E49: “Pride Preview” Playoff Scenarios and Week 14 - Vs. Chicago Bears (With Harrison Graham)

In this episode of 'Talking Grit,' hosts Jason Harwood and Jacob Litton preview the week 16 matchup between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. They discuss the implications of the game on the playoff scenarios for Detroit, emphasizing the necessity of winning the remaining games to secure the number one seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs. The conversation highlights the firing of Bears' coach Matt Eberflus, the Lions' current injury situation, and the performance of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. The episode features an interview with Harrison Graham from 'Chicago Bears Now,' who provides insights on the Bears' recent struggles, coaching staff changes, and potential impacts on the game.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:29 Playoff Scenarios
• 10:12 Injury Reports and Analysis
• 20:40 Interview with Harrison Graham
• 1:01:14 Keys to Victory Against the Bears
• 1:13:30 Grit Picks
• 1:22:30 Closing Thoughts

Transcript

Jason Harwood: 0:41

Welcome everybody back to another episode of Talking Grit. I'm Jason Harwood and with me is Jacob Litten. We are going to preview the week 16 matchup between the Lions and the Bears. won the previous match on Thanksgiving. After that game, the Bears fired their coach, Matt Eberflus. He's still holding on to that timeout, Jacob. I haven't heard if he's used it yet, but he still has it there. It's still in his back pocket.

Jacob: 1:06

He'll be thinking about that time out for the rest of his life.

Jason Harwood: 1:09

He will, he will, uh, we will have Harrison Graham. He's the host of the Chicago bears. Now he's going to be on later. He's going to talk to us about the lions and he's also got, um, he wants to know a little bit about our coordinator. So we're just Alliance coordinator talking there. Yeah, managed to get some bears talk in this interview. We'll have that on a little bit later, but before we get going, before we get talking about this matchup, let's talk about playoff scenarios. Jacob, are we, you know, we're in the playoffs, right? What's your, what's your mood on, what we're gonna do for these last three games?

Jacob: 1:42

I mean, we talked about at the beginning of the season, we just got to make it to the playoffs, right? We just got to get our foot in the door. We're built for the playoffs. Well, you know. Now things have changed where we desperately, desperately need to get that first round by. We need the one seed. It's still, you know, the ball's in our court, right? We still hold our own destiny. We're the ones doing it. So we just have to win, right? And I mean, these are all winnable games. I think that we're going to be able to do it.

Jason Harwood: 2:11

I think so too. I think that we're gonna win all three. That we're gonna win the three out. So as long as we don't incur, knock on wood here, no, uh, no more injuries, on the injured front. So the two teams that you know, that. In this scenario that we're going to talk about that we're primarily focused on are the Vikings and the Eagles that we can win the NFC North and you know that we can possibly be the number one seed in the NFC. Currently the Lions are both or the NFC North leader due to tiebreakers and due to tiebreakers with the Eagles we are the number one NFC. So if we win out nothing that either team could do to top us. So we will be the number one seed in the NFC. If we went out, the Vikings play at, at the Seahawks. Then they have the Packers and then at Detroit. So the Vikings schedule in the last three, I mean, they're playing three playoff teams. possible with Seahawks, possible playoff teams, but definitely three playoff teams. Uh, ready teams, um, the Eagles, however, they're playing just one playoff team and the rest, uh, here they got at commanders, which that could be a tough one. Um, going, going into Washington, then they have the Cowboys at home and the Giants at home. So Eagles have decidedly easier schedule than the Vikings. So we'll see, but I'd love some cushion and for them to get a loss. What are you thinking out of that with the Vikings, Jacob? We'll start there at Seahawks Packers at Detroit.

Jacob: 3:38

I mean, it's tough to win football games at Seattle and at Detroit. Those are going to be, you know, two tough games for the Vikings. You know, obviously we hope that they lose the first two. You know, if they lose the Seahawks and the Packers and we win the next two, then, you know, the week 18 matchup wouldn't matter. But I mean, those are going to be tough games for them to win. Obviously, it's going to suck for us to have to root for the Packers. They don't ever like doing that, but we are going to have to root for the Packers to beat the Vikings here. We And, you know, with the Eagles, yes, the commander is going to be a tough game. The Cowboys potentially could be a tough game for them. The Cowboys, you know, have been playing decent football. I guess you could say they hung in there against the Bengals. They won last week. The giants is the one that's almost a gimme game for the Eagles. And that one's last. So,

Jason Harwood: 4:30

I know

Jacob: 4:30

you know, we're going to have to hardcore root for these other teams here.

Jason Harwood: 4:34

I'd like to have a little bit of cushion, with the, with the NFC, both the North and the NFC number one seed. Like you said, the get in the buy is going to be really important to give our guys a week rest. That way it gives Ancelone another week. to heal up and be, just be ready. Let's just break down some of the scenarios here. Like I said, if the lions went out, it doesn't matter what the other teams do. We're a number we get the, we're the number one seed. We'll get the first week by in the playoffs. And then we'll also win, obviously when the NFC north. So if the lions lose either one of the next two games, so either against the bears or the 49ers and the Vikings win at least one, Or the other scenario is the Vikings win both and we win both, the NFC North will be on the line in week 18. So that, that matchup in Detroit, it's going to be a highly anticipated matchup. If the Vikings lose one of the next two and we win the next two, it does not matter. Due to tiebreakers, what happens in week 18? So the Vikings lose to Seattle or the Packers, and then we just win bears and 49ers. It doesn't matter what the Vikings and Lions do in that last week, as far as the NFC North, we may still need to win that game win the NFC to get the number one seed. But as far as the NFC North due to tiebreakers, cause we'll have the edge in the conference, schedule, if the Vikings lose them, we win the next two. So, and then we'll be tied head to head. So that won't even matter. The lions basically. To get the number one seed, as long as we win the North, we just have to equal what the Eagles do. So the Eagles go two and one, we just need to go two and one. Obviously if we go three and oh, we're you know, number one seed, but we just need to equal whatever the Eagles do. If the Eagles go three now, we need to go three now to, you know, keep that number one seed.

Jacob: 6:27

We have one game on them technically in the conference record tiebreaker, right? So, I mean, like potentially if we both go. We both win the next two. This last game against the Vikings, could we potentially lose that game and still get the one seed if they beat the Giants?

Jason Harwood: 6:41

We have to beat the Eagles because the Eagles were tight. We got the same record right now. So if the Eagles would pass us, if we go two and one and they go three and L. So if we equal their record that we got the tiebreaker and the, because of the conference record, so,

Jacob: 6:57

would be overall record, we would have an extra loss. Yeah.

Jason Harwood: 6:59

so you could have a chance where the last game doesn't mean anything for the NFC North, it could mean something for the number one seed. We could have the NFC North knocked up in basically two weeks if the, you know, Vikings lose one of two and we went to, but then we, if the Eagles win the next two, then we have to, we have to win that last game, you know, assuming cause the Eagles are going to play the giant. So, like you said, that's the gimme game, you know,

Jacob: 7:27

Right. Right.

Jason Harwood: 7:28

the Eagles the

Jacob: 7:29

Uh, but you know, let's say, we hope that the Eagles lose to the Commanders here. And then that gives us that week of cushion, because ideally what would happen is we would already have the North locked down, we'd have the one seed locked down, and the last game against the Vikings can almost be like a pre season where. You know, the majority of our starters maybe play the first half. You don't have to play the whole game. The intensity doesn't have to be as high. That would be best case scenario. Then you go into the bi week.

Jason Harwood: 7:57

Yeah. Yeah.

Jacob: 7:58

You don't want to have to play another game, especially, you know, if it doesn't turn out our way and then we don't get the bi,

Jason Harwood: 8:06

You know, the best case scenario is the Lions win the next two and the Eagles and Vikings just drop one of the next, they each of them drop one game each and then um, you know, then we'd win. Now you might see out there that the Packers have a chance to win the division and they technically do, but it requires both the Vikings and the Lions to lose the next two games. next two games and then tie the last week. So that's the only way the Packers and the Packers

Jacob: 8:33

yeah,

Jason Harwood: 8:34

out. So, um, it's very low. That's why

Jacob: 8:38

that's right.

Jason Harwood: 8:39

chance. Uh, it's not going to happen. Um, all right. I honestly, it came down to it, uh, I'd let the Vikings win that over, uh, the Packers winning that division. Uh, if it was up to me. So, know, that's how

Jacob: 8:56

Agreed. That's

Jason Harwood: 9:17

Now, when we get closer to week 18, it'll be, we can start looking at potential matchups and, say we don't get the number one seed, who do we play in the first round and all that stuff. But as of right now, we're going to win out and all of it's going to become, we'll get the. We'll get, uh, you know, first round by,

Jacob: 9:35

the goal.

Jason Harwood: 9:37

all right, it is. All right. So the upcoming week we are playing the bears. They still have not won. They were at one point four and two, they are now four and 10. So they've lost eight straight. Obviously they're fourth in the NFC North. since they played the lions and week 13, they've lost, they beat the 40 or they lost the 49ers. Pretty bad. And then, loss of the Vikings on Monday night, score is 12, 12 to 30. At some point it was closer than that, but the bears just kept shooting themselves in the foot like they normally do. All right. Why don't you tell us what, the injury report said for the bears, Jacob.

Jacob: 10:18

Alright, injury report for the Bears. It's nothing good for their offensive line right now. Their offensive line Ryan Bates did not practice concussion protocol. Braxton Jones, the other offensive lineman, concussion protocol. Offensive lineman Tevin Jenkins actually showed up on the injury report with a calf injury. Jervon Dexter Sr., defensive lineman. Knee injury, did not practice. Uh, Rashawn Johnson, running back. He's on concussion protocol, but got in a full practice. Uh, Jarell Taylor, defensive lineman, got in a full practice as well. Nobody can touch us with these injuries, so it, you know, it feels kind of silly going over their injuries and see what they're dealing with, because they're just, no one in the league is touching even close to the injuries that we have.

Jason Harwood: 11:00

No,

Jacob: 11:00

go down the list of the Lions injury report? Not including, uh, the IR people.

