- 4 weeks ago
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00:00But he is definitely correct when he starts his eyes in the right spot understanding, but this is one of the more difficult defenses
00:05to decipher because they make you read it out post-snap.
00:09You don't get the reads. They show you this before the snap and then adjust afterward. Here's another opportunity.
00:14Third at eight.
00:23Pressure.
00:25And the pass complete.
00:27Sutton's first catch, and he's not going to quite get the first down yardage.
00:31Stopped about three yards short. Gain of five.
00:34That was a great job there by Bodex to actually handle the free rusher coming on the edge.
00:40As Sutton was actually trying to block him, and this crowd wants him to go for it.
00:44You can't see it here. You're up 10. You've been able to really manage things defensively.
00:49Pin him deep. Why would you risk missing here near midfield?
00:52I agree.
00:53Bring life to the Chargers, right, Tom?
00:55You're exactly right, and I would be prepared for a possible fake.
00:58Sometimes coach says, hey, stand here and talk to me.
01:00I'm pretending, but get ready. We might be going back on the field.
01:07If you get the right look, you can run a fake, but they're in a safety event, so they're not going to rush these guys.
01:12They're going to go ahead and get ready for it.
01:16Try and draw them off.
01:17Yep.
01:17Did he take enough off of it? That's the question.
01:24No.
01:26Touchback, so it won't be that much on the exchange.
01:28So it's 28 net.
01:33These candidates.
01:35Liam Cohen's got to be on that list.
01:37Yes, he does.
01:38Ben Johnson.
01:39He's been outstanding. Ben's been amazing.
01:41Dealing with injuries.
01:42Kyle Shanahan.
01:43I don't know, Tony, which one's your favorite?
01:46I think every one of these games has literally changed it.
01:49I thought Kyle Shanahan was in the lead if they were to win out, based on all the injuries.
01:55And now you've got to look at Liam Cohen, you know, McDonald's.
01:59Vrabel probably is in the lead right now because it looks like Chicago's losing today.
02:04I'm like, all these games literally can change it.
02:07But they're all deserving.
02:10Sean Payton right there as well.
02:12All those one-score wins that Sean Payton's been able to bring his team through.
02:16There's a first and ten.
02:18Right all.
02:19And that's Elvis on him.
02:21Game of six.
02:21And think about McDonald.
02:22I mean, literally, the decision to go get Sam Darnold.
02:25I mean, the Vikings season went one direction.
02:28They go that direction.
02:29I mean, that's a huge decision organizationally.
02:31And then to take that team and do what they've done.
02:33Very similar system to the Chargers defensively, which I love.
02:36Makes it difficult.
02:37And for them to go get the one seed, I mean, that's right there with anybody.
02:41They've been under the radar all year.
02:42The Seahawks, they've got a great defense.
02:44Really highly ranked and offense.
02:47I mean, they're good in every phase.
02:49It's just that people want to keep saying prove it.
02:51And they have.
02:52And now they get to prove it at home in the playoffs.
02:54It's going to be a tough out.
02:55Bye, Dolph.
02:57Go, Nog.
02:59I don't think we've ever seen both conferences with this many teams who can come out of
03:05each conference, right?
03:07Like anybody who's in it almost has a chance, I would say, 90% of the teams.
03:11Well, I've said consistently, you have to.
03:13It's been the wackiest year you can ever recall.
03:15Some of these crazy games that have happened.
03:18Unexpected results.
03:20High-scoring affairs.
03:21Even on backs.
03:22And now you've got a third and two here for the Chargers.
03:24Trying to make it even a wackier year if they could somehow come back from 10 down.
03:33Vance.
03:34Second effort.
03:35Got it.
03:36Boy, somehow he was able to fight through, tiptoe, whatever he had to do to get through
03:41all that massive humanity and pick up the first.
03:43They have to use his legs.
03:45And right now, he could have been stopped multiple times today.
03:49He's overcome it.
03:50And that was as big as any.
03:52And Vance goes, got him.
03:53No.
03:54On it.
03:55And Herbert is super excited.
03:59What a year he had.
04:00I mean, he has carried this team.
04:01You go watch the tape to him.
04:02It's literally, he has put this team on his back at different times with all the injuries.
04:06And again, much, much needed rest to get the week off before the playoffs next weekend.
04:12Here's Lance.
04:14Down the middle.
04:15And Sternod.
04:16Sternod's making plays all over the field right now.
04:20That was intended for Disley.
04:23That's a big-time play.
04:24You said it.
04:25You saw the sack earlier.
04:26Now he's going to run out.
04:30Possibly get away with a little bit of a hold.
04:33But at the end, that's when they catch you.
04:38It was a good job.
04:39Getting the hand out.
04:40And then he does the, you know, the dance that you like to do.
04:44He had the tackle on second out of this series.
04:47And then that knockdown and the sack on the previous series you mentioned.
04:51Second and ten.
04:56To Patterson.
04:58Guess who's there.
05:01Sternod again.
05:03Yeah.
05:04Roach.
05:05Cooper.
05:06All in the area.
05:08This defensive unit.
05:09What did Vance Joseph tell us this week preparing for it?
05:12It's a good reset for us.
05:14The practice leading into it.
05:16Going through the basics.
05:17The tackling.
05:19Re-establishing cohesiveness as we head to the postseason.
05:23And in his words, hopefully a week off before they have to play.
05:30Third and nine.
05:31That pass got away from him.
05:42Going back to Keenan Allen.
05:48Sternod pops out.
05:49Gets into the division.
05:50And he'll watch right here.
05:53Pretends the blitz comes out and then gets right under the window.
05:57Makes Lance have to throw this ball high as the pressure was on him.
06:01Scott's been almost the busiest Charger of them all.
06:0945 plays for the Chargers offense managing 130 total yards on 45 plays.
06:16Wow.
