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00:00Well, this is one of the challenges of deciding to pressure Drake May, especially from these spread formations mentioned earlier.
00:09The Dolphins want to bring blitz at one of the highest rates in the league, but you blitz him from these real spread formations, you've got to come from such distance.
00:17He can see you coming, and if you don't get there, he is one of the best scramble quarterbacks in the NFL.
00:25I've got 14 right there, no timeouts, looking for the sideline here, a completion and a spike, oh, move to the end zone.
00:31Loading up and heaving out of the bounds.
00:35From here, it would be close to a 60-yarder.
00:38The long for Borogales is 53.
00:41They're going to give him a shot to show what he's got here.
00:45They're going to have to see Sealer, he's coming on.
00:47They're going to have to get a lot better protection than the last one.
00:50I think it was a combination of just a ton of penetration.
00:52I mean, Sealer, he was about three or four yards in the backfield, and just the trajectory of that kick came out a little low,
00:59which is very typical of these long-range kicks.
01:04This would be good information to gather for the Patriots.
01:06Mike Vrabel going to the playoffs.
01:08What do you got, Borogales?
01:10From 59, he's got enough.
01:15Improves his career long by six yards right there.
01:18I don't want to be Mr. Hindsight, but that's why you don't settle for a field goal.
01:25Miami, they kicked their field goal on fourth down.
01:28They don't take advantage of the field goal block.
01:31And then you give Drake May the ball, a couple completions, and a scramble.
01:35And next thing you know, they get the three points right back.
01:38And the Patriots restore the lead to seven.
01:43First-half stats are brought to you by Allstate in this Week 18 matchup.
01:47Patriots got it going on the ground.
01:51Nine carries for 44 yards for Henderson.
01:53Three carries for 67 for Ramondre Stevenson.
01:57And it was mostly the ground game for the Patriots in that first half of the seven-point lead.
02:01Trying to wrap up the two-seed, and who knows?
02:03The second-half rally for the Chargers could be the one-seed for the Patriots.
02:07We'll take a break.
02:08Halftime show coming out.
02:10Today's Game Flow presented by Progressive.
02:37Rocking the back here to New England, 17-10.
02:40The Patriots ahead of the Dolphins, walking it back inside.
02:43And it looked like New England was going to cruise in this game.
02:45But Miami putting the pressure on a little bit there.
02:47Yeah, and I'll tell you, Miami didn't come out playing very inspired ball, defensively especially.
02:51But I think the offense, the ability of the offense to move the ball,
02:54had a fourth down stop on their opening drive.
02:57Then they followed it up with a touchdown drive.
02:59So they've moved the ball well.
03:00Defense has definitely picked it up.
03:02But I think both teams probably right now feel pretty good about where they're at.
03:06But Miami gets the ball here to start the second half and see if they can keep it rolling.
03:11Trying to finish off their season by winning 7 of 10.
03:15And spoil the Patriots.
03:17Shot at the two-seed at the very least with a win.
03:20Mike Rabel's team has played with the lead more than any other in the NFL.
03:2315 games out of their 17.
03:25They've had the lead at halftime.
03:26That's an NFL record, of course, with a caveat.
03:2817-game season in recent years.
03:33Touchback to begin down to the field.
03:34Here's Pam.
03:35Plenty of positives for the Patriots in that first half.
03:38Mike Rabel told me that he really appreciated the way the defense responded,
03:43especially after that Miami field goal.
03:46He wants to see better balance in this half.
03:49And he also wants to see the offense move the ball a little bit better.
03:54For the Dolphins, Mike McDaniel, well, he likes the way his group is playing.
03:59He told me, I asked him what he expects from his group in the second half.
04:03He said, well, we've got in the first half.
04:05They will continue to play hard for each other.
04:07Here's a deep offhand that is underthrown, but a foul.
04:10Threw it out there for Taj Washington.
04:12And they're going to get Carlton Davis for a penalty.
04:15And so a deep shot.
04:17Dolphins playing with house money here.
04:19Last interference.
04:20Defense number seven.
04:22Spot foul.
04:23Automatic first down.
04:25Taj Washington getting his chance today with the injury to Jalen Waddell.
04:30You see Carlton Davis.
04:31He got the penalty at the top of the screen.
04:33And on the bottom, Christian Gonzalez.
04:35They brought him on a corner blitz.
04:37And that's why Quinn Uras just had to get that ball out of his hand a little earlier
04:41than he wanted.
04:43But Carlton Davis had no choice on that double move but to grab him.
04:48Well, Uras so far in this game has done nothing to diminish his case
04:51to at least be part of the conversation going into next year as the Dolphins quarterback.
04:56One penalty follows another.
04:57Offense number 52.
04:58Offense number 52.
04:59Five-yard penalty.