Jason Harwood: 11:06

yeah, so the lions in your report today looked scary because, there's a lot of people on there, but, uh, what's good thing is that a lot of them just were on rest. So you have Taylor Decker. I did not practice. He's on rest. You have Frank Ragnow. They gave him a rest. DJ reader, rest the Darius Smith, the rest. I'm in Ross St. Brown rest. Talk about his flu game. Unbelievable reading about that. So yeah, he's probably still recovering from the flu. Didn't tell anybody the lions that he had the flu, um, until after the game. And the only, the training staff knew, um, cause they gave him IVs and stuff like that. But yeah, he had a Michael Jordan esque flu game. Um, yeah,

Jacob: 11:51

He threw up for the first time in his life.

Jason Harwood: 11:53

Yeah. I college kid, he was in college at one time. You can't tell me he didn't throw up. All right. Kevin Zeitler, uh, rest, uh, no practice. Brian Branch did not practice today with a calf injury. So, um, hopefully he can get back in. Okay. Uh, and Dave Montgomery obviously did not practice with a knee injury, still getting like a third opinion. We don't know. They have not put him on IR yet. He's obviously not going to play. Likely not until playoffs, if at all this season, Trevor Nowacki got in a full practice was on concussion protocol started that in the middle of the week last week, still don't, don't know when he got that concussion, but a full practice and like I, Jacob and I were talking before this, like, I never thought I'd be so happy to see Trevor Nowacki a full practice. We, we. Desperately need some linebacker help. And if he's back on the practice field, got a full practice in today. So I did Campbell seem to think that it was going to be a long shot for him to play this weekend. But depending on the injury situation, he might find himself on the active roster.

Jacob: 13:03

Can't wait to get Ify back,

Jason Harwood: 13:05

Yeah.

Jacob: 13:05

desperately need him.

Jason Harwood: 13:07

Yeah. We, we need some bodies back. That's for sure. And I want his pass rush, he showed some, some stuff last year, so we could definitely need that.

Jacob: 13:16

Real quick, I just want to go over this. I, uh, just have a graphic here because I don't know if you saw there was an argument on Twitter between Lions and Vikings fans because some of the Vikings fans said that they've had to deal with an extensive list of injuries also and that they've overcome it. And you know, they've been playing better than the Lions as of late, and this and that. This actually is on Twitter, or on X, this is Tyler Webb that compiled this list, but it's the number of players on injured reserve, the PUP list, or just out for each NFL team. Uh, and it's not surprising to us, but the Lions have 22 players right now. That are out due to injury. And that's combining, like, IR, just people that are out. The next highest team is the Browns with 18. But the Vikings, who said that they've been going through and battling their share of injuries, have 5 players. Packers, 5 players.

Jason Harwood: 14:07

Yep.

Jacob: 14:08

The Bills only have 3 players on their roster that have been on IR or out. So the Bills are the lowest, and the Lions are the highest.

Jason Harwood: 14:17

Yep.

Jacob: 14:18

And you know, we had a high scoring, really close game. Maybe that makes people feel a little bit better about that. We've been dealing with a lot of injuries and we're still competing. We're still there. We're, we're not getting ran over by anybody.

Jason Harwood: 14:29

No, no, I, you, um, Did you listen to the audio of the Dan Campbell and 97. one

Jacob: 14:37

actually had the joy of listening to that live. I dropped my kids off at school and heard that on the radio.

Jason Harwood: 14:42

That's

Jacob: 14:42

I was ready to run through a brick wall right then. Like, let's do this now.

Jason Harwood: 14:46

Yeah, he was saying that for the fan base as much as he was saying that for his team, it felt like, like, let's just get on board. We're going to keep going through, we're going to keep trucking and, uh, yeah, he's, I mean, he was fired up, like we got punched in the mouth and we're getting ready to punch back. And this is going to be our first time opportunity to punch back this weekend. And. Yeah, I would not want to be the bears this weekend. I really feel like there's going to be a, you know, we're going to be ready to play.

Jacob: 15:13

That's just something about Dan Campbell, man. His ability to just rally the troops and just get you going, like, you know, you see the pre game speeches and the post game speeches, even, and everything. Just everything that he says. 100 percent genuine and just, you know, awesome.

Jason Harwood: 15:27

it doesn't come off calculated. Like some of this stuff, like it never comes off, like calculated

Jacob: 15:33

seems from the heart, like, you know.

Jason Harwood: 15:35

Just this way. I feel like even let the F bomb fly twice in 97

Jacob: 15:39

Heh heh heh, yeah.

Jason Harwood: 15:40

quick on quick on the button. You know, I, It really irked me, like I saw an article like Dan Campbell goes on profanity laced tirade or whatever and I'm like, no,

Jacob: 15:51

the

Jason Harwood: 15:51

it

Jacob: 15:51

clickbait.

Jason Harwood: 15:52

No, it is and it's just so annoying and some people believe that. That's why he gets that, titles like that that you get like the meathead moniker or whatever because people want to believe that stuff. No, if you listen to that, like you said, you're ready to run through a brick wall. He's speaking the truth. He's speaking from the heart. If your guy, like he said in there, yeah. It sucks. We got all these injuries, but you know what that is? That provides an opportunity for someone that wouldn't normally have an opportunity. And if you're one of those guys, Zeke, Turner And all, if you're one of those guys that are getting their chance to play, yeah, you're going to be giving it your all because this is, I mean, this is your tryout for next year. Right. I mean, if the Lions get all their players back, you're probably not going to be back playing starting for the Lions. This is your chance to make another roster, you know, or

Jacob: 16:43

know,

Jason Harwood: 16:43

be back on our practice squad.

Jacob: 17:00

You may be, the season's already washed, you know, right now is a chance for you to go out there as an individual, put something out on tape, show us what you've got. I think that we're in the opposite situation where it's like, we've already built something special, the people that we're bringing in, you're about to be a part of this, now's your chance to Be a part of something greater than yourself. Now, you know, you're being a part, a piece of the puzzle. We're trying to take this thing to the top. We aren't slowing down. You know, I don't think that you're necessarily, if you're Quan Alexander, you're Jamal Adams, you're not worried about next year. You're not, you know, we brought you here right now. Show us what you got, you know,

Jason Harwood: 17:40

we

Jacob: 17:42

we're going to have the best 11 out there,

Jason Harwood: 17:44

able

Jacob: 17:46

the team. You got to do your job. That's what we brought you here, you know, to do

Jason Harwood: 17:50

this

Jacob: 17:53

that's who you use an example to

Jason Harwood: 17:54

happen.

Jacob: 17:57

may be worried about your job next year, but you know, you have a chance right now to be a part of something bigger. You play your ass off and you're potentially gonna be playing on a Super Bowl in a Super Bowl, you know at the beginning of the year I don't think Zeke Turner thought that was possible. I'm sure Quan Alexander was already writing that off You know that you know these opportunities like this don't come up. You gotta lose yourself Jason

Jason Harwood: 18:19

Yeah, I got my wipe off mom's spaghetti. It's on my sweater.

Jacob: 18:23

That's just how I feel though.

Jason Harwood: 18:25

No, you're, you're exactly right. I mean, it is about that, but also it is about, it is a business and these guys got to look out for themselves for next year and they, they got to. Take this opportunity for what it is you play your butt off for this team, but also, if I do at the end of the tunnel, maybe I am playing in the Superbowl, but I'm, and if you get the Superbowl, you get the Superbowl bump, because then you're forever, you're Superbowl champion, even though if you're third or fourth string, you're a Superbowl champion.

Jacob: 18:55

No matter you add that to the Wikipedia page

Jason Harwood: 18:58

Yep, exactly. And then you get your ring. Those guys can look, you got Jamal Adams or whatever, Quan Alexander, they've been in the league for a long time. Yeah, they're playing for this year. Zeke Turner is, he wasn't on anybody's radar and now he's come out. Last game was not his best game. The Packers game, he played pretty darn well. And so, he's got to keep putting it out there. Real quickly, before we get to the interview, we'll go over the bears rankings. We've already done this before. Nothing much has changed. 22nd overall PFF grade. Um, the offense is 24th. They're 25th and points scored 32nd and yards per game, 31st and passing 21st and rushing their defense. While PFI has them rated 12th, um, you'll hear Harrison give out some stats about how terribly they've been since week seven. So these stats are pretty, um, yeah, we'll let Harrison speak to that. But yard, uh, yards per game, 24th passing defense, 14th, probably a lot of that's Jalen Johnson. He locked down, uh, J, uh, Justin Jefferson, uh, pretty well. So, you know, whoever he's on, it's going to be tough. But also Jerry Goff is, um, Better than Caleb Williams. So he'll be able to get the ball in there and their Russian defense is 26th, which seems about right based on how the first half went the last time we played them. And for some reason we didn't play it in the second half. And I have a feeling when we get to our keys to victory, you and I might have something to say about that. All right, before further ado, we're going to hit the interview here with Harrison Graham. I hope you guys enjoy it. We enjoyed having him on and we'll see on the flip side. We want to welcome Harrison Graham from the Chicago bears. Now he is part of the chat sports network. He is joining us, going to get us ready for this rematch this season or this week for the bears. So how are you doing Harrison? Thanks for joining us.

Harrison Graham: 20:56

I'm good. Um, the bears, not so much, but, uh, happy to be here. I know we tried to make it work last time, but, uh, a little rematch here and, uh, the lines are kind of, they're a little bit of shambles too, for different reasons, uh, with all the injuries. So, uh, it'd be interesting to see, uh, They should be fine this week, but, uh, how it kind of goes the rest of the way. Uh, for Detroit,

Jason Harwood: 21:19

Yeah, I, uh, yeah, it's, it's a weird, you know, our team is 12 and 2, but you would not know it Harrison by the mood of the fans around, uh, it's doom and gloom around here with the last set of injuries. I don't know what about these last set injuries that put them over the edge, maybe that couple with the loss

Harrison Graham: 21:37

you kind of feel bad because it's like the Lions fans have waited their whole lives for a team like this, and their offense is gonna give'em a chance. It just feels like it's gonna be tough to win 2, 3, 4 playoff games with Jamal Adams and I, I saw they signed some guy off the Jags practice squad the other day. Uh, it's all worked for Aaron, but uh. Listen, they found a way to win most of these games, so we'll see how it goes.