06:17It's amazing they're even in the game.
06:22Signal and pulled in by Mims at the 19.
06:28The NFL playoffs kickoff Saturday with wild card weekend powered by Verizon.
06:3712 teams, six games, three days.
06:40What an epic weekend.
06:42It's coming up.
06:42The road to Super Bowl 60 starts here.
06:45Stay tuned after the games today for the announcement of the full schedule for next week.
06:52We all look forward to finding out how those will be dispersed.
06:55What that lineup will look like and they'll have that after the games here today.
07:01They got, of course, anchoring the back end of it is Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
07:05For the second time this year, we saw the first version of that in early December with Pittsburgh winning in Baltimore.
07:10Tonight, the winner takes the AFC North.
07:13The loser is done.
07:18Harvey could have been dropped.
07:21Managed to pick up a yard or two.
07:25That's kind of been the way this game's gone.
07:27I mean, the Broncos averaging basically four yards a play just barely over and Chargers less than three yards per play.
07:38The turnover has been the difference.
07:40The pick to the house.
07:42It's the only touchdown of the game.
07:46But it is not over.
07:50It hasn't been a lot to show you as far as the Chargers suddenly coming up with a score.
07:55It's a scoring burst, but you never know.
07:56But a lot at stake.
07:58Yeah.
07:58One quarter to get the number one seed.
08:02Denver trying to close it out.
08:03Lock down the one.
08:04Welcome back to Empower Field at Mile High, where it was a 10-point lead after one quarter.
08:19And it remains that margin going into the fourth.
08:23As the Broncos today sporting their 1977 throwback uniforms.
08:28Go, go, go.
08:32There's Knicks connecting.
08:35And Mims picked up the first down.
08:40Yeah, they used these uniforms back in 77.
08:43They're awesome.
08:44Yeah, the last home game in that season at 77 was a win over the then San Diego Chargers,
08:50which secured the 77 Broncos the one seed and home field.
08:56And they took it all the way to the AFC Championship before falling to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XII.
09:00And took a few years to kind of get back.
09:04And then 83, things changed a little bit.
09:06And they had a pretty good guy.
09:07What was his name again?
09:08I just can't remember.
09:09But all I remember is number seven.
09:11Seven, yeah.
09:12The John Elway era.
09:14Unbelievable.
09:15There it is.
09:17He was your hero.
09:19He was the guy coming up.
09:21The line to game, excuse me.
09:23So it's going to be third down from the previous spot.
09:25And his spot.
09:26They had an adjustment.
09:32And that's why.
09:34The goal.
09:36The tush means you're down.
09:39If, you know, the tush hits the ground.
09:42Yeah.
09:42But the tush never made it.
09:45The word into the NFL lexicon.
09:48Until the Philadelphia Eagles.
09:50Made it fashionable.
09:51A couple years ago.
09:53Now you're in all kinds of ways.
09:55Now it's part of the vernacular.
09:57Third and one.
10:01Oh my goodness.
10:03This was the guy that couldn't wait to see.
10:05Marlo Wax.
10:07Jesse Minter, the D coordinator, said I can't wait to see him.
10:10He's played only special teams.
10:11He's never played a defensive snap before today.
10:14Watch him come flying in.
10:16Reads it perfectly.
10:17Patience.
10:19The fifth round pick.
10:21Or sorry.
10:23From Syracuse.
10:29Undrafted.
10:30Yeah.
10:30How big, by the way, was the New York review and adjustment?
10:36Yes.
10:37The men's, what they thought, was the first down.
10:39If somehow the Chargers can go down and score, you're going to go back to that play if this doesn't go your way for the one seed.
10:45Thirteenth punt of the game.
10:47And it is caught by Davis at the 25.
10:52Hanging around, hanging around.
10:57But can they move it down the field?
10:58That's the question.
10:59Chargers with possession coming up.
11:03Charger possession coming up.
11:05If you're a New England fan, you're hoping somehow this offense can come to life against that great defense.
11:09Give me a reason why you think that could happen.
11:12The lags.
11:12I've said it all game.
11:13I think Trey Lance has to use his legs.
11:15It's the only way.
11:16The only way they got down the field to kick the field goal was quick passes.
11:19Lance, basically.
11:21And right now, he's got to extend plays.
11:30Here's Lance.
11:31Knocked out of his hands.
11:33And the Broncos are on it.
11:34Benito is the one who got the strip.
11:38It looked like Roach on top of the football.
11:41Jones is there, too.
11:42Yeah, Jones is the one that ended up with it.
11:45A second takeaway today by that magnificent Denver defense.
11:53What you don't want to do is leave Benito one-on-one.
11:58Dekulis was not the starter to start the year.
12:02He's played solid, but you cannot leave Benito.
12:05Who now has 13 and a half sacks this year.
12:07You're not getting away from me this time, he said.
12:09Nope.
12:10And he had an opportunity earlier, like you said.
12:12But you didn't even feel him coming.
12:14And it's a great teaching tape when you come around the corner.
12:17Not just to get the sack, but to get the ball out.
12:20They made a concerted effort.
12:21Tracy talked about it earlier.
12:22Wanting to do that today.
12:23And they're doing it.
12:26Third sack of the day for that Denver defense.
12:30Running the total up to 67.
12:33Which is not the record, but they got close.
12:36They're five off the all-time record of the Bears.
12:41Knicks now.
12:42Bing Chase somehow got it away.
12:45Oh, my goodness.
12:46Of course, standing right in the area there was a Charger defender, Marcus May, who they just brought up and signed yesterday.
12:53Got hit by Deshaun Phillips here.
12:56Watch this.
12:57It's way too much just free guys.
12:59And literally, if the ball was thrown a little bit better, it's a pick six.
13:02He's lucky that he couldn't get any mustard on that ball.
13:07Not ketchup mustard.
13:09Gotcha.
