was in the 70s.
Jacob Litton:Correct.
Jason Harwood:Yeah. Yep. Yeah,
Jacob Litton:That's crazy to go that many times and you can't get
Jason Harwood:I know that's not Buffalo bills level of four straight years, but it's still
Jacob Litton:close.
Jason Harwood:majorly disappointing. Yeah, I know. But at least those teams could say they went to the super bowl. I don't know. Lions have never been there. We're have that stigma. We're going to get there this year as we've discussed, but
Jacob Litton:about it.
Jason Harwood:yeah, but yeah, I don't know. Getting there that many times it's the
Jacob Litton:All right. Which team finished last in the division the most times in the last 10 years?
Jason Harwood:last 10 years feel like you want me to say lines, but I'm going to say. The bears have been pretty disappointing. So I'm going to say the bears.
Jacob Litton:Correct.
Jason Harwood:Yeah.
Jacob Litton:have been last place six out of the last 10 and the lions were last the other four years.
Jason Harwood:Okay.
Jacob Litton:So Packers and. They have not been last place at all in the last 10 years.
Jason Harwood:Yeah. Yeah. I didn't expect them to with Aaron Rodgers. Yep. All right.
Jacob Litton:right. Other than the lions, which team in the division has the best uniforms?
Jason Harwood:I like those new alternative Viking ones, the, like the ice ones. So I would say that I can never say the Packers on anything. I'd say the Vikings just in general, I have the better of the uniforms. Bears got some ugly old time uniforms. I don't like, I don't like that. And I don't like the pairs are the pairs as I'm putting the bears and the Packers together. The Packers like alternate uniforms with the circle on it. Those are definitely the worst jerseys
Jacob Litton:Yes.
Jason Harwood:of the top worst jerseys. That giants one is. Triant that they just came out with this year is definitely uglier. But yeah, so I guess I'd have to say the Vikings, but I don't really, their purple uniforms are all right, but I, the new ones that they introduced, those ice or whatever they call it, the white ones. I like those. I do like those.
Jacob Litton:I agree with that. The bears and the Packers both seem like they have like just basic. Basic logos, basic uniforms, not good throwbacks or anything like that. All right. If the, if divisions were realigned, what one team would you take out of the North and who would you replace them with?
Jason Harwood:Ooh, that's a good question. I'd have to, I'd take the Vikings out, just I, the Packers and the Bears are the two teams I hate the most, and I want to be able to beat them up each year. And did you say who would I replace them with?
Jacob Litton:Who would you slot in? You
Jason Harwood:Does it have to be an NFC team, or can it be an AFC team?
Jacob Litton:team,
Jason Harwood:I'd probably throw the brownies in there. I'd throw the brownies just because they're so close. I have friends that are Browns fans just because we're, so close to the border here. And I would like to have that rivalry. So I'd take the brownies. Plus, Browns fans know how we feel, right? They've Out of all the other teams, they're probably the closest ones that have felt the despair. And they might even say they have it worse than us. I don't know. Yeah, just, they're, no, one's taken our team from our city. Like the Browns have the Lions haven't ever faced that. So like they have that losing your whole franchise for a couple of years and then, you get your franchise back, but it's an expansion team and then the team that you, you know, lost. Goes and wins the Superbowl and has a pretty dominant period. They have that above us. So I think that's sucks for them, but yeah I'd add the brownies into our division. I just for,
Jacob Litton:It makes sense.
Jason Harwood:yeah. And just it'd be an easy away game to go to if you wanted to, it wouldn't be that far away. And like I said, just for the friends factor, I'd just give you another rivalry game to, talk crap about. And we only get to do that every four or five years now as the way the current schedule is. So that's the way I go. What what would you have added?
Jacob Litton:I actually was trying to think of the other teams that were close to us, like the Browns or the Colts,
Jason Harwood:Steelers would be an interesting choice. They're pretty close. I they would be geographically okay. And I my brother, one of my brothers is a huge Steelers fan, so that'd be nice to,
Jacob Litton:A lot of Steelers friends around here,
Jason Harwood:oh yeah. They're just I think. More than, it geographically, it's fairly close. And I think, a lot of more Browns fans or families have Browns fans and the sealers just kept winning. And I think also, they had those strong teams in the seventies and then also in the nineties and 2000. They don't seem to be a franchise that is down very often. So they're, pretty easy to root for. All right, man, you that's all for yours, right?
Jacob Litton:Yeah, yep,
Jason Harwood:So what was the, for you and the whole division outside of the lines, it's not including lines. What is the biggest free agent or draft move in the NFC North that's going to affect this year? What do you think is the biggest one?
Jacob Litton:the most impactful move outside of the lions.
Jason Harwood:Yep. And it's a free agent or draft move, or you could even say a loss of player. Just something that a move that happened outside, none of the Lions players, but just that do you think is going to impact the NFC North the most this year? Absolutely.