05:00First down.
05:01On the left tackle, Patrick Paul.
05:03Uras doing a lot of what we saw the first couple games.
05:05Decisive.
05:06Nine out of 11.
05:06Doesn't have a ton of yards.
05:08But that's what they've asked him to do.
05:09Just be efficient.
05:10Cut it loose.
05:12And take a look.
05:13But both guys thought they were going in motion.
05:16No.
05:16And they're sitting there.
05:17And then the offensive line is like, guys, that can't be on us.
05:19You've got multiple guys going across the formation.
05:22The quarterback is trying to get them all organized.
05:24And they go backwards.
05:26Here's a toss.
05:27And right is buried by Anthony Jennings, who's back into a starting role these last couple
05:34games after the injury to Harold Landry.
05:37Yeah, so two plays in a row now.
05:38The pre-snap operation of this Dolphins offense is just off.
05:44So you had it on the false start with the two men going in motion.
05:46Here you see Quinniers.
05:47He's trying to fake that jet sweep.
05:49And he's lucky they didn't fumble that handoff to Jalen Wright.
05:54That ball came out of viewers' hand.
05:56And this drive started out promising with the P.I. call.
06:01And now they're just going backwards.
06:03Second and 22.
06:05Just five to snap it.
06:11Viewers for the shoulder roll.
06:12Looking back, throwing the screen for Washington, who dodged a man.
06:16And they got ripped down from behind.
06:18It's Jennings with another tackle.
06:20There you go.
06:21Five yards right there.
06:22Third down and long.
06:23He's talked about a lot of the things that this Patriots defense does really well.
06:28You know, limit teams getting down into the red zone.
06:30They do a great job limiting explosive, you know, big plays.
06:34And they're one of the best tackling teams in the league.
06:36So when they want to play these high shells and there's a lot of space underneath in the coverage,
06:41especially with an offense like Miami, who relies so much on yards after the catch,
06:46this Patriots defense has done a great job all year limiting those opportunities.
06:52Five to two's from for viewers on third and 17.
06:56Underneath Dulcich.
06:57Greg Dulcich had a steam.
06:59And a first down.
07:01Dulcich with a gain of 20.
07:05The old St. Francis.
07:07Guacanata star.
07:09I'll tell you, I hadn't watched a lot of Dulcich play this year, I'll be honest.
07:13But when I dove into him last week, I kept writing in my notes, you know,
07:16it was 85.
07:17You know, 85, he pops.
07:18He's physical.
07:19He can run after catch.
07:20Caught a really nice touchdown on an inside post last week.
07:24And if you want to make the comparison that this is like a version of the San Francisco 49ers,
07:30this offense, they think H ends, they're McCaffrey, can they find their kick?
07:35And to the short side, Ali, Gordon.
07:40Gordon's close to a first down.
07:42It's funny talking to Quinn Ewers about Dulcich.
07:44You said you looked at him, you're like, who is this guy?
07:46And Quinn said, well, he looks like Weird Al, so you don't expect him to be much.
07:50But then he's pretty fast and athletic.
07:52This is Caliban Chason, who's down for the Patriots.
07:58The guy who's been really valuable for them.
08:00You hope that this is cramping or something here.
08:03Already down some key players on defense.
08:08That's Mullane and Landry and Tongall to come back for the playoffs.
08:11And I hope they're not worrying about Chason as well.
08:15Caliban Chason has put it all together this year in his first year with the Patriots.
08:19This one, the first-round pick of the Jaguars gets rolled up here.
08:22You see him right here working on the left tackle there.
08:26Patrick Paul.
08:29He kind of gets knocked by Dirt and his own guy.
08:32It's kind of just a pileup.
08:34Hard to know exactly what happened,
08:36but a good sign that he was able to walk off the field on his own power.
08:41So the Dolphins have converted a third and 17 on this track.
08:44Nine yards on first down, second and one.
08:46Miami, which has tormented the Patriots in recent seasons.
08:53They've won four in a row in this series prior to the Week 2 matchup.
08:57A toss for Jalen Wright looking for a seam.
09:00Didn't find it.
09:01Instead, he found Corey Durden, but was able to fight forward for a first down.
09:04Patriots have not swept the season series against Miami since 2016.
09:12Back in the Brady and Belichick days.
09:15Miami has always played these guys tough.
09:20McDonald, or McDaniel, looking for, hard to call it a signature win with the season.
09:27Not much at stake, but 13-16 in his career against winning teams.
09:32You'd love another win like that.
09:34He is on the move.
09:35Looking in zone.
09:36It's right to a Patriot defender.
09:39Jalen Hawkins has his fourth interception.
09:42There's a flag down at the line of scrimmage.
09:44There's a couple, both lines of scrimmage, both sides of the field.