13:09Yep.
13:10I know.
13:10I want it.
13:13You're a mustard guy.
13:16Hi.
13:18Benito has now run his total to 14 sacks on the season.
13:23And that play is, again, another tackle behind the line.
13:33It's great.
13:33We've seen many of those today.
13:34It's just, styles make fights.
13:37And we saw this in week three.
13:38Just so many.
13:39You can hear the crowd booing a little bit.
13:40They're just disappointed.
13:41Just look at the pressure that you're going to see by the internal part of this defensive line.
13:47I mean, they are really just attacking this offensive line who normally doesn't just whiff like the way they are a little bit.
13:55I mean, this is just the stunts, movements.
13:58Give the Chargers credit.
13:59That style makes it very difficult the way that they game plan against this Bronco offense.
14:06Five receivers in here.
14:07Empty backfield.
14:08Third and 11.
14:10Got to get it out fast.
14:13Well, don't get it off at all.
14:15Timeout first called by Los Angeles.
14:26You know, there were all kinds of scenarios coming into this thing for the Chargers for down the road in the playoffs with the other possibility, the way things are shaking out.
14:38If you can go win a wild card game, if you're the Chargers, you go win a wild card game at New England,
14:42you could find yourself right back here at Denver in the divisional round of two weeks.
14:46You have to be a little careful about what you did show them.
14:48It's a great point.
14:49I think one of the biggest things coming into this game was to be like, okay, we really want to win this game.
14:54If you're the Chargers, that'd be nice.
14:55But really, you're not showing them anything that you're going to show them in a couple weeks possibly because you think there's a really strong chance.
15:01If you win, you're probably coming back here.
15:03And so you're going to save your best stuff.
15:04And you're going to save it for Herbert when he gets back.
15:07And I think you've seen that play out today a little bit.
15:10Third and 11 again.
15:13Chargers made an adjustment.
15:16Let's see if it paid off.
15:17Knicks.
15:19Pete.
15:20Brought down.
15:22And that's the third sack of the day for the Charger defense.
15:26It was Owe who really collapsed the pocket.
15:29Who created the pressure that Knicks could not get out of.
15:33And you'll see just from this right side.
15:38Just making him have to climb the pocket there into the pressure.
15:41He just couldn't quite get away enough.
15:43And he's been under duress all day.
15:45And both these defenses give them credit.
15:48We have one quarterback.
15:50Bone Knicks with 96 yards.
15:51Trey Lance with 85 yards passing.
15:53Hard to believe in the fourth quarter.
15:55Here's Lutz.
15:5541 yards.
15:57Drills another one.
15:59So it's three for three.
16:01They continue to keep the Bronco offense out of the end zone.
16:06But it's still a two-score game.
16:08Here in the fourth quarter in the Malhi City.
16:10The amazing shots of today's game provided by Nationwide.
16:20Well, again, just when Denver had a chance, Tony, if they would have cashed in.
16:24Delivered the knockout punch.
16:26With a touchdown.
16:26That would have done it.
16:28You'd have to think.
16:29But still a two-score margin.
16:30Nick sitting there with his backup quarterback, Jared Stidham.
16:37And this has happened throughout the year a little bit, though.
16:39Denver, they play to their defense.
16:42Sometimes you can call the offensive play calls, you know what I mean?
16:45To be safe and smart.
16:48Just because you don't think the other team can score.
16:49Take us through the early headlocks, Jim.
16:51Tony, there were some big ones.
16:53Jacksonville did what it had to do.
16:54Winning at Tennessee to win the AFC South.
16:58They're good.
16:58Meantime, the Falcons won a tight one against the Saints.
17:02Breaking the hearts of the Bucs.
17:04And putting the Panthers in the playoffs as the NFC South champion.
17:09And Miles Garrett got his sack record in the last five minutes of the Browns win at Cincinnati.
17:16Congratulations to Miles Garrett.
17:20It took a while.
17:21He did their game last week, but he got it done, and he said he would.
17:24Congrats.
17:26Lance again.
17:27Dumps it off to Gadsden.
17:30His key is getting more time with Locke's injury.
17:39Might be a legal man downfield, possibly, in some of these bootlegs and rollouts by the quarterback.
17:46Some of the O-linemen get downfield too far, but we'll see.
17:51Ineligible man downfield, offense number 71.
17:54It's a five-yard penalty.
17:56Replay first down.
17:57We call to Tony.
17:58It is update time.
18:00And let's let the man call it who can do it better than anyone on the updates.
18:03Adam Schein, it's yours.
18:05Give it, Tony.
18:06It's cardiac.
18:07Caleb once again.
18:08Williams hits Colston Lovlin for the touchdown.
18:11Then Williams hits Cole Komet for the two-point conversion.
18:1416 on the answer for Chicago.
18:16Four minutes to go.
18:17Tie game.
18:18Back to you.
18:19All right.
18:20How about that comeback?
18:21Caleb going to his two tight ends, and the ball is not caught by Allen.
18:25There's still things to be sorted out on that NFC side off that update.
18:29Who's going to get the two?
18:30Who's going to get the three?
18:31Chicago and Philadelphia both tied up right now at the moment.
18:37And really important games on that side of the ledger.
18:41And you've often talked about the two is so important because it gets you that second week.
18:47Home game.
18:49It's a huge difference if you can win that first week.
18:51The top three teams are always good, right?
18:53Even the fourth team.
18:54But sometimes the fourth team squeaks in because the division.
18:57But to me, when you've got to go against the three seed or the two seed, you want that home game.
19:01It's huge.
19:02Second and 15.
19:04Gets it over to Allen.
19:06Allen, who's been a menace to Denver for years.
19:08They've seen this veteran player.
19:11He's had a great career since he was a rookie back in 2013.
19:15He caught two touchdowns from Phillip Rivers.