Jason Harwood: 22:06

Yeah, that's what we're hoping to the offense could contend with anybody. So you know, that's the saving grace on that.

Jacob: 22:14

I think it's a problem with a lot of Lions fans, though. I was just gonna say, I think it's a problem with a lot of Lions fans is that they've always had that kind of in the holster, like, what's going to go wrong? What's going to happen? You know, something's going to happen, something's going to ruin this, it's going too well. And then, you know, all the injuries are piling up. And then for that loss to happen with the injuries, that's when they're like, Oh, I You know, the sky is falling. This is it. I knew it. We're doomed.

Harrison Graham: 22:36

Yeah, and the bears are the new lions now, where at least the lions are good now. They've had this crazy injury thing, but the bears are now the, you just assume every decision they make as an organization is going to be the wrong one. So it's, uh, it's funny how that goes, uh, full circle. Oh, one of these days it'll be the Packers, but I don't, I don't think that's happening anytime soon.

Jacob: 22:57

We can't wait either. Yep.

Jason Harwood: 23:05

or a year contract with Jordan Love. Maybe that's the start of it.

Harrison Graham: 23:10

We'll see. We'll see. Uh, you know, he's not far for Rogers, but he's, he's pretty good too. I mean, he's, you know, if he's the third out of the three, that's, it's not bad. It's not bad.

Jason Harwood: 23:21

no, no. At least he, uh, he can keep his, he seems to keep his mouth shut. So that's a good thing. The other ones have trouble doing that for sure.

Harrison Graham: 23:30

Yeah. Yeah. No question. He's more likable. I will get, I will concede that. Yep.

Jason Harwood: 23:35

we'll see. I think Roger's probably started out likable too, and then he gradually turned into whatever he is

Jacob: 23:43

I don't remember a time liking him. Do you?

Jason Harwood: 23:46

I never liked him, but I didn't, like, hate his guts. Like, I, he left the division and I somehow hate him more now than I ever have. I don't

Harrison Graham: 23:55

Yeah. It's so true. I can't wait for him to retire and just I hope he'll just like move to like South Africa or something and we'll never see him again.

Jacob: 24:05

Right. That's what he said. Right. When I retire, you won't hear from me anymore.

Harrison Graham: 24:10

Uh, yeah, he he always says I don't I don't care what people think no know yada yada yada. He'll probably just be working for mac if he pulled full time Uh when he uh when he leaves the nfl, so he'll he'll always be around

Jason Harwood: 24:24

Clay Matthews is going to get kicked off and then he's going to be

Harrison Graham: 24:26

Yeah,

Jason Harwood: 24:27

on the side screen.

Harrison Graham: 24:28

exactly

Jacob: 24:29

Hawk, you got your packers line backers mixed up.

Harrison Graham: 24:33

Tomato. Tomato,

Jason Harwood: 24:34

getting them all, getting them all screwed up. Who cares? It's the Packers, right? None of us care. All right. So Harrison, tell, you know, we know that Matty Rufloos, um, is fired since the last time we played you. What is different about this team in the last few weeks since we've seen you guys last?

Harrison Graham: 24:51

uh, they're somehow worse, which, uh, is hard to believe. Um, you know, you, you kind of reflect, and I, I, I don't wanna really give Maddie Relu credit for anything but. At least he had them competitive in some of these games now I'm not gonna come on here and bash thomas brown This guy's gone from pass game coordinator to offensive coordinator to head coach in about a month That's kind of an unreasonable task. Uh, there's interim coaches. I I can't remember a time when a guy has gone from Basically a not that involved assistant coach to the play caller, to the head coach for a team who, by the way, is trying to develop a rookie quarterback. I think it's pretty, uh, pretty crazy, uh, what we've witnessed here, but, um, yeah, they, they completely laid a nag the first game in San Francisco. I will say this, the final score in Minnesota was 30 to 12, but I thought they were more competitive in that game. Their defense was. flying around in the first half at least. Um, their, their biggest problem all year, really. And it was true against Detroit too. The first time is they just can't get going offensively in the first half of these games. I don't know what the reason is. I don't know if there's scripting sucks. If Caleb Williams is just needs a quarter or two to kind of figure out what these defenses are doing, which. Yeah, that's some of that's to be expected as a rookie, but they just cannot get out of the gates with any momentum. Now, last week, they actually moved the ball a couple times in the first half, got stuffed on a couple fourths and ones. So, um, it was actually a little better in terms of moving the ball, but, um, they just, they're the second lowest half scoring team in the NFL behind the Giants, who, are now at with Tim Boyle at quarterback, who I think we're all familiar with.

Jacob: 26:39

Right.

Harrison Graham: 26:41

so, uh, yeah, it's long story short. It's, um, the problem they've had all year is slow starts offensively. And something that's actually pretty interesting is coming into this year, most people viewed this Bears team of regardless of what happens with the offense at worst, this should be a top 10 defense. week seven in a bunch of advanced defensive, uh, categories, um, ESPN's Courtney Cronin had a tweet about this. They're a 30th to 32nd and like 10 category. So not only are they not a good defense, they're one of the worst defenses in the league over the last two months. Uh, and ironically that since they gave up the hail Mary. So the theme of this season has kind of been. That Hail Mary just destroyed the season. I mean, it's truly incredible. If they win that game, they're five and two, um, and feeling great about themselves, a four game winning streak, which would be their longest win streak. And I think since the 2018 season, when they won 12 games, but, um, yeah, that they've just fallen off a cliff since then you guys saw one Eber flew slate game collapses. There were several of those. And, uh, we were saying it before, uh, we hit record here. I don't think there's a team in the NFL that needs the off season to get here faster than the bears. I mean, I know there's some other teams who were kind of tanking the Giants, the Raiders, whatever, but team is just so out of it. It's, it's kind of remarkable to see how it's played out.

Jason Harwood: 28:07

Yeah. Yeah. We've been there, man. We, I, I feel you, I could see the pain in your eyes. I, I, I feel you.

Jacob: 28:15

I feel like generally, like, you know, it just, it seemed like the bears had a team that was going to be able to compete more than, you know, put out a better product than they have. And, you know, the beginning of the season, like most of your losses were only by one possession. It was close, you know, and then you had the hail Mary, they, you know, stripped you away from a win there. And then, you know, you already said that's kind of when it went downhill. Then they started losing by more, you know, they make the change of offensive coordinator and it's just, yeah, just got uglier and uglier.

Harrison Graham: 28:48

have had a field goal attempt against Detroit. Couldn't figure that out. Took Minnesota to overtime the first time. Defense couldn't get a stop. I mean, there's just been crazy losses and then sandwiched in between all those. There's just been some kind of no shows. They didn't show up the week after the hail Mary loss. They just did not show up in Arizona where players after the game were like, yeah, the hail Mary is still impacting us. It's like, guys, you gotta get off the mat here. Uh, they lost at home to the Patriots where they only scored three points. It's when they fired Shane Waldron. Um, then they went on that three game stretch against the division where they were, they had a chance and all of them lost all those, then they fire Hebrew flues and now they've gotten blown out a couple of times. So, yeah, I mean, they're one play away from five and two and two months later, they're four and 10. So it's a, it's pretty incredible.

Jason Harwood: 29:39

all right, let's, uh, let's ask you about your assessment of Caleb Williams. What do you what's your thoughts on him so far this season? And what you expect in the future from the from him.

Harrison Graham: 29:49

I'm still optimistic about his future. He's probably been a little more erratic with his accuracy than I would have expected. Um, I do think at this point in the season, a couple of things stand out. One, I don't think he trusts the protection. Um, I mean, they had to put a rookie left tackle out there last week, last minute Braxton Jones, self reported concussion symptoms the day before a game. I've never heard of, a guy practicing all week and then the day of travel all of a sudden, uh, he, he goes into the protocol. So that, that was tough. and uh, if you guys watched on Monday night, he just had no business being out there. Uh, Karan Amigaji is the kid's name. So, uh, been an issue. They've had interior offensive line issues all season. Um, but there's no doubt he's, he's, he's missed some throws. He's turned down some guys that have been open and chosen not to pull the trigger for whatever reason. It's really been up and down. I mean, his good. games have been really good. I thought the second half against Detroit was a really good half. I, you know, he played really well. Um, the first time they played in Minnesota against a Brian Flores defense that historically confuses rookie quarterbacks. He threw for 340 in a couple touchdowns. So I think his highs have been really impressive and I would say the most impressive among the rookies, but his lows have probably been the lowest. So it's kind of been all over the map. Uh, I, I think the Coaching and just organizational chaos has been just too much to overcome for a rookie. So, you know, uh, long winded way of saying optimistic about his future, probably a little more. erratic and all over the map than I would have expected, but I don't think it's one of these situations where it's like, Oh God, the kid can't play. Cause he clearly can't. It's just, they got to get this coaching hire. Right. So we'll see how that goes obviously. But, um, yeah, the last couple of weeks since Thomas Brown has had to go from just focusing on Caleb and the offense to the whole team. The offense hasn't been as crisp. I don't think the play calling has been as good. So, um, yeah, we'll see if they can write the ship a little bit down the stretch. I'll say this, with how beat up Detroit is, I mean, they should be able to score some points here, uh, on Sunday. So, uh, Maybe an opportunity, even though it's a game they'll probably lose, to at least get something going offensively

Jacob: 32:11

very much. Yeah, I mean, they really do you feel like they dropped the ball by not making a coaching change before they drafted Caleb Williams and starting this season with a, you know, fresh head coach.