09:50He's going to be, he's going to go against Miami.
09:52They're going to have the legal man downfield.
09:54And Mike Vrabel's telling his defense, go celebrate in the end zone.
09:58Those will play her downfield on a forward pass.
10:01Offense number 52.
10:03Penalty has declined.
10:04We had an interception in the end zone.
10:06Patriots will take over first and 10 at the 20.
10:09Timeout on the field.
10:10Hard to tell if that was behind Washington or too far ahead of Wiese.
10:13And he's right to Jalen Hawkins.
10:20That's a bad pick right there.
10:22It's just part of being a young quarterback.
10:25You're going to see Dulcich here.
10:26He's going to run this slide route, they call it.
10:28He's going to come behind the line of scrimmage.
10:31And take a look here.
10:31We're going to pause it.
10:32He's wide open.
10:34If you don't like that, Cedric Wilson, he's the late trail on any one of these bootlegs.
10:38You're always going to have an inside trail.
10:39But both receivers, he kind of throws it in the middle of them.
10:43Both those receivers are wide open.
10:46This is what I was saying before.
10:47That was Vrabel telling his guys to go celebrate.
10:49The whole defensive guy looking like it.
10:51Drake Mann, the move, finds Hunter Henry, who gasses the defense.
10:56Well, that is a similar look in play where he finds the trailer and gets 29 yards as a result.
11:03Well, it's not kind of, it is the exact same idea.
11:08You're going to get a first guy is going to go out into the flat, right?
11:10So you're going to get a flat player.
11:12And then you're just the late little trickle.
11:14So there's an over, and then you just kind of fall behind.
11:17You're that second flat offensive player.
11:20And great job there by Drake May, just checking it down.
11:24Good yards after catch.
11:26Heads is 84 yards passing in the first step.
11:28It was mostly the running game.
11:29They averaged 9 yards per carry in the first step.
11:32Hugh Stephenson.
11:33Stucked by Jordan Phillips.
11:35Spread himself in there as well.
11:37Yeah, you mentioned over 9 yards and the explosive plays in the run game.
11:41And so much of it has come with a sixth offensive lineman on the field.
11:46You're going to see Thalen Munford, number 74.
11:47He's just checking himself off the field for this play.
11:51But both the long completion to Henry and then that last first down run.
11:55They've done a lot with that extra offensive line.
11:58You see a lot of teams around the league going to that.
12:01Certainly paying dividends here today.
12:05So second and seven.
12:06You can see in Denver.
12:07Chargers on the board.
12:0810-3 game there.
12:10May's first route was taken away.
12:12Hugh Lawrence, as we've seen him do a handful of times already today.
12:15He's scrambled for now 35 yards.
12:18And it'll be third and short.
12:21I'm going to go on a random aside.
12:23You ready?
12:24Go.
12:24I like that he slides head first.
12:27He's done that a few times now.
12:29If I was a quarterback, I would never slide feet first.
12:33A, I think you're opening yourself up to get hit up high.
12:36You see guys, they don't know.
12:38I think when you go head first, you just, it's a lot harder to hit you.
12:42It's a lot harder.
12:42Now, you're not going to get personal foul calls.
12:44But I'd much rather my quarterback be healthy than get a personal foul.
12:49And you get the extra yard to jump.
12:50That's my TED Talk.
12:52I think they all should dive head first.
12:54Here's Stevenson getting hit in the backfield.
12:56Breaking tackles.
12:57And it takes a negative game into a big game.
13:01Instead of fourth down, he breaks it for 21.
13:03Mike Vrabel, he loves it because Mike Vrabel understands with the playoffs on the horizon, run game, defense, really carries a lot more significance, Joe, in the postseason than it does during the regular season.
13:20Where maybe nobody more than me sits up here and says, throw the ball.
13:23You pass the score.
13:25Come postseason, all the bad teams are out of the game.
13:29The ability to run the ball and play defense has so much more value.
13:32Press sort of downs.
13:33Another run play.
13:34Travion Henderson.
13:35Good surge of that offensive line.
13:38Henderson gets six.
13:39Both these guys having good days.
13:41Travion Henderson reminds Ray Stevenson.
13:43Early on this year, it was mostly Stevenson.
13:46He dealt with some fumbling issues.
13:47Injured his toe.
13:48And so Henderson got a chance.
13:50Now Stevenson comes back.
13:52And you've got a one-two punch.
13:53Really kind of thunder and lightning with the bigger Stevenson and the speedy Henderson.
13:57Yeah, the part I love about it today is the value of a run game just really goes up significantly when you can generate explosive plays.
14:05They've been one of the most explosive offenses in the league because of the passing game.
14:08You pair that now with an explosive run game, you're a handful.
14:12Henderson.
14:1530 short.