19:17And he came in the was the AFC Divisional Playoff game.
19:21But he led the team and catches this here.
19:23And you keep thinking.
19:25I mean, that was a huge job in the organization to bring him back.
19:29They belong here.
19:31He does.
19:32He's a Charger.
19:33Third and seven.
19:38Ah, movement.
19:45Crowd.
19:48They were going on a normal cadence and they needed to go silent.
19:51Got too loud.
19:52Full start.
19:53Offense number 74.
19:55Five-yard penalty.
19:56We're down.
19:56Teculis, again.
20:00They're down to their, like, fifth and sixth tackles in this game on the season.
20:08You said it.
20:11It's a lot harder when you go, when you're on the road in a loud environment like this,
20:15when you've got backup spot.
20:16Now you've got a third and 12.
20:20As if going against this defense wasn't hard enough at third and seven.
20:23Let's make it harder.
20:30Lance.
20:31He's got room for the first down and an extra ten.
20:35And look at Gasden down the field, still holding onto his block.
20:39Benito was in there threatening for another sack.
20:43Instead, it goes for 22 yards.
20:46The longest offensive play of the day for the Chargers.
20:50Well, what did I say?
20:52Legs.
20:52How are they going to win?
20:53The only way?
20:55You wanted, what did you want?
20:55You wanted 70 yards?
20:5760 to 70 yards.
20:58Trey Lance would have to rush for if they want to win this game.
21:00What's he at?
21:01He's seven.
21:03Rushes 44 yards.
21:04So that's within range.
21:05He's within range.
21:06They're going to need it.
21:07These guys can cover too well.
21:11And they're in Denver territory.
21:14Now they're not.
21:15Now they're in Charger territory.
21:18As they get another sack.
21:19And here is the sack specialist on this one.
21:24Uwazurike, who was shaken up in the first half, comes back to make a play.
21:29It's just stuck inside, but it's collapsed on the outside.
21:32Benito and Cooper make the quarterback throw from the well.
21:36The pocket.
21:37Look at the stunt right here.
21:38They're going to come around from the inside.
21:40But it's really Benito just pushing his man all the way into it.
21:46And you see the excitement of this Denver team.
21:50Savion Jones also got a piece of Lance on that eight-yard sack.
21:55Second and 18.
22:01Patterson flag out.
22:05If you take that long on screens, it'll be an eligible man downfield.
22:09That ball has to come out faster.
22:15And I think you see very quickly that you don't want to show all your stuff.
22:21Remember for the playoffs, your point that you said?
22:22So you're keeping these play calls very similar to a, not necessarily a preseason,
22:27but a game that you don't want to give your best stuff on situational downs.
22:31In an eligible man downfield, offense number 71.
22:36That penalty's declined.
22:37Will the play his third down?
22:43Interesting.
22:43There's Harbaugh asking for deeper clarification.
22:54Any way you slice it.
22:55They had a man downfield, but to me, you're looking at sevens.
23:00Threes don't hurt you.
23:02If you're Denver, so I like to call the decision.
23:11Lance.
23:12He's got time here.
23:13Can only hold up for so long.
23:16Now he's going to take off to within about six of the first.
23:23Sertan, by the way, was on a blitz there.
23:25It was in the neighborhood.
23:27They almost got to him again.
23:28Picks up 10 on the rush.
23:30And they should have had people open here.
23:31I mean, you have all day.
23:33And Trey Lance misses.
23:35Harris come across the field.
23:38Now Harris was open.
23:39Well, they're going to go for it here, Tony.
23:41That's why I think, Jim, if it was a 10-point game, they might kick it.
23:45But at this point, I think I'd be going for it as well.
23:47Can they pull it off?
24:01Lance.
24:02Oh, he is stuck right away.
24:05Sertan comes up and makes the kind of highlight play that earned him Defensive Player of the Year in the League last year.
24:13Just the awareness all over the field.
24:17And they take him off the field on a change of downs.
24:22Take a look at these four guys.
24:25Two defensive linemen.
24:26And this is what's going to happen.
24:27Zach Allen gets right up in there.
24:29And he has no choice but to get rid of the football there.
24:31Normally, you'd say, what?
24:32Can't throw it there on fourth and seven.
24:34But that's predicated on the pass rush.
24:38And once again, going against these backups of backups at offensive tackle.
24:44It was a textbook tackle by Pat Sertan.
24:47He's been.
24:49You know what's great about him?
24:50If you never call his name, it's because he's that good.
24:54Because they don't throw at him.
24:55And he doesn't get a lot of action.
24:57So when you do, you're like, he's tackling someone.
24:59He's been outstanding this year.
25:01Defensive Player of the Year from last year.
25:02Knicks will play action to open this drive.
25:06Swings it over to McLaughlin.
25:09Makes one miss.
25:11And A takes it for about 17 yards.
25:16Finally brought down by Caldwell.
25:20This was a good job by Knicks going through the progression.
25:23Looking downfield.
25:24And then just simply throwing the ball to his check down.
25:28And letting McLaughlin do the rest.
25:30And your job is to hold on to the football for the rest of the day.
25:34That put Knicks over 100 yards passing for the day.
25:38Wow.
25:38Yeah.
25:39Well, he just hasn't had time.
25:40You're right.
25:41He's been under as much pressure, honestly, as Trey Lance says.
25:46Hand off.
25:47McLaughlin.
25:48He's around good today.
25:49Yes, he has.
25:50He's just had the big play.
25:53Pass play that went for 17.
25:55Packs it up with a nice run for five.
25:57And then we got another update.
25:58New York.
26:00Jeremy.
26:01Barring a crazy finish there.
26:03Then the Rams will be the five.
26:05Which will put them at Carolina.
26:07Where they did lose this year.
26:09But you'd like your chances to go back and win there.
26:11You'd have to think.
26:12And that would put San Francisco as the six.