Harrison Graham: 32:25

Yeah, absolutely. I said it at the time. I mean, I don't know if you would have gotten him. I was, I don't get a lot of scoops. I'm not in the scoop game, if you will, but uh, every once in a while I'll get told something by someone I trust and uh, I was told that Harbaugh was interested in this job. Um, now maybe he would have just leveraged it and gone to the Chargers anyway, who knows, but We had seen enough red flags from game management situations from Matt Eberfloos last year. I mean, the game in Detroit last year where they just collapsed in the last four minutes, uh, was a good example where I thought it was worth the swing. Fire Eberfloos, you're changing quarterbacks. If they had decided to keep Justin Fields and didn't want to change too much, okay, that's one thing, but The second they decided to change quarterbacks, I just thought realigning him with the new head coach was the logical thing to do. Uh, they didn't do it. And you know, even if you wouldn't have gotten Harbaugh, uh, maybe you get someone else. Maybe Ben Johnson's willing to take this job. He wasn't willing to take Washington. I don't know. Uh, but I don't think Matty Rufloos had shown enough to, uh, to not take that swing. I think that was a mistake. I said it at the time. It was clear throughout the season because the minute you brought him back, you had to nail the offensive coordinator hire and it was a train wreck with Shane Waldron. So yeah, to answer that, it's clearly it was a mistake. And uh, know, hopefully they get it right here because you've, you've wasted the whole point of drafting a quarterback is to reset t and you've just wasted th because you're a noncompe team. So critical offsea

Jacob: 34:10

So, I mean, that leads into sorry, I was just going to ask the next 1.

Jason Harwood: 34:13

follow up while it's going to say follow up was, do you think that this set Caleb Williams back at all? Like, do you think that maybe he'll get in some bad habits because of, you know, offensive design or just, or, um,

Harrison Graham: 34:32

and mentally stro He said all the right things this year. I know people have made memes about him kind of stretching out on the sideline on Monday after he got absolutely whacked. And some national media members want to take that out of context, but he's actually been really good in terms of like handling this at the podium and stuff like that. I think that stuff matters, uh, being a franchise quarterback, but yeah, you just, you never know. And it's hard to, uh, It's hard to trust the bears, right? Like they have not done a good job of developing quarterbacks.

Jacob: 35:04

Well,

Harrison Graham: 35:18

you're kind o there hoping you get luck coach because they, uh, t track record since they f who went 10 and six, by him. They have, the I mean, they have not Matt Nagy's by far the best coach they hired and he was a joke by the end. So, um, yeah, I mean, it really comes down to getting the right coach, but I do think if you get the right coach and might be the guy call employees for you guys. Um, you know, maybe, that works. Um, but yeah, it's, it's, it's hard to, it's hard to say either way, because, History would tell us that probably won't get this right, which is, uh, unfortunate to say, but I tell bears fans all the time, Detroit's a great example because eventually logic would say you do kind of just, maybe it's luck. Maybe just picking Dan Campbell was just luck and you get the right guy. So, um, you know, you, you gotta keep taking swings if you're these teams and you gotta, Keep the faith as a fan, but this fan base is, it's pretty beat up. Like I'm sure lions fans were for a very long time.

Jacob: 36:29

Oh, yeah,

Jason Harwood: 36:29

Silence.

Harrison Graham: 36:41

I'll get the polls in a second. I, uh, I put out a updated top five today. Um, I still have Ben Johnson. Number one, I actually have a question for you guys about him here in a second. I'll, I'll circle back to that. Um, I've got, uh, we're able to, he kind of feels like the safe choice. I think there might be a ceiling there. I don't love the idea of going defense, but he's done the job before a FC championship game with Ryan Tannahill as his quarterback. So I, I think he would bring instant credibility, which this franchise could, could certainly use. Uh, Joe Brady is my third guy. The Bills oc obviously working with Josh Allen. Uh, you know, does he just mask some of any potential weaknesses? Brady has, that's certainly possible. Uh, I like Liam Cohen, the Bucs OC for a couple of reasons. One Baker Mayfield played under Lincoln Riley as well. So similar background in terms of college offense and play style. Um, and

Jacob: 37:39

Yeah. and Transcribed

Harrison Graham: 37:39

gotten him to play at a very high level this year. He was with McVay for, for a year in LA. He's called plays at the college and now the NFL level. So. He's had some different experiences. And then I actually, um, I know I just said, I don't love the idea of going defense, but I've got Brian Flores five because he's just kind of a no nonsense guy. He kind of reminds me of Dan Campbell a little bit. He's just kind of a, uh, you know, this is a guy you'd want to have your back in a, in an alley fight or something like that. Like

Jacob: 38:10

by https: otter. ai

Harrison Graham: 38:11

He's no BS and, you know, which means the bears probably won't consider them because they, they like just kind of hiring nice guys. But, um, that's my top five. I was going to ask you guys about Ben Johnson. The one question that seems to

Jacob: 38:24

Yeah.

Harrison Graham: 38:24

of, you know, circulating among bears fans is like, we know he's got this creative offense. We know he's elevated Jared Goff, all this stuff. he, do you guys think he has the command, the entire locker room type of personality? Like, do you guys think he's capable of doing that? Cause we just don't really see him front and center as much there, but obviously when you have Dan Campbell, it's kind of like, you don't really expect to either, but people seem to think Aaron Glenn for sure checks that box. But with, with Johnson, it seems to be more of a question mark. Like, is he just this fun, analytical offensive guy or can he command an entire team? What do you guys know in that regard about him?

Jason Harwood: 39:06

based on his press conferences, I'd have faith in him being a head coach. I

Harrison Graham: 39:10

Okay.

Jason Harwood: 39:11

I think he's learned a lot being under Dan Campbell about. The leadership portion of how to galvanize a team.

Harrison Graham: 39:18

Right.

Jason Harwood: 39:19

I,

Jacob: 39:20

Okay.

Jason Harwood: 39:39

From the players, just because he played it at a very high level. I don't want Ben Johnson to leave, so I'm not going to say, you know, it's

Harrison Graham: 39:47

Of course.

Jason Harwood: 39:48

about it. But, uh, I, if I were going to pick out of the two for a head coach, I probably pick Aaron Glenn if I was going to pick out of the two, however. Johnson. I think he he's going to be able to do a good job and he's been with Dan Campbell for a very long time. I mean, it is not just why he was OC. He had time with him when he was in Miami. So they've known each other for a very long time. Ben Johnson is the holdover from the Matt Patricia era.

Harrison Graham: 40:16

Yeah.

Jason Harwood: 40:17

happened to have a history with Dan Campbell and now he's, he's grown, you know, how it's done. He, in his press conferences, he does, Ben Johnson does command attention and seems like a very good leader. He doesn't just seem like a funny guy or, people like him or whatever. He, I really respect how he talks in the press conferences. A lot of the lines coaches are talk like similar to them, just like they have a very good command of the room. I think they're going to, I think people respect them, but anytime you get a first year coach in there and you get, you screw up early on, that's, you know, it's hard, you know, to get everyone behind you.

Harrison Graham: 40:57

On Chicago is just one of those places where like, Things can just spiral quickly. You know, it's just like, it's such a passionate fan base. They're starving for winning. Like, you know, you start a seat, you start that first year one and three or something. I mean, the, the pressure ramps up quick. So yeah, I mean, I actually respect for how selective he's being. It's like, eh, I'll just call plays here until I get a situation I like. So, um, yeah, I'll be curious if he jumps in this year, because honestly, like You know, I think roster, QB wise, the Bears are a good job, but organizational wise, eh. You ask Ryan Pohl's, I don't know if he's gonna be here. I don't know if he should be here, to be honest. Um,

Jacob: 41:40

Absolutely.

Harrison Graham: 41:56

have success. I know this division, but what is the power structure going to look like? So I think he's kind of gotten to the point where like. If he interviews with the Bears, he'll be interviewing them just as much as they're interviewing him, I would think. Like,

Jacob: 42:09

early.

Harrison Graham: 42:10

that would be my guess.

Jason Harwood: 42:12

I, I think, to be honest with you, I think it's a long shot for that. Ben goes to Chicago just because of what you just said, the ownership Ben is, I mean, I think that's what threw him out in the commander's job. I know that he came back for unfinished business, but he did have two interviews with the commanders, but it was still, you know, there's a new ownership growing group going in there. There's a lot of question marks. I think Ben is just, I think Ben's happy in Detroit. Great. With the situation. So like he said, he's going to be just super selective. Um, you know, it's either going to take some change, Dan Campbell were to leave or something like that, or, you know, we win the title, um, at some point he might just say, I'm, I'm ready for

Jacob: 42:51

um, I don't know if I'm going to be able to get to the next one. um, I'm just going to run through the, next few slides. I don't know if I'm going to be able to get to the, next one. Um, Um, um, Um,

Harrison Graham: 43:20

the, mix there. I couldn't remember. You think he regrets not going to Washington? I mean, they've been pretty solid.

Jason Harwood: 43:25

yeah, I don't

Harrison Graham: 43:26

Regret's probably the wrong word, but

Jason Harwood: 43:28

no, I don't, I, I mean, probably looking at getting Jaden Daniels and what he's turned out to be, I mean, yeah, you'd like to be at the helm with that, but, um, Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's pretty happy where he's at. I tell you, uh, don't want for able to be your coach. I don't want that

Harrison Graham: 43:43

Really? So that, that scares you guys?

Jason Harwood: 43:46

uh, it's scary. I just for me personally, because I know what that's going to be a dogfight every year to

Harrison Graham: 43:53

Yeah. Sure.

Jason Harwood: 43:54

I mean, Say what you want with the Titans, but they played hard and

Harrison Graham: 43:59

Oh, no doubt. Yeah.

Jason Harwood: 44:00

know, and, you know, if you get Gallup, I mean, we know that with Dan Campbell, you get, you know, people, you know, you get your team all pulling the same direction. It's, it's really, you can win with lesser players with that way. And then I, you know, Frabel may have, like you said, like the lower ceiling, but you know, he's going to get his team ready. Yeah. You know, he's going to want to beat the Packers really bad if he gets in this division. So that'd be good for you guys. It'd be good for us to knock down the Packers, but I don't want to play. We, you guys always play us tough. Anyways, I don't want to play, play with variables, your coach.