14:15He's talking about the playoffs coming and what you prioritize what plays in the playoffs shifts a little bit as you get into the playoffs.
14:25These guys have shown the ability to run the ball.
14:27We know they're good defensively.
14:28And you ask the question, how good are the Patriots?
14:31I think, put simply, they're as good as anybody this year.
14:34Who knows whose game it is to take?
14:37Absolutely.
14:37You know, you hear a lot of the knock that's been coming up these last couple weeks as the season winds down and the MVP race with Drake May.
14:45And are they as good as their record?
14:46And my answer to that is this is Pro Bowl.
14:49Well, you know, someone's not playing in the SEC and someone's in the sideback.
14:52You know, this is all NFL rosters.
14:54Third and two.
14:55May's got Stevenson.
14:57Touchdown.
14:59First touchdown pass of the day for Drake May.
15:03And Ramondre Stevenson for the second week in a row has two.
15:07One on the ground and one through the air.
15:08Yeah, it's just great play design.
15:14On the right side of your scheme, Ramondre Stevenson, he's one-on-one with Terrell Dotson.
15:18So pre-snap, Drake May knows it's one-on-one man coverage.
15:23Tell you what, for a running back to go out wide, he ran a sluggo.
15:28So it's a slant pump.
15:30That is a wide receiver type route.
15:33And first touchdown pass for Drake May as the MVP chance to break out again.
15:41First of the day, 31st of the season.
15:44Extra point is there.
15:46Second takeaway for the Patriots in this ballgame.
15:49Turnover margin, they're up 2-0.
15:52There's Jalen Hawkins.
15:53Rabel says, go get down there and celebrate.
15:55The offense says, we'll do so officially.
15:57March it down the field.
15:59And it's Stevenson who would like to play the Dolphins every day.
16:01He's got 255 yards in two games against Stokers.
16:06Well, the Patriots had touchdowns on their first two drives.
16:10Find the end zone for the first time since.
16:1280 yards and seven plays.
16:14And Drake May's 31st touchdown pass of the year has the lead back to two touchdowns for New England.
16:25Midway through this third quarter.
16:28Patriots headed back to the playoffs.
16:29Last question is, what seed for the win?
16:31At least the two.
16:33The loss, they'd fall to the three.
16:36It's Malik Washington on the return for the Dolphins.
16:42And his match out of the 30-yard line.
16:46We're talking about the Patriots.
16:48The people that want to knock the Patriots will point to the fact that they have not played a very good schedule.
16:53In fact, by opponents winning percentage, it's the easiest schedule for any team in this century.
16:59And why do we have a baking app and cupcakes and cakes and everything?
17:04Well, if you don't follow the Patriots, Drake's wife and Michael, big-time baker.
17:09Bakeness.
17:10Bakeness.
17:10Bringing cookies into the building each day.
17:12Big deal.
17:13Well, so we let him play off of the family in that round, too.
17:17She might have been the most popular of May in New England.
17:22That's saying something.
17:24First down run to Ollie Gordon in a short game.
17:27And, you know, it's two separate conversations, right?
17:30I think there's the conversation about the Patriots as a team.
17:33Maybe that gives you some pause that they're 14-3, but against a cupcake schedule.
17:38It's a different conversation when it comes to Drake May, though.
17:41He shouldn't be knocked in the MVP case when you're looking at that.
17:44Absolutely not.
17:45And I think the suggestion that, you know, we're going to hold against him something that's completely out of his hands.
17:51Because when you factor into the things that he's doing, affecting this, the turnaround,
17:55all the things we've covered throughout the course of today,
17:57I think it's pretty clear, as good as Matthew Stafford has been,
18:02but don't get me wrong, he's sensational.
18:04Three weeks ago, I had Stafford as my MVP.
18:07But I think as we've come down the home stretch, you factor in the turnaround, what he's doing.
18:12And remember, he's the only Pro Bowl player on offense.
18:16They've got one Pro Bowl player on offense, one on defense.
18:18And turnaround, new offensive coordinator, new head coach.
18:23A four-win season, just one year, a four-win team a year ago.
18:27I think you add all that up, still a chance at the one seed.
18:31I think Drake May, as this season ends here this afternoon, he's my MVP.
18:36On third down, Ewell is throwing the slant.
18:38Theo Weiss stays on his feet and gets a first down.
18:41Stafford, by the way, 15 of 28, 137 yards and a touchdown today.
18:47He and the Rams looking for a bounce-back game after that shocking defeat on Monday night against the Falcons,
18:52where Stafford went into the game with five interceptions all year, got picked off three times.
18:57Anybody who was still splitting hairs probably at that point said,
19:00All right, you've got to lean May.
19:02We'll see how it shakes out, though.
19:04Stafford, the veteran, tries to win an MVP, which is shocking, for the first time in his score.