26:16Yeah, you're right.
26:17You'd probably rather do that than go at Philadelphia by a little bit.
26:23As you look at the NFC playoff picture.
26:26Seattle, again, gets the week off before hosting as the one seed.
26:31The divisional round wraps the NFC championship.
26:34Chicago and Philadelphia, they are getting all they can handle.
26:37They really are.
26:38I mean, you look at right now, Chicago and Detroit are tied inside the last two minutes.
26:44Washington is driving on Philadelphia with that game tied with three minutes to go.
26:50Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.
26:52Third and six.
26:53At the same time, Carolina's pretty good.
26:56Yes, they are.
26:57Don't take them too lightly.
26:58It's playoff time.
27:00Here's a little screen pass.
27:01Going to pick up the first down.
27:02Today is able to take off with a little help out front.
27:09A block by Forsythe.
27:10And the Denver offense stays on the field.
27:13Well, it's another screen pass.
27:16And they don't call an eligible mid-end downfield on this one.
27:19You know, I thought it was close.
27:20But to me, this is how Denver plays the game.
27:23They play to their defense, Jim.
27:25These calls are safe.
27:27Safe calls.
27:28Keep the clock running.
27:30Play to our defense.
27:31Complimentary football.
27:31Now you've got to expect a run right here.
27:39Five minutes to go.
27:40And the toss to today.
27:45And the Chargers hold them to one.
27:47And we go down to Tracy.
27:48Jim, what a job Jesse Minter has done today and throughout the season.
27:52His name is amongst those mentioned for head coaching opportunities.
27:55He told me Zoom interviews will start this week.
27:58And that he's been preparing for this for a while.
28:00He said the two years at Michigan with Harbaugh.
28:03The four years he spent with John Harbaugh in Baltimore.
28:06But these last two years, he said, he's learned so much coming in on the front end with Jim and the Chargers and watching how he built this team.
28:13He also talked about head coach Mike McDonald from Seattle.
28:17His mentor.
28:18We have a medical time out of the field.
28:19In terms of preparing for these interviews.
28:22That's, to me, that's why you've seen Seattle, that defense and this defense take off.
28:27This system is a system you want.
28:29I'll tell you, I'd take him in a minute if I had an opening.
28:33But I can say the exact same thing for Vance Joseph.
28:36Totally agree.
28:36I think should be one of the absolute top candidates.
28:40I agree.
28:44I mean, if Vance, it would be the second time around for him.
28:47And you know how often you see.
28:49He's learned, too, some of the stuff he talked about.
28:51Remember with Sean?
28:52Yeah.
28:52They both under these guys.
28:53But they also have this unique gift to, you know, get this defense ready to go and have special plans for teams each week.
28:59And the Broncos are down to the 12-yard line.
29:1411-yard pass play.
29:17I mean, this is all Bryant.
29:18Just whoop, whoop, whoop.
29:20He's got, I tell you, special talents.
29:23This is going to be a big part of the future right here.
29:25And he does so much stuff under the radar.
29:27Like, he blocks in the run game, in the duo game.
29:30He fits in there and digs out safeties.
29:32He chips on the edge.
29:34I mean, it's not just receiving.
29:36He does so much for this team.
29:38It's a great pick.
29:41There he is in motion right now.
29:43He's going to come right here.
29:45He's going to go dig out somebody.
29:46Go from here into the inside.
29:49Hand off to Harvey.
29:52Harvey is decked at the 5-yard line.
29:57You can just feel, right?
30:01Chargers have given it their all.
30:02All game.
30:03Defense has been spectacular.
30:04It really has.
30:06And they just didn't get enough from the offense.
30:08And now you're starting to see them get worn down.
30:09Time out called by Los Angeles.
30:15And the AFC seeds are almost locked up with the Patriots finally pulling away.
30:22The Buffalo game is just seconds remaining as Highmark Stadium is down to its last 45 seconds of existence.
30:31Barring some wackiness that would give to the Bills.
30:35Well, the Bills would have to see the Chargers win two games.
30:38And they would have to win two games for the Chargers to play Buffalo in the AFC title game.
30:42And bring Highmark, the old Highmark, back to life one more time.
30:45Is there a scarier wild card team than Buffalo?
30:51I don't think so.
30:52And, you know, it's just so open.
30:54There's some teams that don't have that kind of experience.
30:56But you've got a guy sitting there, Josh Antlin, you know.
30:59And will it to happen, maybe.
31:01Nick's just standing like a statue.
31:03And now he gets sacked for the fourth time.
31:06They had surrendered only 19 sacks on the season.
31:10And that's now four today by the Charger defense.
31:12And a timeout call by Los Angeles.
31:14Just a great job in coverage.
31:16I mean, it's a coverage sack, we call it, where no one's open.
31:19And you see just passing off guys, keeping your leverage, knowing the angles.
31:23And there's the statue.
31:27And to me, that's a big part of the reason they've won this year.
31:30They sacked the quarterback and they don't get sacked.
31:32You want to have a statue at your stadium, but you want it to be outside.
31:37And after you play?
31:38Right, after your career's over.
31:40Exactly.
31:42Not during a live play.
31:44Not normally.
31:45There's good patience.
31:46There's the statue.
31:48There's thunder.
31:49They do have a wonderful tributary outside to some of the Bronco legends of yesteryear.
31:56Really well done.
31:58Third and eight.
32:00Your job here is to protect the football.
32:01If you don't throw a touchdown, so be it.
32:03But you cannot give the other team the ball.
32:05That's their only chance.
32:08Across the middle.
32:09Harvey.
32:10Harvey's not going to get where he wanted to go.
32:15Deshawn Hand.
32:17Responsible for that tackle.
32:18See all the safe play calling?
32:22That's just playing to win the game today.
32:26Crowd always wants you to be aggressive and go for it right here.
32:29But I think Sean.