Harrison Graham: 44:36

Yeah, I think Vrabel, like I said, he feels like the safest hire just because like at minimum it's going to be a well run team and they have not even had that for a while, which is, it's a low bar, but he knows what he's doing. He's done it before. He's done it in a small marketplace that. you know, had Ryan Tannehill as his quarterback. So, um, yeah, I mean, I just feel like Johnson, you know, you could get him in a hypothetical situation, I think he has the best chance to give you the highest ceiling with this quarterback. Um, but I think you could make a strong argument that the organization would benefit the most, especially in the near term from a guy like Vrabel, just like he's not up before he's a hard ass, he's not going to be messing around. Um, so yeah, I, I, you know, I kind of go back and forth on it, but he would definitely be. Uh, very, very high on that.

Jason Harwood: 45:35

Yeah, I think he's your safer bet of, uh, you know, of anyone that's out there. Um, but like you said, you, you know, you've just need a step. You need to get a step in the right direction. And, uh, I think that he could definitely provide that for you.

Harrison Graham: 45:49

Yeah, for sure.

Jacob: 45:52

Yeah, I mean, just to speak on the whole Ben Johnson versus Aaron Glenn thing, I just think that the, uh, The reasoning behind that Aaron Glenn is obviously much more vocal in general, but Ben Johnson has had a top five offense every year since he's became the coordinator. So he hasn't really had to handle too much adversity or too many difficult media questions or, you know, things where you would have to hear about, you know, decisions that he made or this or that. Um, I kind of agree with what Jason said. I'd variable is a safer pick for you guys. I think I would rather you have variable than to steal Ben Johnson away. But, uh, You know, I think variable has got to be really high on the bears list.

Harrison Graham: 46:26

Do you guys think, um, Glenn or Johnson is like, if, who do you guys think is more likely to get a job? I mean, I think Ben has a job if he wants one. I think that's pretty clear at this point. It's just a matter of if, if the right one is out there, I know that the saints have been linked to Glenn a lot. He, I think he played there.

Jason Harwood: 46:47

and the

Jacob: 46:48

I think Glenn's more likely to leave.

Harrison Graham: 46:50

Well, I think if you're Aaron Gwinn to just being a defensive guy, like if you get an offer, you got to go like you can't

Jacob: 46:56

Yeah,

Harrison Graham: 46:56

as selective as Ben John. I mean, as long as Detroit's offense is good, he's going to be in the mix every year. So

Jason Harwood: 47:04

Yeah. Think that, you know, Ben Johnson's going to be super selective where I'm not saying that Aaron Glent's not, but the two jobs that are currently open, the Jets and the saints, he's both has history with, you know, both those franchises. so if he's on their list, I could, I would. I would see him wanting to take that. He just seems like he's ready for a head coach job

Harrison Graham: 47:25

the while

Jason Harwood: 47:26

frankly, have defensive coordinator, Kevin Shepherd's going to come in and I feel pretty confident from our linebackers coach to be a defensive coordinator. So, I mean, it's not that I don't want Aaron Glenn gone, but I feel organizationally lines would be able to handle that.

Harrison Graham: 47:40

is, uh, I was looking into some of the assistance on Detroit's, uh, coaching staff. It seems like the Tanner Engstrand guy is kind of on the Ben Johnson track. like position coach. Now he's the past game coordinator. Do you think he would just get promoted if Johnson a job? Like I see the natural or would they go like Randall L or Brunel or would they go outside the organization? Be interested to see what Campbell would do there?

Jason Harwood: 48:07

Scotty Montgomery, the running backs

Harrison Graham: 48:09

Running backs coach. Is he the guy? Okay.

Jason Harwood: 48:11

think he's going to get, I think it's between him and Tanner, um, I think Scotty, Scotty's already interviewed for, um, another offensive coordinator. I think he might've interviewed for the Bucks head coordinator job. Tanner did too. Um, I think he was at the Patriots, uh, offensive coordinator under Mayo, but either one of those guys, but Scotty Montgomery, Scotty Montgomery is also going to be a head coach someday. I I'm convinced of that. He's just. The way he speaks, the way he's ready. He's got, he's got some steps to take, um, an offensive coordinator, be that, that that's what they, that the lions have done really well is that they've groomed these next guys up and I think, uh, Dan Campbell's, you know, great leader and he's just, you know, you're going to, you're, you're going to lose. You know, if you win, you're going to lose your coordinators. That's just the way it is in the NFL. And you've got to be, have be ready to have, Dan Campbell's going to want to have his guy in that next position, as opposed to an outside hire. Is that

Harrison Graham: 49:13

I know we have. Okay. Yeah, yeah, I was gonna say I was just looking through the and I know we haven't talked about the game much. Sorry if I've derailed

Jacob: 49:22

Oh,

Jason Harwood: 49:22

we're

Harrison Graham: 49:22

of this conversation, but, uh, I was just looking at the line staff the other day. I'm just like, God, like, Randall L's on the staff. That's awesome. I totally forgot. Brunel was the quarterbacks coach. And

Jacob: 49:34

right.

Harrison Graham: 49:34

in strand guy. I'm like, this guy feels like the next been John. I'm just like, this is the freaking lions. Like, I think that has given me some hope of like, okay, Detroit has been, I'm 31 years old. The Lions have been a joke my entire life. So like if they have gotten to this point and it only took a couple of years, I mean, it's, it just, it's the power of the, head coach. I mean, it's the chargers, Jim Harbaugh goes in there, he takes an average roster. they're not going to win a Superbowl or anything, but they're going to make the playoffs. And this is easily going to be the worst roster he ever has. Like they're, they're not going anywhere. So

Jason Harwood: 50:11

Yeah.

Harrison Graham: 50:16

I think in football more than any other sport, like the coach is so impactful. Like you just have to get the right guy. So it's pretty cool that Detroit's got that now. And they, like you said, they've got a nucleus of guys. I can just seems like they'll just promote guys if they lose their coordinator. So that's, that's a playing from a position of strength.

Jason Harwood: 50:36

Yeah. I think one thing that where teams get in trouble and this may, you know, may, uh, Surprise you with, you know, cause we've been Johnson or whatever, but I think everyone wants like this next, like, Oh, he's a good offensive coordinator. He'll lead this team. That's not, that's not necessarily the truth. Whereas Dan Campbell, I don't know if he'd ever be an offensive defensive coordinator, but he can, he

Harrison Graham: 51:01

Yeah.

Jason Harwood: 51:01

Just, he gets the whole group to go in the same direction and he gets the right people in the right position. And I I think You know, he just has to be the right leader, but you know I, Dan Cable also gets a bad rap that he's a meathead. The guy is really, really, really smart. I mean, he's,

Harrison Graham: 51:20

it

Jason Harwood: 51:21

uh,

Harrison Graham: 51:21

is.

Jason Harwood: 51:22

really well. Like if you listen to all the press conferences, it's. is super intelligent. He gets a bad rap because of, uh, as far as like the meathead thing, because of the opening press conference and

Harrison Graham: 51:34

Yeah.

Jason Harwood: 51:34

want to play that soundbite over and over. But yeah, he is, uh, you know, as Jared Goff has said, he's the best leader he's ever been around and there's, That's that's That's what you need. You need someone at the top that can just get the best out of everybody.

Harrison Graham: 51:48

Yeah, no question, no question.

Jason Harwood: 51:52

All right. So let's actually talk a little bit about, about this upcoming game here. So what, like for you personally going in this week, you've already kind of said that you don't expect the bears to win, but what are you looking to see out of this game from your bears team?

Harrison Graham: 52:06

The only thing I care about the really the final three games is just, can you get Cale Williams pointing in a positive direction going into the off season? And now. How much does it matter? I don't know, but you'd like to kind of refine some of that good stretch he had before these last two games. Um, again, with Detroit beat up, I mean, even though they're a long shot to win this game, they, they should have opportunities to score. So find a way to get off to a better start. I think the bears have to do a better job of just generating easy completions early. That's what all the good play cars do. It's like get your quarterback four to six completions over the first couple of drives that are just lamps. I mean like quick little slants screens, whatever it is, uh, Ben Johnson, I watched them, they run more screens. I feel like than any team in the league. And you know, it helps when you have Jamiro Gibbs and the best line in football. But I think he's Thomas Brown's going to find a way to, uh, to generate some more easy completions. And then, um, We've seen it as the game goes on, you know, he, he, he seems to gain confidence and let it rip more. So it's really just about getting off to a better start. So hopefully he can find a way to do that here. Um, I don't, it sounds dumb. I don't really care what the defense does the rest of the way. I mean, they're on it. They're on an interim play caller. I know a lot of these, they have good individual talent, but I think the scheme is, probably going to shift dramatically there. So. I'm not that concerned. I would imagine Detroit puts up well in the thirties this week. Um, so I'm not that concerned about that guy. I mean, obviously you're looking at young guys like Um, can 1st, 2nd, 3rd year players, um, you know, make some, make some strides here down the stretch. But to me, the focus is about the quarterback. How can you put him in the right direction? Now you're not gonna have Braxton Jones again. I don't think he's in the concussion protocol. Their left guard, Tevin Jenkins, either their 1st or 2nd best linemen when he's healthy. He popped up on the injury report today with a calf. If he can't go, your entire left side is down. Uh, your center play has been below average most of the season. You've been on your backup right guard all year because Nate Davis was just a train wreck of a signing. They had to cut him and, uh, Darnell Wright's actually been pretty solid at right tackle, but if Jenkins can't go, that's going to make it even tougher, even behind, even against a right back. Lions team that's pretty decimated. So we'll see if, uh, they can come up with a game plan that, uh, can generate some easy offense early, but, uh, to me, uh, get some momentum for Caleb, uh, down the stretch here and keep him healthy too. I mean, he got absolutely crushed a couple times last week, mostly due to the left tackle, just not getting out of his stance when the ball snapped. So. Uh, yeah, that's, uh, that's a concern for sure. So I'll be curious to see how Aaron Glenn attacks it. I mean, I know he's been kind of blitz heavy recently because. When you're so decimated, you kind of just have to take chances. But, um, I would imagine if that left side is backups, Detroit's going to be looking to, to attack that area of the bears offensive line.