19:08And I think he has to do it in his second season, which has only been done by six guys.
19:13I think that's a great point.
19:14I think an element of this, which I totally understand,
19:17is there a lifetime achievement element to the season that Stafford is playing at this stage in his career.
19:22I get that.
19:23Ewell steps up and throws, incomplete.
19:26Hawkins with the defense on Weiss.
19:28Yeah, so I think a lot of the MVP voters are definitely going to take into account that.
19:35You know, right, wrong, or indifferent, I would argue that it is about just this season.
19:39And for his remarkable, you know, Matthew Stafford, he's going to be a Hall of Fame-type player,
19:43I mean, already a Super Bowl champion with a chance to do it again this year.
19:47And I just hope they don't hold it against Drake May and say, hey, it's year two.
19:51He's got plenty of opportunities.
19:52He'll win one down the road.
19:54There's no guarantee you're ever going to have success like this.
19:57There's 14 wins potentially.
19:59This really good season as a second-year player, right?
20:03It's no guarantees.
20:04That's not how the NFL works.
20:05You saw, given the numbers on the staff, and you saw the score,
20:08the Rams have a three-point lead over the Cardinals.
20:11Tipped and incomplete.
20:12Gibbons almost got a pick.
20:13The Rams are trying to wrap up the five-seed.
20:16That would knock San Francisco down to the six.
20:20Third and ten.
20:21I think this Patriots defense kind of hurt us.
20:23And, you know, we're laying out all the things that they're good at.
20:26And, you know, the one kind of asterisk is, you know, for a top-five team and points allowed,
20:31you don't really take the ball away at a high rate like you're accustomed to seeing.
20:35And they almost just got their third takeaway of the day.
20:39Hugh Gibbons is getting his shot.
20:41Spillane injured.
20:43Reunited with Vrabel.
20:44Started his kill with him in Tennessee.
20:48Got a sands on it.
20:49Makes it third and ten.
20:51Ewers is set by Marcus Jones coming in the blitz.
20:56Second sack of the year for the diminutive DB.
21:00And the puck team comes out.
21:01Yeah, so it's going to be interesting what kind of a direction you see.
21:06He's right here at the top of the screen.
21:07Marcus Jones playing that nickel slot.
21:09You go back to that week two matchup.
21:11Now, granted, Tua, he was playing quarterback in 37 dropbacks.
21:14They blitzed Tua one time.
21:17Very different plan here today against the young rookie quarterback.
21:20They are dialing up a lot more second-level pressure.
21:23And that time it gets home.
21:27By the way, just as we give that update from L.A.,
21:30Arizona has taken the lead 20-16.
21:34Cardinals ahead of the Rams.
21:36That punt is off the side of the foot of Jake Bailey.
21:38Not a good one.
21:40And they will spot this.
21:43Got the chip in the ball.
21:44We can tell them exactly where this ball crossed the sideline.
21:47And it is the 36.
21:50All right, who is it going to be?
21:54Matthew Stafford or Drake May?
21:57Great quarterbacks.
21:58Different ends of the spectrum when it comes to their careers.
22:01One near the end.
22:02One right at the start.
22:05Well, May and the Patriots have restored order a little bit here
22:08with a two-touchdown lead as they try to finish off 14-3 regular season.
22:13Turnaround that has never been done.
22:15Going from winning four games to 14 the next year.
22:19Mike Grable's first season as the head coach.
22:22Going to be back in the playoffs first time in a while.
22:25It will be the first home playoff game for the Patriots since 2019
22:29when Grable's Titans came in here and ruined the party.
22:32First play of the drive.
22:36Blitz is picked up.
22:37May steps up.
22:38And a strike for Hunter Henry.
22:41Perfect throw to his best buddy for 16.
22:47These Patriots fans are having a little nostalgia here
22:50watching the quarterback go work to his tight end.
22:54It's just a signature play there.
22:56Big post on the outside.
22:58Outbreaking corner out by the tight end.
22:59You think back weeks ago, Brady was in the studio.
23:01And he said Hunter Henry's the best tight end in Patriots history.
23:06Granted, he said that.
23:07He's standing next to Brock.
23:10Under the captain of this offense.
23:12Now his fifth season here.
23:15From the 48.
23:16Quick throw.
23:17Just a second touch for Diggs.
23:20Take up at the old Patriot.
23:21Jack Jones.
23:23A bit of a slow start today, but you put it all together.
23:25He's 10 for 14.
23:27144 yards.
23:27And a touchdown.
23:28Yeah, so he's great when you blitz him.
23:30He's great on extended plays of over three seconds, both as a passer and as a scramble runner.
23:36And then he can operate in the downfield passing game probably as good, if not better, than any quarterback in football.
23:42So it goes back to what we talked about earlier.