32:30He's going to run that all the way down, take a timeout.
32:35The Chargers are out of timeouts.
32:36And Tony, though, they're going to have it, it certainly appears, barring one of the biggest
32:41miracles you've ever seen in the NFL.
32:42But they'll have two weeks to figure things out.
32:46And, of course, they're playing an opponent that knows them, plays them twice a year.
32:49But this offense, what must they do over the next two weeks to get ready for their first playoff game?
32:56I think the first step, you don't go ahead.
32:58And having that week will give you to see the timeout come.
33:03You're going to have the opportunity in Denver to be more prepared than anybody else, right?
33:08You've got to spend a week studying your opponent.
33:13But, Jim, welcome some people in real quick.
33:16Yeah, we'd like to welcome those of you who saw the Buffalo Bills defeat the Jets 35-8
33:22to finish the season, regular season, at 12-5.
33:26And all signs point to the Bills being the sixth seed.
33:30And the Chargers, right now, only putting up a field goal today.
33:34If this ends up being the end result, then it certainly looks like that's going to be the case.
33:38They would be the seven.
33:40Come next week, Lutz for the fourth time today.
33:42Drills one.
33:43The longest of the four was 41 yards.
33:46Three of his field goals were in the 20s.
33:4823, 24, and 26 yards.
33:52So, to your point about the playoffs for Denver having two weeks,
33:55you don't know for sure who you're going to play because you're going to get the bye.
34:01If everything continues, right?
34:03Let me just clarify.
34:05Anybody's freaking out right now.
34:06New England got the one?
34:08No, they've registered the win.
34:10That's over now.
34:11That's a 38-10 final.
34:15So, Denver's two minutes and change away from making it 14-3
34:19and being right back on top of the pole position
34:22and getting that bye and being the one seed
34:25and having the chance to host in two weeks' time.
34:28And if you can get a win that round, you host the AFC title game as well.
34:31And they will take on the lowest seed after the next round.
34:34Which, again, we had talked about this, but some of this audience just joining us.
34:38If the Chargers, it appears, again, saying this game is going to be a Denver win.
34:43If Chargers win, Chargers would be playing at New England next week.
34:46So, to me, there you go.
34:52There's the graphic for it.
34:53They still clinched it.
34:55But Denver's going to have the ability to prepare for who they really think is likely to come out of these victories.
35:02And I think after you've played teams all year long and you see everyone,
35:06you've got a pretty good idea of styles to make fights of who's most likely to come in.
35:11Well, back comes Trey Lance.
35:1315 out of 29, 92 yards.
35:16And an interception that got returned in the first quarter.
35:19Bounced off a receiver's hands.
35:20It really wasn't all on Lance at all.
35:23And he got run back for the game's only touchdown.
35:25But when you start talking about how do you guess who you're going to play if you're Denver,
35:29again, are you going to play the team that wins on the wildcard weekend?
35:32With the worst seeding.
35:34So, if New England was to beat the Chargers, but Buffalo was to up in Jacksonville,
35:40that would mean Buffalo would be here.
35:42Correct.
35:43So, you're looking at that and you're going, okay.
35:48You've got to assume one of those two has a real chance, right?
35:5130 seconds.
35:53I mean, I don't want to shortchange.
35:55If all the seeds go, you're going to play the fourth seed.
35:57If everyone wins.
35:58Okay, 1-4-2-3.
35:59Which would be Pittsburgh or Baltimore, depending on their outcome tonight.
36:02And so, you sit there and you look at it and you go, okay, who's got the benefit?
36:05Well, you know Buffalo has Josh Allen.
36:07They've been in the mix.
36:08They've been here before.
36:09They're going to have an opportunity.
36:11But there's so much that could go and change.
36:14It's really difficult this year.
36:15There's not like that thing you could sit here and say, just this team.
36:18But I do think you will have an idea.
36:20Well, 2-23 to go.
36:27And Lance lofts it.
36:30And over the head of Trey Harris.
36:31If, if New England and Jacksonville hold serve next week, Tony.
36:36Yep.
36:37But Houston wins at the AFC North Champ.
36:40And we know Houston's a team that no one wants to see right now.
36:44That would bring Houston here to take on Denver in the divisional round.
36:49Great call.
36:49And that has a very strong possibility.
36:52You could argue that's as strong as any situation playing out.
37:00Lance, who has rushed for 54 yards on eight scrambles.
37:04Able to swing it over, no, over the head of Patterson.
37:13And the Lions have just defeated the Chicago Bears on a Bates field goal at the wire.
37:18To win that game.
37:20And Chicago's two seed is in jeopardy.
37:25Depending on what happens with Philadelphia and Washington.
37:29And the Eagles are down seven with a minute to go.
37:31And now there's been a turnover in that game.
37:34It looks like Washington's going to upset them.
37:38So those seeds will hold serve at two and three.
37:43That's right.
37:44There's Lance complete to disleap at the 40.
37:49And we're going to come to the two-minute warning.
37:50It only took all year and all the way until the end with one game left
37:56before we can figure out who's in what seed, basically.
38:00I love it.
38:00I love the drama.
38:10Final two minutes to go, and then it will be official.
38:18They said, take me home here.
38:19They're singing.
38:20John Denver says, take me home.
38:22Asking that Denver defense, I guess.
38:24Well, now the crowd has come to life.
38:26Fourth down.
38:30And Lance takes it home for a first down.
38:35They're going to be at home, barring a miracle here.
38:39Playing the first postseason game since the AFC championship game.
38:44You did that.
38:45It was Brady and Manning for the fourth time in an AFC title game.
38:50And Manning and the Broncos won that game and went on and won Super Bowl 50.
38:57That was the 17th and final meeting between those two legends.
39:02The last time the Broncos hosted a postseason game.
39:06First and ten.
39:07Lance with the catch there by Conklin.