Jacob: 55:23

All right, uh, so final question that we have for you just overall, what is a prediction that you have for this game? So it doesn't have to be the final score or anything like that. But if you just had to predict something that's going to happen in the game, what do you got?

Harrison Graham: 55:37

Um, how about this? I will predict that. I think the, I don't know what the over under is currently. I think the over will hit significantly because I think you guys will actually be surprised. I think the lions will have a field day offensively. It's the defense is just again, they played a little better last week, but Darnold was also good. She's kind of all over the place. Uh, if golf is on, it's, it's going to be a problem. Um, so I, I think, I think you could be looking at like a know, like a 20 type of game. Um, I think 60 points in this game is on the table. I do think the bears will score some points here just cause Detroit's that decimated. I just think it's, uh, it's reasonable to expect. Um, but yeah, I, you know, I could see this being one of those like entertaining first halves. Maybe the bears finally get something going. But then just over the course of 60 minutes, the lions just, you know, stretch it out and one by two or three touchdowns that, that would be my guess.

Jacob: 56:46

All right, we'd be okay with that.

Jason Harwood: 56:49

Yeah, we'll, we'll take that, especially after

Harrison Graham: 56:51

I've been, I've actually in the division, I've been rooting for you guys. Um, they're a fun team. I mean, there's nothing to dislike about Detroit. I mean, there really isn't. I mean, um, I'm not the hugest, you Kirby Joseph guy, but I'd like to have him on my team. So he's kind of in that category of player, but, um, I was bummed about Montgomery bears fans still really like him. That was a bummer, but, um, I really liked Gibbs. I've always been a golf guy. I thought he got kind of a, a raw deal in LA. So, uh, they likable bunch Campbell's easy to root for. So, um, I hope they can find a way to rally here because I've never seen a team. This decimated, especially on the one side of the ball. I mean, they have, well, like two starters left. I mean, it's, it's branch and Campbell, right? They're the,

Jason Harwood: 57:37

Uh,

Harrison Graham: 57:37

guess D is DJ reader.

Jason Harwood: 57:39

still in there. So, uh,

Harrison Graham: 57:40

Well,

Jason Harwood: 57:41

didn't start off the year, so we probably have like four, but it's,

Harrison Graham: 57:44

some key backups have been out too. Like they've,

Jason Harwood: 57:47

no,

Jacob: 57:48

Oh, yeah. Absolutely.

Harrison Graham: 57:48

of those guys, I know Hutchinson set is still holding out hope for the super bowl, but are any of those guys coming back?

Jason Harwood: 57:55

Anzalone who broke his wrist or forearm area. He'll be, uh, he'll be back for the playoffs.

Harrison Graham: 58:02

that's, big. I mean, he's a leader for him.

Jason Harwood: 58:04

huge because we're really, but everybody else, they Kaminsky, who was one of our linemen that got hurt in training camp, there was hope, but Dan Campbell basically shot that down today. He said that he doesn't think he's going to be able to make it back. Um, you know, Hutch has said he could be back for the Superbowl. That's like cutting it so close.

Harrison Graham: 58:24

that feels like Tio back in the day where he played on a broken leg basically, but hey I mean if he can get go out there and give you 20 snaps or something Obviously you got to get there

Jacob: 58:34

the Unreal. Yeah, Yes, yeah Yeah

Jason Harwood: 58:46

So we can root, I

Harrison Graham: 58:47

The rest of the North can agree on one thing. We're all sick of the Packers.

Jason Harwood: 58:52

Yes.

Harrison Graham: 58:52

there, I mean, can you be luckier as a fan base to go from Favre to Rogers to love? I mean, I'm not saying loves a superstar, but like you put him anywhere else. He's not this,

Jason Harwood: 59:03

Yeah,

Harrison Graham: 59:04

he's not. So it's just, it's crazy, but.

Jason Harwood: 59:07

I know. I know. All right, Harrison. Thank you for joining us. Um, why don't you, before you take off here, tell the listeners where they can catch up with your stuff.

Harrison Graham: 59:16

Yeah, you can find me on Twitter at H Graham NFL tweeting about the Bears NFL all the time. Um, Bears Now by Chatsports on YouTube, you can find us over there, uh, as well. So, uh, that's where you can find me. And, uh, appreciate anybody who comes and checks our stuff out. But, uh. You guys keep on going and, um, going to be, it's going to be an interesting few weeks, Minnesota, that week 18 game. I'm looking forward to that.

Jason Harwood: 59:46

Yeah. I am. I am. I, I think of it depending on how things go here. We could get flexed to the Sunday night.

Harrison Graham: 59:52

Oh, I would think so. Yeah. Unless there's a, unless there's a game to determine a playoff spot, right? Like to see if some gets in or not. I don't know who that would be, but,

Jason Harwood: 1:00:03

win both games and then we win both games, that's going to be for the North. So,

Harrison Graham: 1:00:07

and the number one seed.

Jason Harwood: 1:00:08

for the number two, uh, the number one seed too. So I mean, yeah, that's huge. I just, I, my boys don't want to go on a Sunday night, so I'm going to have this fight on my hand here.

Jacob: 1:00:21

It's just.

Jason Harwood: 1:00:22

So, all right, Harrison, you, uh, thanks again for joining us and you have a good night.

Harrison Graham: 1:00:27

right. Take care of fellows.

Jason Harwood: 1:00:29

All right, Jacob. I think Harrison wants to jump ship and leave the Bears and come to the Lions Nation. What do you think?

Jacob: 1:00:36

I don't know about that, I'll have to ask him next time.

Jason Harwood: 1:00:39

Yeah, we will.

Jacob: 1:00:40

It's nice for him to, you know, have positive things to say.

Jason Harwood: 1:00:43

Yes. Yep. He

Jacob: 1:00:44

And we both have a common enemy in the Packers.

Jason Harwood: 1:00:47

yes. Yes. Your enemy is my enemy. That's for sure It will always be that way. Although I want to beat the Bears this weekend pretty bad. So they're

Jacob: 1:00:58

Oh, I always want to beat the Bears, but, you know.

Jason Harwood: 1:01:01

Yeah It goes Packers, Bears, Vikings for me. Although this year Vikings always seem to get lucky and I'm tired of them getting lucky, so they need to, they need to get vanquished too. All right, Jacob, let's get into it. Keys to victory. I'm gonna let you start off here. What do you got?

Jacob: 1:01:18

Alright, first one just on the defensive side of the ball is just, you know, don't allow this Bears team to use the Bills blueprint and. Create those mismatches with the linebackers and the running backs. Don't let that happen again, which I don't believe they're going to, but that's definitely gotta be a key to victory is just don't let that same thing happen and you know, we can't, we can't allow Caleb Williams to escape the pocket and create more time. Caleb Williams is not Josh Allen. He's not going to be able to do it as effectively as Josh Allen did. I don't expect that type of game at all. But, I mean, that's how you create more time, and that's how you create more space, especially with a depleted defense, so I'm sure the Bears saw what the Bills did, and they want to sprinkle in some of that in their game plan and try to use that to their advantage. And we've got to be able to stop it. We gotta be more prepared for that.

Jason Harwood: 1:02:07

I agree. So this one's common sense, but we need to, we have not generated turnovers lately. Our defense has not gotten any turnovers. Kayla Williams has not thrown a pick in the last eight games. I'd love to see him throw a pick here, but fumble something we need to get, we need to gain a possession. And we just get our defense off the field, get our injured team, part of the team off the field, give them some break. So generated some turnovers. That's we have to do that.

Jacob: 1:02:38

I mean, we've got the secondary, right? I know Carlton Davis is out, but you know, you've got Terry on Kirby still leads the league in interceptions. Brian branch, you know, we have playmakers on defense, so absolutely. We should still be able to create turnovers and they're, you know, just as likely to be able to punch the ball out as they are to be able to jump in front of a pass and get an interception.

Jason Harwood: 1:02:58

Yep.

Jacob: 1:02:59

have to rely on them more. They, you know, need them to step up even more than they have for in the past. Um,

Jason Harwood: 1:03:06

agree. Okay.

Jacob: 1:03:08

The next one I have is just kind of, you know, the offense just has to keep performing overall, right? We, we kind of have to outscore these teams. The Bears average 19 points a game. They are not on the Bills level. We're not going to play another team. You know, the 49ers average 22 points. The Vikings average 26. You know, our offense just has to do what we do and keep performing. Is it going to be harder without Montgomery? Absolutely. We have to just, you know, we have to let Gibbs eat, right? You gotta just loosen the leash. You have to let him go off. We have a weapon back there. I know we want to manage him smart, but we, we've got to utilize him more. So I think that's going to be a key, especially this first game without Montgomery, is let Gibbs eat. Like he did the first half of the last game. We can't limit him, limit his carries in the second half and limit his touches. We got to get the ball in his hands.

Jason Harwood: 1:04:08

Yeah. How do you think the running back room's going to go? Do you think, you know, it was generally 50, 50 Gibbs and Monty. And now that Monty's out, what do you think is, um, going to happen here with carries?

Jacob: 1:04:20

I'll 80 20 split. Gibbs gets 80 and then I think that you probably sprinkle those other, um, carries between Craig Reynolds. Maybe Vaki gets some, I know Scotty Montgomery said that Jamar Jefferson is probably going to be playing. So,

Jason Harwood: 1:04:33

Yep.

Jacob: 1:04:34

and you know, he's, he's shifty back there too. I mean, he's able to break some off. So

Jason Harwood: 1:04:38

Mm hmm.

Jacob: 1:04:39

we just don't, I guess you could use Craig Reynolds in these short yardage situations, but we don't have that running back anymore. Montgomery was the one we wanted on fourth and one fourth and two, you know, he's the one that's going to refuse to go down. He's going to run you over. He's going to keep chugging. Gibbs can run between the tackles. He's just not as effective as Montgomery was. So I guess, you know, right now, if we're in a fourth in one situation, would you want Gibbs out there, or would you want Craig Reynolds?