23:44As Josh McDaniels is able to put together this system, there's really no aspect of it that he can't expand upon
23:49because of the ability of Drake May to handle it all.
23:53Stevenson has had a big day.
23:55Adds on to the first down.
23:56Yes, I think as promising and as rewarding as this season has been, assuming they hold on here and get their 14th win and we'll see how everything shakes out in the playoffs.
24:11You know, the question is, okay, is it sustainable?
24:13You know, and the first thing you look at it, you say, okay.
24:15You know, in one season, in one offseason, they've really hit on a bunch of great free agents.
24:21We've talked about them.
24:22They've hit on their rookie class.
24:25Now, looking forward, they have 11 draft picks, top 10 in draft and free agent capital.
24:29So the ability to build around a young, premier, elite quarterback is very promising for the future in the league.
24:36Stevenson again.
24:39Ramondre Stevenson has his third touchdown of the game.
24:44Bursting throw for 35.
24:50Well, and on top of all of that, they find their run game in the last week of the season.
24:55And this combination, Trevion Henderson, Ramondre Stevenson, they've been fantastic since the first play of the game and feels like that's all she wrote.
25:07They average 120 on the ground.
25:09They've got 220 today.
25:12And Ramondre Stevenson's got 131 of those on just seven carries.
25:17What a day.
25:19And what an arc to his season.
25:22Looked like maybe finished getting chances.
25:25Too many fumbles.
25:26Been a problem throughout his career.
25:28But back into good graces and finishing the regular season with a flourish.
25:32Right back after this message from State Farm.
25:36First career three touchdown game for Ramondre Stevenson.
25:39The most yards that he's had on the ground in three years.
25:42And if I'm somebody sitting there thinking I might be playing the Patriots next week, I'm like,
25:46Oh, man, because this starts to look terrifying when you put together what Drake may, you know, can do with, like you said, a ground game like this.
25:55That's pretty, pretty remarkable.
25:58And if you look at Stevenson, he's got 131 yards and two rushing touchdowns on seven carries.
26:07What is that?
26:08That's 18.
26:08Yeah, I'm not smart enough to know that.
26:10But, you know, you talk so much about gross total yards.
26:14I think the way the evolution of the NFL has gone, no one really cares about yards as much anymore.
26:19It's the explosive element of this run game.
26:22That's the game changer.
26:25Here's a return from Malik Washington.
26:29Hit hard by Martin Mapuch.
26:31Stopped at the 25-yard line.
26:32Hello, Carissa.
26:33Time for a game break.
26:34Hello, Joe.
26:35Cardinals trying to pull the shock.
26:36We start to worry a little bit about the Rams, who, if they don't turn that around, they go into the playoffs on a three-game losing streak.
26:43Drop them to the sixth seed.
26:46And the 49ers would be the five.
26:49Headed to play Carolina.
26:53Newers off play action.
26:55Throwing it deep for Taj Washington.
26:57It was tripped up.
26:58No flag.
26:59Coverage from Fish and Gonzalez.
27:03We've got their feet tangled there.
27:04And no flag.
27:05Second and ten.
27:07Yeah, I think that's a good no call.
27:10Actually, I think Gonzalez actually had a beat on the ball.
27:14Let's take a look here.
27:16More so than Washington.
27:17I think it's a good no call.
27:18Both guys are playing for the ball.
27:20And Gonzalez thought he had it.
27:23Just runs right into Washington.
27:27Christian Gonzalez, first-round pick two years ago.
27:29Headed to his first Pro Bowl this year.
27:32He missed most of his rookie year with his shoulder injury.
27:34Really solid last year.
27:35To another level this year.
27:38Year three hits a screen.
27:41Ollie Gordon trying to find room.
27:43Instead, he finds a bunch of blue shirts and pinballs his way free for a couple.
27:48And it was Gonzalez up there to make the tackle.
27:49And they say that is where the biggest strikes have come for Gonzalez this year.
27:53And his physicality is tackling.
27:55Yeah, I mean, we could talk all day about his ability to match up one-on-one.
27:59And he could shadow your best receiver if he has to.
28:02Play man coverage, zone coverage.
28:04Of course, make plays tracking the ball downfield.
28:06But in this style of defense, they are going to ask their perimeter secondary players to be force players
28:12and be run-fit players.
28:14And you're exactly right.
28:15That's been a big growth in his game.
28:17And one of the many factors that's led him to be their lone Pro Bowl selection on that defensive side.
28:22His coverage forced the incompletion on first down.
28:25His tackle makes it third and eight.
28:28Ewers slides down.
28:30Lost a few.
28:31Elijah Ponder, the undrafted rookie.
28:34Got a Cal Poly.
28:35He's got a fumble recovery today.
28:37Now he gets a sack.