39:23That's what makes this season so different.
39:25You've always had the stalwart quarterbacks right there.
39:29Nothing there.
39:29Moss on the coverage of Harris.
39:37It's update time.
39:39Back to you, Adam Schein.
39:41Jim, Tony, Jake Bates.
39:44Bam.
39:45At the buzzer.
39:46Fourth field goal of the game to beat Chicago.
39:501916 Lions.
39:52Back to you.
39:53And the Lions will finish the season at 9 and 8.
39:58Talk about injuries having to overcome.
40:01Decimated it.
40:03Tight end.
40:04And the whole secondary basically wiped out.
40:07That division got better.
40:09Did.
40:10I mean, all of a sudden, Chicago goes out and wins the division.
40:12Who would have predicted that?
40:13Third and four.
40:14Patterson needs the angle.
40:16And he got enough to get the first down.
40:20Green Bay, the seventh seed.
40:21You thought they would have been like a one seed after week one when we did that game.
40:25Yeah, I wouldn't have seen seven losses out of that team.
40:27Nine, seven, and one on the year, Tony.
40:32This is right here where the Packers season really took a terrible turn when Micah Parsons
40:38suffered an ACL in the game against the Broncos in December.
40:42So much of this is attrition and just who can survive.
40:47And having Bonito and some of these guys healthy, it's an absolute game changer.
40:55But they have done it.
40:56And they've put themselves in position.
40:58And Sean Payton, he's got a shot at Coach of the Year.
41:01Yes, he does.
41:02He's right there.
41:03Second and ten.
41:08A minute and seven.
41:12That falls incomplete.
41:16Twenty-nine.
41:19Coming in on that play.
41:20Well, they blitzed everyone.
41:22They call it cover zero, meaning there's no help on defense, just the guy that's guarding
41:27the receiver.
41:28And if someone's going to come free because you have more guys rushing than you can block.
41:33McMillan had a big day.
41:35Again, scored the game's only.
41:36Touchdown.
41:37And now you've got third and ten.
41:54Third and ten.
41:55And it's caught.
41:56Ball's on the ground.
41:58They rule that a catch.
42:00Another turnover.
42:02Kay picks it up.
42:03Key picks it up.
42:04Disley was the one trying to make the catch.
42:08Officials still haven't ruled whether it was a catch or not.
42:14And they say on the field, they say it was a catch fumble.
42:29I don't know, Tony.
42:30Seeing up there, football move after what happened with Isaiah Likely.
42:34Well, you saw that one in the Baltimore-Pittsburgh game round one.
42:37I'm never sure anymore.
42:39I agree with you.
42:40Previous play is under review.
42:42I'm not sure that's a catch.
42:44I'm pretty sure it's under review because it doesn't really look like a catch here.
42:48But we've seen things play out differently.
42:53Gene Steratore, please sort this one out for us.
42:56This one doesn't feel like he's met the third element to me, fellas.
43:00I mean, there's possession there, two feet down, but no third step.
43:05Really didn't feel like there was a football move to me.
43:07That contact occurred rather quickly right after both feet landed.
43:10After review, the rule in the field's incomplete pass brings up fourth down from the previous spot.
43:18Yep.
43:18Okay, so now you've got fourth down.
43:20You know, Tony, this is a little esoteric, and I want to thank Ethan Cooper Center.
43:25Hold on.
43:25Extraordinary sad guy.
43:27So, yeah, this is deep, deep, deep, kind of layers deep kind of stuff.
43:32But you rank the number one defense by total yards.
43:36Correct.
43:36Okay.
43:37Houston, right now, Denver is 11 yards ahead of the season, on the season, of the Houston defense.
43:46So, it comes down to this play.
43:49You give up a first down to be the number one defense.
43:51If you don't give up a first down, you're the number one defense.
43:54If you do, you're the number one defense.
43:55Right.
43:55There you go.
43:55That's what I'm talking about.
43:57That's esoteric.
43:59I love it.
43:59Look it up in the dictionary.
44:00Here you go.
44:01Lance.
44:02Oh, my goodness.
44:03He got 12.
44:05Houston, you did it.
44:06Who said you just won the defensive team of the year title?
44:09Well, total defense.
44:10Not over yet.
44:11That's true.
44:12What happens if there's a sack?
44:13It could be.
44:17That's funny.
44:18I'll tell you what.
44:19When you get down to which is the best defense, Houston or Denver, I wouldn't want to make that pick.
44:24I think that I would take either one if I was on that team.
44:27And I can tell you right now, no team wants to play either of these defenses.
44:32Of course, you got still the thought of scoring.
44:35Going for two.
44:38Look at this effort.
44:39Down to the seven-yard line.
44:41Trey Harris, the rookie out of Ole Miss.
44:44Back-to-back catches.
44:46They're going to clock this, but get up and run a favor.
44:48Hurry up and snap it.
44:49Still got a chance.
44:50The play went for 16.
44:52They got 38 seconds left.
45:00Touchdown and a two-point conversion.
45:01An onside kick recovery and a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
45:05And we're going to continue this one.
45:07That happens all the time.
45:08Well done by Sean Payton.
45:15So you're saying he's a test.
45:17You're saying there's a chance.
45:19Getting his team ready every week.
45:21And I actually felt like the Chargers didn't bring it.
45:23They just didn't have enough talent to withstand the onslaught of this defensive front and team today.
45:28Lance going to the end zone.
45:34And it's caught!
45:36That's Davis with the flag out.
45:43This is going to come back.
45:47Illegal formation.
45:48Offense.
45:49And the 66 is not covered in the line of scrimmage.
45:52The five-yard penalty.
45:54Replay second down.
45:58Well, you need somebody on the line of scrimmage here.
46:01And you've got both these guys off the ball.
46:04One has to be on.
46:06Needs seven guys on.
46:08They only had six.