Jason Harwood: 1:05:08

and

Jacob: 1:05:08

think you still put Gibbs, right? I mean

Jason Harwood: 1:05:12

think they'll still go with Gibbs. I mean, he's also gives you something in the passing game too. If you want to run a screen or if you want to do something else, um, I, I think that you're going to just stick with, with that, but, um, Craig has shown he could do it. I mean, I think Craig. Would probably be more in the power game than I think that, um, then more the elusive game, I still think Gibbs is. be just more, he might be more powerful. It's just hard. Cause Montgomery will give you the second effort that I think uh, that Gibbs kind of lacks, um, the ability to break tackles as, as much, um, you know, Gibbs is more of a make you miss type guy. I mean, he, he will take on contact, but. Uh, just in those short yardage gains, I have more faith in Monty than probably Gibbs in that, but, you know, this may be a great, uh, learning opportunity for Gibbs, get in these situations and find out how to do it, you know, learn how to do it.

Jacob: 1:06:10

Absolutely.

Jason Harwood: 1:06:11

Yeah, so running the ball is going to be a huge key in this game. I. Yep. We need to lean on that. That'll keep the defense off the field. We, I want to get, I want to lead him, uh, you know, time of possession by a large amount. Uh, that would be the best way to go. And I think, you know, take, we need to do what we've been doing is score first and put the pressure on the bears. Just do what we did last time on them. Get up, get up on them, make them be uncomfortable. And, um, do we need to do,

Jacob: 1:06:45

Definitely. That's the blueprint.

Jason Harwood: 1:06:47

um, and I will tell you that we need to watch DJ more. That guy, they will give that guy the ball in so many situations. I, I'm not too worried about him going deep because Caleb's pretty poor at throwing it deep. But they will, a lot of DJ Morris catches are close to the line of scrimmage. And with our linebackers being beat up, we gotta be ready to be out there. And. And take, because he's elusive and he's hard to bring down, they will even run with DJ more. So we just have to, be aware of that and have eyes on him at all times.

Jacob: 1:07:22

Definitely. I mean, when DJ Moore is at his best, he is a weapon. I also feel like he may have already checked out this season. Seems like he's kind of going through the motions. He had a couple drops the last game against us. You know, just doesn't seem like the intensity is there for him anymore.

Jason Harwood: 1:07:38

He's probably discouraged just like a lot of the Bears team. So that's another reason to get up on them early and just, that

Jacob: 1:07:44

Right? Take their will away.

Jason Harwood: 1:07:47

This is goes without saying, but just convert in the red zone. The bears will do enough to shoot themselves in the foot holding penalty. We saw it last week on Monday night, they get down and, you know, at that one point they scored and then he had called it back for the holding penalty. I, we just need the lions to convert in the red zone and just let the bears be the bears. And I think there'll be fine.

Jacob: 1:08:09

Yeah, I mean, on paper, this matchup, this is something, you know, even with our, you know, injuries that we have on defense, this is a game that we should win. And we, you know, after last week, we definitely need this win here. We can't afford to lose this one. Of

Jason Harwood: 1:08:22

No,

Jacob: 1:08:24

the next three that we have, this was the one on the list that you can't afford to lose.

Jason Harwood: 1:08:28

Yeah, no, we, we got this one. Um, the this weekend is looked as of right now, the forecast looks nice. It's supposed to snow pretty much up until Sunday, but Sunday is like 29 and partly sunny. So I think there'll be, that'll be, if it's like that, I'll be super happy. Um, especially if it's not windy.

Jacob: 1:08:49

Right. I mean, this was the last, uh, you know, Outside game that we really had to worry about because the 49ers game, you know You don't have to worry about it being bitter cold or snowing there.

Jason Harwood: 1:08:59

No, it's a lot of rain

Jacob: 1:09:03

Yeah

Jason Harwood: 1:09:04

game. Yeah, it was a lot. Um, but the only other set that I have, uh, and Jacob, I'll let you speak if, uh, there's some that you got, but the bears, they get a lot of pressure. They've had the best in the league since week seven, but their sack rate conversion is like second lowest. The way golf's been moving around the pocket, as good as our offensive line is. I'm not worried about that. I think that we'll be able to, as long as golf takes care of the ball and he's been very good at that this season, yeah, we should be fine.

Jacob: 1:09:34

Just gotta get in the rhythm early and you know, we'll be fine

Jason Harwood: 1:09:38

Yep. Yep. All

Jacob: 1:09:40

but the game script though the way we want it to

Jason Harwood: 1:09:43

Yeah. And just stay on topic. Get up and then just keep the pressure on. And yeah, I, you know, I'm not worried about that. talked about it after the bills game, you know, there's not many offenses that are going to be able to keep up with the lions and the bears are certainly not one that could keep up with the lions. If the lion's offense is playing up to where they're capable at.

Jacob: 1:10:02

right It's just now we're late in the season where we can't afford one of those games where the offense just sputters and only scores 14 points we can't do that

Jason Harwood: 1:10:10

Yep. I just think that, you know, this team is usually rebounds really well after a loss. And I know that the fan base, and if you're one of those people that are just doom and gloom and out of it, they're the grass is green. My friend don't. Don't feel that way. We've had some injuries and yeah, it's going to make the road to the Super Bowl tougher, but you know, we were all doom and gloom after Hutch and we ended up playing really well. And we get, and I'm telling you, getting Anzalone back is going to be a huge coup for this team when he comes back for the playoffs. It's going to make a huge difference on this defense. So. We do have that to look forward to. And

Jacob: 1:10:51

his injury is an arm injury. It's always different when they're recovering from a leg injury and you have to worry about how long it's going to take them to get back up to speed. And, you know, if they're not going to, if they're going to have lost a step or how long that's going to take, Anselm is going to slot right back in, like he did before,

Jason Harwood: 1:11:07

Ancelone is just a smart player. He's going to be ready to go. I mean, he's probably been playing each of these games mentally along with the team. I know he was there on the sidelines this past weekend. Um, so he's, you know, I think the week before he sat in a box with Hutch, He's still around the team. He's still like, he says not in every meeting. So he's got a lot of the rehab stuff and just trying to get his body ready, but you know, he's there with the team. Yeah. We'll be ready. He'll be ready.

Jacob: 1:11:38

I do have one more stat, uh, just to go over real quick. I don't know if you saw this, so, uh, After last week's game, Jared Goff passed Bobby Lane for second most passing yards in Lions franchise history. Uh, so he passed him, he has 15, 710 yards. Before I tell you the number, do you think there's any chance that Goff catches Stafford?

Jason Harwood: 1:12:03

000 behind him. Um, so what's that 30, 000, let's say he averages 4, 000. I mean, that's seven full seasons. I mean, yes, there's a chance that he can, he could do it because he, that would put him, I would put him in like mid to late thirties. I would

Jacob: 1:12:26

He's 30 right now, so. Yeah,

Jason Harwood: 1:12:28

Yeah. So 38. Yeah. I, I would not. Cause I mean, then, then you're also count that he doesn't get injured ever or whatever. Um, I think that'd be, doable for sure. Is it probable? I don't know about that because he's going to stay on the team and everything like that. So I think the record safe was Stafford, but if a golf does break it, um, you know, that's good for the lions. Cause that means they're probably playing pretty well and they kept them on

Jacob: 1:12:56

right. Right. For sure.

Jason Harwood: 1:12:59

What about you? You think he's going to do it?

Jacob: 1:13:03

Oh, it would be nice if he did. Just because, like you said, then we're gonna be having success and he's gonna be here for a long time. But if I was betting, is he going to catch Stafford, I would say no.

Jason Harwood: 1:13:14

Yeah, I agree. I agree. you know, 17 game season possible, 18 game season at some

Jacob: 1:13:21

Right? That's true.

Jason Harwood: 1:13:23

All right, Jacob, let's get to a great picks here.

Jacob: 1:13:30

I want you to read him off this time.

Jason Harwood: 1:13:32

want me to read them off? All

Jacob: 1:13:33

Yeah.

Jason Harwood: 1:13:34

we got of boring one here, but, uh, Rams 49 is both pick Rams, Rams one Packers at Seahawks, Jacob had to pick the Packers and Mr. Superstitious. That's probably why they won. Uh, you know, I picked the Seahawks. No, unfortunately the Packers won. So you gained a game on me. Bears at Vikings. Both of us picked the Vikings, Falcons at Raiders. Both of us picked the Falcons, won. So you gained a game on me. Uh, you got a pretty impressive, uh, 32 and 12 record. Uh, I am at 27 and 17. So five

Jacob: 1:14:12

Ouch.

Jason Harwood: 1:14:12

looking good for me to catch up to you this year. So we'll see. First year luck for you.

Jacob: 1:14:20

Okay. This is also your first year, so what do you,

Jason Harwood: 1:14:24

know

Jacob: 1:14:24

that say about you?

Jason Harwood: 1:14:26

Yeah, I'm terrible. All right. A week, uh, 16 Thursday night football Broncos at chargers. Who do you got Jacob?

Jacob: 1:14:35

This is gonna be probably a really good game. Both these teams are fighting for a playoff spot. The Chargers are favored by three right now, they're at home. I would rather see the Chargers win, but the Broncos are hot right now and I think the Broncos are gonna win this game.

Jason Harwood: 1:14:49

Going Broncos. going to go with chargers. Uh, I

Jacob: 1:14:53

Yeah,

Jason Harwood: 1:14:53

defense is going to be, uh, Good and you know, maybe give Bo Nix some problems, but man Bo Nix is turning out to be something over there for the Broncos I don't know if it lasts throughout the years But yeah, he's definitely the best quarterback that they've taken in the draft in a long time They keep drafting first round quarterbacks and he's the first one to actually do something. So that's uh,

Jacob: 1:15:16

right.

Jason Harwood: 1:15:17

good Lux

Jacob: 1:15:19

surprise for them.

Jason Harwood: 1:15:20

Yeah, Bucks at Cowboys. This will be an interesting one here too. I'm going with the Bucks on this one. Although the Cowboys have been playing better, so I could see the Cowboys winning this one, but I'm, You know, the bucks are fighting for that division. Uh, they got to get, they got to stay ahead of the Falcons. Um, so I'm going with, I'm going with the bucks on this one.