28:39So this is where it just gets challenging if you're in Miami.
28:42They are not a drop-back passing team.
28:44You have a young seventh-round rookie making his first career road start,
28:48third overall start of his young career.
28:50And you find yourself here trailing big in the second half.
28:54And now they're just forced to go pass heavy and just not what they're built for.
28:58Another short run from Jake Bailey.
29:00He was 25 yards his last one.
29:02It needs to be a little bit better than that, but not much.
29:06Closing seconds of this third quarter.
29:10Flags down.
29:13While we figure out what that flag is, still sorting out the two-seed in the NFC.
29:17The Bears could have wrapped it up with a win against the Lions,
29:20but they just now got on the board.
29:21It's 16-8.
29:23Lions ahead early on in the fourth quarter in Chicago with the Bears playing all their starters.
29:27Illegal touching up a kick by Miami number 27.
29:31We'll add five yards to the dead ball spot.
29:33It's first down and ten for New England.
29:36If the Bears lose that game, it opens the door for the Eagles to jump them into the two-seed.
29:42As you saw, the Eagles have taken the lead with all their backups in the game.
29:45You've got Tana McKee playing quarterback.
29:4814-10, they lead Washington.
29:50So if those scores hold, the Eagles would be the two hosting the Packers.
29:54The Bears would fall to the three, and we'll see who the five and the six are based on that Rams outcome.
30:00Speaking of the Rams, the Rams have retaken the lead.
30:03And it's Tyler Higbee touchdown.
30:0523-20.
30:06I feel like this is election night.
30:07You're just taking it county by county.
30:10Or it's March Madness.
30:11Or it's Thursday of March Madness.
30:14You keep doing your thing, man.
30:15You're crushing it.
30:16I'm just going to stand here and hang out with me and Pete and Jessica.
30:20Here's Mays.
30:21Slide into the pocket and finding Diggs.
30:24Stephon Diggs with Drake Mayn making it happen for 30 yards.
30:33Well, at some point we just feel like a broken record.
30:36The ability to manipulate the pocket, just buy that extra beat, that extra count,
30:41and just a ton of space there.
30:43Great job by Diggs finding that grass and just staying open.
30:47And just a great job there by Drake Mayn.
30:50Climb the pocket, let the tackles push that pressure wide,
30:53and finds his go-to target this season.
30:56And one of those great free agent pickups they had this offseason.
30:59You said he used to be on my fantasy team when I was a kid.
31:02It's sweet.
31:03You still hear yourself, you will never say.
31:10Patriots open it up in the third quarter.
31:11The Dolphins have not scored a third quarter point since before Halloween.
31:1631-10.
31:18On to the four pitchers on the move again inside the 20 with the first and 10.
31:22May finds Chubb waiting for him as he boots out.
31:25He's still able to get rid of it to Hooper.
31:26That play was dead to rights, but he finds Austin Hooper for five or six.
31:35Feel good for Austin Hooper.
31:37Doesn't get quite the amount of opportunities in the pass game that Hunter Henry plays,
31:42but because they play with so many multiple tight ends and so many big bodies
31:47and those big personnel groupings, there's a lot of opportunities,
31:50especially down here in the red zone.
31:52Drake May loves his two big tight ends and, you know, worth noting.
31:55We talked how much they love this jumbo personnel today.
31:58They have over 200 yards of offense just with jumbo personnel.
32:03Second and five, work out of the gun.
32:07It's a shovel pass to Henry.
32:10Stopped by Dotson.
32:12Let's go down to Payne.
32:14Well, Joe, he's the other security blanket and best friend.
32:17That describes the relationship between quarterback Drake May
32:20and 10th-year veteran tight end Hunter Henry.
32:23May told us how Henry has just been awesome to me just to attach to him
32:28and seeing how a veteran does things at a high level for a long time.
32:32May adding, when he started playing last year,
32:36how Hunter helped him learn about the NFL
32:39and how to be a guy in the locker room.
32:42And now he said he's gone over there and spent time with Hunter and his family.
32:46Kids are trying to give a little baby fever to my wife, you know?
32:49Sure.
32:49But a family side.
32:50I hope that's not used to her.
32:52They're down and three.
32:55He's perfect in his second half.
32:56He's looking right in his way and slides.
32:59Sort of feet first instead of the five.
33:01He didn't like that one as much.
33:02It was like a sideways slide.
33:04Yeah.
33:05First and goal.
33:06Main thing is he didn't get hit.
33:08Correct.
33:09That's really the only thing that matters at this point
33:14is keep number 10 healthy.
33:17He's running for 41 yards in this ballgame on five carries.
33:217 of 11 in the first half.
33:257 for 7 in the second half.
33:27Just pay off to report from pay.
33:31It might be bias, but you show me a great quarterback,
33:34I'll show you a great tight end alongside him.