Jacob Litton:This year in total. You're just talking about this year
Jason Harwood:Yeah, I'm just saying that this season coming up now and
Jacob Litton:tough because I think that j. McCarthy probably would be, like, one of the really big ones but we don't know exactly about how this year is gonna go. So then I'm gonna say Josh Jacobs. Just on the surface of, they threw the bag at him, they gave him a lot of money hoping that he's gonna be an impactful player. Maybe he is, maybe he's going to show that he was worth it. It was going to be a good signing. And, he goes back to normal or, you got the reverse end of that where he doesn't do good, or he only plays like he did last year. And then they're stuck in this contract. They've just given him. Stick it to the Packers a little bit, which I'm hoping that's what comes through.
Jason Harwood:yeah, that'd be awesome. All right, cool. Yep. It's a broad question, but it's a good answer. All right. What will be the Lions record in the NFC North this year? So the team, you know what, they're going to have six games. So what do you think is, you don't have to tell me who they're going to win or lose against, but what do you, what are you going to guess that their record's going to be against NFC North this year?
Jacob Litton:I'm going to say five and one. I'll say somebody steals one from us, but I still think that I think we're going to do really well.
Jason Harwood:Yeah that's going to be tough because this division is tough. So if we get five, one, I would be ecstatic with that. Yep, that's good. All right.
Jacob Litton:A lot of the games are later in the season though, too. So that's going to be a lot of, going to be able to game plan for them better. We're going to know what's coming. They're going to know. what's coming out of us.
Jason Harwood:I mean, those teams already know what's coming for us. We're not change that much this year. Um, you know, we have the same coordinators.
Jacob Litton:And you know, our secondaries improved. That was
Jason Harwood:Yes.
Jacob Litton:The weakest spot. That's improved. There's not really our
Jason Harwood:Yeah,
Jacob Litton:them at their best, so that's why, I feel like somebody will sneak one away from us.
Jason Harwood:it's tough. Division always has that, even, and who knows it may be the Vikings at the end of the year when we have everything wrapped up and we're just like,
Jacob Litton:seed, So we just kinda let them. Well, then Hendon has a huge game,
Jason Harwood:yeah, let's just say that's going to be that game that we lose. All right. I like it. All right. Rank the quarterbacks of the NFC North.
Jacob Litton:assuming Sam Darnold
Jason Harwood:You can put it, you can put Sam Darner or JJ McCarthy. Just for, you don't need to rank like backups or whatever,
Jacob Litton:yeah. number one. Goff's number one. I'll say Jordan Love number two, Darnold three, Caleb Williams four.
Jason Harwood:Okay. All right. Pretty good. All right. Did I tell you I made a new currency? It's called hate bucks. All right. I'm going to give you 900 of these hate bucks. You got to split it up between the NFC North team. So the more money you give them, the more you hate them. So add up the 900. You got to split this money up. Do you hate the teams equally
Jacob Litton:interesting. Because the Vikings have Jefferson and now they have McCarthy, I don't feel like I hate them as much as the Bears and Packers. But the hate's still pretty high. Let's see. You know what? No, I'm just, I'm gonna say even. Split it evenly.
Jason Harwood:splitting it evenly now.
Jacob Litton:Just screw em all.
Jason Harwood:No
Jacob Litton:When it comes down to it, those weeks when we're playing them, I don't, I don't want them to perform well. Or, Jeff, Justin Jefferson. Doesn't matter.
Jason Harwood:I Packers get a majority of it. I give 600 to Packers and then I do. 200 to the bears and a hundred to the Vikings. I don't know. I don't hate the Vikings as much for whatever reason, but I, the Packers, I just hate inorderly amounts. Just cause we've had so many.
Jacob Litton:Vikings are playing the Packers and, week one or whatever, I want the Vikings to win as a
Jason Harwood:Yeah,
Jacob Litton:goes on, whoever's in a better
Jason Harwood:yes,
Jacob Litton:chance to take it, that's who I want to lose.
Jason Harwood:exactly. It's all what benefits the lions the most. That's I switched my allegiances like that too. It's all lion, lions, a hundred percent. So whatever helps the lions
Jacob Litton:whole league.
Jason Harwood:And if they could tie and they both get screwed, that's even better. Alright, I think I know the answer to this question, but I must ask you anyways, what's your favorite player in the NFC North outside of the Lions? No Lions players. What's your favorite player?
Jacob Litton:It's gotta be Justin Jefferson.