46:09He wasn't off that line of scrimmage by much, Tony.
46:12Yeah, but it was enough.
46:1633 seconds to go.
46:20You've got the five linemen.
46:22He's on six.
46:23And he's on.
46:24There's seven.
46:27Lobbing it up.
46:28Back in the end zone.
46:29And he caught it.
46:30But he's out.
46:31Wait a minute.
46:34Maybe he's not.
46:35Will the touchdown, Trey Harris.
46:37I like this young player.
46:40The second rounder.
46:41But really, did he get that in?
46:44Really going to the field.
46:45There's a touchdown.
46:46It's an incredible catch.
46:49Oh, he did drag the feet.
46:52That is amazing.
46:53Oh, no, the ball didn't.
46:54I think the ball was not under control.
46:56Don't look at that.
46:57Just look at the feet.
46:58That's magical work with his feet.
47:00But the ball still matters in real life.
47:05Well, that's going to be two touchdowns they've had taken off.
47:11After review, William Fields needs to be passed.
47:15He's at four down.
47:20Can't believe how well he did with that effort to scrape the top of the turf.
47:26That was incredible.
47:36John Payton, who told us this week, our focus is this is a playoff game.
47:41We get paid as coaches to worry.
47:43That's what he said.
47:44That's incomplete.
47:54That's incomplete.
47:54Still time for the touchdown.
48:10The two.
48:11The onside kick.
48:12The Hail Mary.
48:13And the two.
48:16That's how I would think as a fan.
48:19Okay.
48:19Eight.
48:21It's never over.
48:22Till it's over.
48:23And then when it's over, it's actually over.
48:25But I think you're more likely to not want to have someone get injured.
48:29No.
48:29That's right.
48:30That is the goal.
48:31Fourth and goal.
48:34Timeout, Denver.
48:36I don't think they awarded.
48:37I saw Payton.
48:38Oh, now they do.
48:39Sean ran down the sideline to call a timeout.
48:42You think he wants to keep him out?
48:43Fire in the snap.
48:44Denver takes its third and final timeout.
48:4630 seconds.
48:47Defense to back up.
48:51It's been quite a month for Sean Payton.
48:53He turned 62 on Monday.
48:56He walked his daughter down the aisle.
48:58She got married just a couple of weeks ago down in Cabo.
49:02He's about to take this team to the number one seed in the AFC.
49:11Just a reminder real quick here that the kickoff of the Ravens and the Steelers
49:15is at 822 Eastern on NBC.
49:20And he has history with Jim Harbaugh.
49:22They were both on the 87 Bears.
49:26Strike season.
49:26Yeah, he was one of the replacement players.
49:28Led the Bears to two wins.
49:31Harbaugh was a rookie first-rounder who was looking for playing time once he got back.
49:36He was jealous of the playing time that Payton got in those weeks that the players struck.
49:42Here's a fourth and goal.
49:46Chased.
49:47Desperation.
49:48And the Denver defense does what it's done almost all season long.
49:55That was Ellis who chased him to the sideline.
49:58And Vance Jackson has another masterful piece of work here.
50:03Vance Joseph, I should say.
50:04It was a masterful season.
50:09Sean Payton, Vance Joseph, and his Bronco team.
50:12The first step is done.
50:14We see Ellis extending, and he left the pocket a little too early.
50:18But just the ability to have the depth they have and have new guys come in.
50:23It was just a great performance by this defense today.
50:26One last snap, and it is over.
50:28What a season for the Denver Broncos.
50:30They are the number one seed in the AFC.
50:47They wish each other good luck.
50:50Knowing full well there is a chance they'll see each other in a couple of weeks.
50:55For that to happen again, the Chargers would have to go and win in Foxborough next week.
51:01It won't be easy.
51:02I think you've got some really strong, well-coached football teams.
51:09Great staffs all the way around.
51:11Everybody that's in here has good coaching.
51:14And I think you're going to find it's going to come down to the ball, turnovers,
51:17and then who makes that play here and there in the critical moments.
51:20The only thing unsettled in the AFC is who will get the four.
51:23Who will win the North, and who will that be?
51:26Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
51:28And that team will host Houston next week.
51:30Meanwhile, Chargers are at New England.
51:32Buffalo will be at Jacksonville.
51:34And Denver will be sitting it out next week at home, getting the well-earned bye.
51:41Let's do the NFC.
51:42For the NFC, there you go.
51:45Seattle, sensational season.
51:47Chicago, the two.
51:49Philadelphia, the three.
51:51Carolina, the four.
51:52That means Rams at Carolina, San Francisco at Philadelphia, and Green Bay at Chicago.
51:59The defending champions have to open their next postseason run.
52:03Now, they set their starters today.
52:04The Eagles did.
52:05Hurts did not play.
52:06But San Francisco, you take out what happened last night.
52:10Going into last night, they were one of the hottest teams in football.
52:13You're not kidding.
52:1412 and 5.
52:15Both teams in the wild card have better records than everyone but the one seed.
52:18Can hardly wait for next week.
52:20And tonight on CBS begins with an all-new 60 Minutes, followed by Tracker, starring Justin Hartley.
52:27Plus back-to-back episodes of Sheriff's Country.
52:30Sheriff's Country on the back end of the lineup.
52:33That's all tonight on CBS.
52:35Pat Sertan and the Broncos going into the postseason for the second straight year.
52:39Last year, they lost in a wild card round at Buffalo.
52:41But they've matured.
52:42They've grown up.
52:43Now they get to be the host team in the one seed.
52:46They have grown up.
52:47Denver's for real.
52:48And you've got to go through Denver.
52:51It'll go through a mile high.
52:52That's for sure.
52:55Broncos win it here.
52:56For Tony, Tracy, Chief Stairch, where Jim Nance sang so long from Denver, you have been watching the NFL on CBS.
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