Jacob: 1:15:39

Yeah, bucks are favored by four points away, you know, at the Cowboys, but they're holding on the NFC South lead. They desperately need it. The Cowboys are kind of just fighting for pride at this point. They're not playing bad football, so it's definitely has potential to be a good game. The Cowboys, you know, probably going to make this one close, but I also have the Buccaneers winning it.

Jason Harwood: 1:16:02

Saints at Packers, Monday night football.

Jacob: 1:16:06

Yeah, so there's no reverse psychology or any kind of angle for me to take in this one. The Packers are favored by 14 and a half points. Um, that's probably pretty accurate. I think this one's probably gonna get ugly. And I think the Packers are probably gonna, the Packers are gonna win and probably cover that spread.

Jason Harwood: 1:16:23

Yeah. All right. I'm going with the Packers as well. Unfortunately. Um, I cannot believe they didn't

Jacob: 1:16:29

Still holding out hope.

Jason Harwood: 1:16:31

Can't believe they didn't flex this game out. Maybe they can only flex so many games, but Saints at Packers. Saints don't deserve to be on Monday

Jacob: 1:16:38

Yeah.

Jason Harwood: 1:16:39

not at this point.

Jacob: 1:16:40

No.

Jason Harwood: 1:16:42

all right, we'll see how it goes. So. Tied except for the Broncos chargers. So Thursday night game. And I think out of all three of those games that Broncos are chargers game. I wish I wasn't Thursday night. I wish that was Sunday night.

Jacob: 1:16:53

Yeah, right.

Jason Harwood: 1:16:55

Um,

Jacob: 1:16:56

Be a better, even better game.

Jason Harwood: 1:16:58

it would be, um, but yeah, I'll be, I'll be, uh, definitely tuning into that one tomorrow night. All right, Jacob grit guarantee time.

Jacob: 1:17:11

we might have the same guarantee. I don't know. We'll see. My

Jason Harwood: 1:17:15

but go ahead. Ooh,

Jacob: 1:17:16

guarantee for this week, I'm gonna say that Jameer Gibbs goes for plus 150 total yards.

Jason Harwood: 1:17:22

150 total yards. Okay. I'm I'm right with you. I had Gibbs Gibbs runs for over 120 yards,

Jacob: 1:17:30

Okay. So just, you've got just rushing for over 120. I say combine 150. 150.

Jason Harwood: 1:17:36

Total yards over 150. Okay. I, when you made a comment about Gibbs earlier and I was like, I know he's picking this and it was great guarantee.

Jacob: 1:17:44

Yeah,

Jason Harwood: 1:17:45

that's fine. I like that. We don't discuss this at a time. And then it's funny that how

Jacob: 1:17:49

right.

Jason Harwood: 1:17:49

on some of this stuff. Hopefully it's a good field to run on. You know, there's not any snow on there or whatever. I

Jacob: 1:17:54

Yeah, right.

Jason Harwood: 1:17:56

Um, before we get out of here, Penix Jr. is going to be the starting quarterback for the Falcons. How did the Falcons screw up this off season?

Jacob: 1:18:09

Yeah, right. I mean, it's, um, you would have thought it'd be impossible for them to get worse, but I mean, they, they won the last game. They're fighting for a playoff spot. They're fighting for the division and now you're going to bench the quarterback that you just signed in the offseason and gave all this money guaranteed. The

Jason Harwood: 1:18:27

Yeah.

Jacob: 1:18:27

only way they come out of this good is if Michael Penix absolutely destroys and is just an amazing quarterback over these next few weeks. Yeah. And even then, you still would say that they botched this Kurt Cousins signing, and then now they're stuck having to trade him and then take on the dead money.

Jason Harwood: 1:18:44

Yeah, so it's like, Oh, I got the rookie quarterback contract, but now I got all this dead money for another quarterback. So it's like, you basically offset

Jacob: 1:18:52

Right?

Jason Harwood: 1:18:53

quarterback, you know, I, I don't know. I mean, I don't know the timeline of the event of when they fell in love with Michael panics jr. And if they really fell in love with them, kudos for them for drafting him. But man. Signed Kirk cousins. And so like, if they just cut him, it's like a 70 some million dollar cap hit. Like if they were to cut cousins is off season. If they trade them, it's like somehow they can get like 27 and a half million. And I do see the op, the Falcons might take less for Kirk cousins just to get some of that cap money off there.

Jacob: 1:19:28

Right.

Jason Harwood: 1:19:29

a huge draft. Not that Kurt Cousins is going to get you a huge draft, but you know, you, you might settle for a third or fourth round or just if he's going to take on, if another team is going to take on that contract, or you could have like a Russell, what,

Jacob: 1:19:44

I was just going to say.

Jason Harwood: 1:19:45

Wilson's situation where you cut him and then a team gets assigned him for pennies next year. And then you got a really cheap starting quarterback. And if that happens, would it be weird if Kurt Cousins went back to the Vikings for like pennies next year? And

Jacob: 1:20:04

Impossible. That'd be hilarious though.

Jason Harwood: 1:20:07

it would be in the cousins gets, you know, has a good year and, uh, then he can sign a big contract the following year. So, you know, you can see a situation where he's like, Oh, I'm already familiar with this team. They don't know, you know, JJ is still there, obviously, um, But he's coming off in the knee injury and he needed some seasoning anyway. So, you know, you could see a situation where if Kirk Cousins is like real cheap, the Vikings might entertain that. I don't want to see him back in the division, but, uh, you know, it is what it is.

Jacob: 1:20:41

He's not playing very well, so, I mean. I don't know.

Jason Harwood: 1:20:45

Yeah. When you could throw it up to, uh, you know, Justin Jefferson.

Jacob: 1:20:49

Right.

Jason Harwood: 1:20:49

looking a lot better. Uh,

Jacob: 1:20:52

Well, maybe the Falcons should've used their draft pick, uh, for somebody that could've helped the team right now, instead of trying to draft another quarterback.

Jason Harwood: 1:20:58

yeah, yeah, I, someone's got some splaining to do for sure. Uh, crazy, but you're right. It's a weird time to switch it. Cause I mean, I know Kirk Cousins has not played the greatest, but it's not like he's terrible and. You're literally one game out of the playoff spot because you've beat the Bucks twice. So you have the tiebreaker on them. So all you have to do is equal their record. It seems, it's just interesting that they've decided at this point to go with Pennex.

Jacob: 1:21:26

Right. Like, what did you see different, like, was Panix killing it in practice? Was it just, you know, the way that Kirk was managing the game, where you were just like, enough is enough? Like, I, yeah, I just don't understand what could've happened to make you want to make it right now.

Jason Harwood: 1:21:41

yeah. you know, Kirk wasn't causing problems, you know, like, yeah, I can't imagine Kirk Cousins causing problems in the team or anything like that.

Jacob: 1:21:51

Right.

Jason Harwood: 1:21:51

like that situation. Um, but yeah, it's crazy.

Jacob: 1:21:57

12th in touchdowns, I mean He has, like, passer ratings not very high. His overall grade on pro football focuses towards the bottom, but, you know, if you think this rookie's got it, that's also, I mean, how bad does that make you? Like, if you're the Falcons and you put Penix out there and he's not ready, and now you just blow the season and you blew your chance at the playoffs,

Jason Harwood: 1:22:21

Yeah, I don't know. We'll see. I mean, I, just the timing and everything's weird, but

Jacob: 1:22:28

glad it's not us.

Jason Harwood: 1:22:30

Yeah, exactly. We don't have to think about that. So I want to thank Harrison for joining us. Um, Jacob kid, your kids had some, JJ had some stuff today. You came right on ready to contribute on the show. So I thank you for doing that. I know it's been a busy week for both of us. So, uh, you know, next week will be Christmas and be another crazy week for both of us, I'm sure. But, uh, yeah,

Jacob: 1:22:56

Jason accused me of using my pretty privilege, uh, instead of, you know, getting prepared, like, I'm just gonna show up and wing it.

Jason Harwood: 1:23:04

I know, um, yeah, the people that listen, the audio version don't, you know, you know, they can't, uh,

Jacob: 1:23:11

Yeah,

Jason Harwood: 1:23:11

pretty

Jacob: 1:23:12

they can't tell.

Jason Harwood: 1:23:13

yeah, I

Jacob: 1:23:14

If you guys like to hop over to YouTube. You can see,

Jason Harwood: 1:23:17

Yeah, exactly. We post stuff over there. You can see how pretty Jacob is and whatever

Jacob: 1:23:23

and then it only takes one look at Jason before you decide you're going to go back to listen to the podcast.

Jason Harwood: 1:23:28

yeah, exactly. Oh my God. Face for radio.

Jacob: 1:23:33

I'm just kidding.

Jason Harwood: 1:23:35

All right, Jacob. Had a good time. Uh,

Jacob: 1:23:38

Always.

Jason Harwood: 1:23:39

you know, I have my socks on on Sunday, by the way. I know we lost, but I did wear my socks. I almost joke with you and told me, I told you, I forgot them just to

Jacob: 1:23:47

I didn't want to ask because we told me no, then we couldn't be friends anymore.

Jason Harwood: 1:23:52

Oh, we're friends. Okay. Well, anyways. All right.

Jacob: 1:23:55

I'm thinking about getting rid of my black jersey, though.

Jason Harwood: 1:23:57

Oh, get what?

Jacob: 1:23:59

I said, I'm thinking about getting rid of my black jersey, though. I was wearing that during that loss.

Jason Harwood: 1:24:03

yeah.

Jacob: 1:24:04

I've only won a few times this year, and I think it was both the losses. And then I think maybe two or three other games where we won.

Jason Harwood: 1:24:11

Yeah.

Jacob: 1:24:12

I'm a superstitious person, man.

Jason Harwood: 1:24:14

I know you are. So I'll, uh, if you have a bonfire in the back, I know what's going on. You're burning

Jacob: 1:24:19

Yeah.

Jason Harwood: 1:24:19

All right. I'm Jason. He's Jacob. Let's go lions.