Jason Harwood:Yep. Yeah, I agree with that too. And actually just watching the wide receiver show, I just, yeah, he seems, he seemed almost showy, but he tries to say he's an introvert until he puts his jewelry on, he's got a million dollars in jewelry or whatever. He doesn't seem too much of a diva at wide receiver, which, with the jewelry and stuff, you would think that, but I actually like him. I agree with you. I like
Jacob Litton:flashy off of the field though. And you can compare that with cause Jamar chase was his teammate at LSU chase. Seems like he's constantly everywhere and he's constantly got something going on or this and that Justin Jefferson, not so much. It seems like he's laying low more down to earth. Like you said, he's got that whole jets persona thing. He puts on the jewelry, puts on the teeth. Different
Jason Harwood:on sunglasses. Yeah, yeah, but you know even in the show they showed JJ with his Parents a lot as parents seem pretty down to earth people sports fans, they just seem like really normal people. And it seems like they're pretty level headed and it seems like that's rubbed off on Justin Jefferson, which is good because the wide receiver tends to be super flashy out of all the positions on the field. They tend to be the one that, the Terrell Owens and stuff like that. Give me the ball and all that, and yeah I like I like Justin Jefferson outside when he's You know, put it to the lions, you know, fourth and 18, and he jumps up and, God, that play just sucks. My son I see a play like that and I get disgusted, even though the lions won that game, I know that the end, and I'll still make that noise, like that level of sigh or disgust and Preston just doesn't understand that. And he's we won the game dad. Why are you still mad about that? But my mind goes to the, what ifs what if they would have went down and scored and just, the fact that Kaminsky dropped that fumble right before that play. And then he, Mullins just throws it up and just. Justin Jefferson
Jacob Litton:just
Jason Harwood:high points it. Yeah. Just high points it over. We had two defenders right there. So yeah, I don't know. Do you,
Jacob Litton:were there?
Jason Harwood:I don't even that.
Jacob Litton:pretty sure it was Sutton and Vildorn.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, that's what I think. So too, but I knew son was around there. I just I, do you get, do you feel that way when you see a play like that, even though it's over, the lions one, do you still have those emotional attachments, like how you felt when that play happened or is it over when, cause the ending,
Jacob Litton:If we win, it's really easy for me to brush that off.
Jason Harwood:yeah, for me it's yeah. Certain parts, I just go back, like I can relive it, how I was felt in that moment. I, it's a little relieving that we, I know the ending, but it's you ever watch a movie and you get so wrapped up into it, even though you've seen it and you forget what happens next. And then you just live that moment. You're just in there. And that's why I feel like I'm watching football highlights. Sometimes I'm like, Oh, I remember how I felt when this happened. And I, yeah, it's just, yeah, it's rough.
Jacob Litton:the episode or skip the part of the movie, you're like,
Jason Harwood:yeah, I don't like the way I feel when I watch this. It's like the second half of the NFC championship game. I, yeah, I don't like the way I feel. All so NFC North, we've wrapped that up. Hey, do you have questions? If you're listening to this and you got some questions or something we missed. Drop us a fan mail, drop us an email, visit us on Twitter. Also on Reddit, we're, starting threads on Reddit, trying to get some conversation up. It's fun to get that going. It seems to be a pretty good community on Detroit Alliance. Just the amount of people that see your threads there is pretty unreal. I really, it's a really live community. So I like that. We've both shown up there Jacob and I lately. It's fun to talk with everybody about Lions football and we're getting close to getting closer to training camp. It's happening soon. Anything else you want to talk about Jacob?
Jacob Litton:No, just definitely we try to stay active on Reddit. We're active on Twitter, anything, topics that you want us to talk about, shout outs that you want to give Jason said something stupid and you want to call him out on it, feel free, send us a tweet, tag us, on Twitter, on Reddit, we have Facebook and Instagram and everything as well. Give us a shout out, let us know how you're feeling. Yeah, we love the response that we've gotten so far.
Jason Harwood:And if to go along with that, if you find something that Jacob said is smart, I know it's rare, but if you find that, Hey, point it out, give him some confidence. Cause I, kill him after he listens to the episode. And he realizes that, my awesome takes, you know, confidences.
Jacob Litton:high. I don't know what you're talking about.
Jason Harwood:I don't know.
Jacob Litton:like the only mishap I've had is that I I said that DK Metcalf wasn't as fast as Calvin Johnson and their 40 plans were like a 10th, not even a 10th of a second off.
Jason Harwood:It was so funny when I told you that the next day. I was great when I discovered that, but I haven't brought it back up. You brought it back up.
Jacob Litton:you didn't know at the time you had to Google it afterward. You
Jason Harwood:I didn't? I didn't. I didn't. I was, hey you Google things when you want to prove me wrong. I was like, I'm curious what that is, because I know that he caught up with Buddha Baker, and I knew he had to be pretty fast. But I don't know if you were, last Honolulu blitz in the last section, I did ask you who was the fastest in the next gen who has had the fastest time and it was DK Metcalf. So it was my low key dig on you. I don't know if you got that yet. I don't know if you're smart enough for that yet, but I'm going to just point it out to you right now.
Jacob Litton:Okay. Well done.
Jason Harwood:Yeah, thanks. That's all right. I don't need to be so heavy handed. You can, I can just do subliminal digs on you. All right, man, this has been fun. NFC North, when you get back after this, we're going to be right in the training camp. This is, we're going to have new stuff to talk about, going to have a lot of new information. Hopefully we get have some fun, good news, no injuries. That's what we want to talk about. All right, man. So everyone have a good day and go lions.