33:37That's typically how it works.
33:39Henderson, left side.
33:40He's in.
33:42Travion Henderson makes it five touchdowns
33:45for the duo of Stevenson and Henderson today.
33:53You said it before.
33:55You said it.
33:57Who's really excited to play in Foxborough
34:01against this Patriots team that just seems...
34:05I mean, I know last week they were incredible.
34:07People said, all right, it's the Jets.
34:08So what, he threw for five touchdowns.
34:10They got a lot of young guys playing time.
34:11But, you know, the Dolphins aren't world beaters.
34:14They're certainly not a playoff caliber team this season.
34:16But the performance down the stretch by this offense
34:19in all aspects is really impressive.
34:23It's looking more and more like it is going to be the Chargers
34:25that are going to head here next week.
34:28Chargers down 13-3.
34:29They could do something about that
34:30if they could come back and beat Denver.
34:32And the Patriots would be fine with that.
34:34That would mean the first round bye.
34:36But it's looking like a two seed
34:37and a 14-3 record of the season.
34:39All right, so the NFL playoffs kicking off next Saturday
34:44with Wild Card Weekend powered by Verizon.
34:4712 teams, 6 games across 3 days.
34:49One epic weekend starting the road to Super Bowl 60.
34:53Stay tuned after today's games for the announcement of the full schedule
34:57and roll on to Sunday night on NBC, Monday night on ESPN.
35:01This Patriots will host a playoff game for the first time in 6 years.
35:06It's looking like it'll be in a 2-7 matchup.
35:08Probably against the Chargers.
35:11Justin Herbert coming in.
35:14Chargers trying to get healthy.
35:16It's been a big part of the problem recently.
35:18Several offensive linemen, a couple of players on defense have dealt with injuries.
35:23That will tell a big part of the story.
35:25How much of a threat they look like coming in that game.
35:27And a touchback there as Washington is able to stay in.
35:33The dominoes, that tracker.
35:35Drake May, 7 of 11 in a quiet first half, but a perfect second half.
35:38One last case as he tries to win MVP and become the first guy to win it in his second season
35:48since Lamar Jackson did it in 2019.
35:52Tom Brady, by the way, three MVPs, didn't win his first MVP until he was in his eighth year.
35:59Oh, that guy.
36:00That was a way to flacker.
36:03Pick his game.
36:03I wouldn't be surprised if that was the last drive we saw.
36:09I have a feeling about Mike Vrabel.
36:11I don't know why I said Drake May and some of these starters back out there.
36:14Toss for Ali Gordon.
36:18And so you shift the conversation to these Dolphins as a flag flies.
36:24Gordon gets up there and has a word with Corey Durden.
36:26Dolphins going to fall to 7 and 10 to finish off this year.
36:34It'll be the second year in a row missing the playoffs after Mike McDaniel took them to
36:37the playoffs both of his first two years.
36:41And when you look at an organization, not just these Dolphins, but any time you're evaluating
36:45where an organization is at.
36:47Offense, number 64, reported as eligible and was covered up by number 19.
36:52Five-yard penalty.
36:54You look at the big three, right?
36:56The biggest levers you can pull.
36:57The GM, the quarterback, the head coach.
37:00Well, you know they're going to have a new GM.
37:02They fired Chris Greer earlier this season.
37:04You know they're probably going to have a new quarterback, at least from what they've had
37:07in recent years.
37:08They've benched Tua.
37:09The question becomes, does Mike McDaniel get brought back?
37:12And you were mentioning earlier, it's hard to separate that conversation from who is your
37:16quarterback.
37:18I think that's the first question the new GM has to ask himself.
37:22Ownership, whoever's ultimately making this decision is,
37:25what is the plan at the quarterback position going forward?
37:29And that was a snap.
37:31Gordon tries to make something out of it, but he's drunk way back there.
37:34And another flag down.
37:36Anthony Jennings is the tackle.
37:38And this is going to be a legal motion.
37:40They had like nine guys going, moving at the snap.
37:44We've seen a lot of this here in the second half.
37:50Presentation's not been good yet.
37:51Illegal shift.
37:53Offense as number 30 and six were moving at the same time and did not reset.
37:57Penalties declined.
37:59Third down.
37:59Yeah, so I think you're exactly right.
38:02So, first question is, if they think Quinn yours, or if they think they want to go back
38:07to Tua, they got Zach Wilson, he's on the roster, right?
38:09If they feel like the answer for next year alone is on this roster, then I could make
38:15an argument to bring Mike McDaniel, keep some continuity, and try to keep building around
38:19that quarterback room.
38:20But if they make the decision that that quarterback's not here, I think they've got to start all
38:24over.
38:25Washington is thrown down in the backfield by Tavai.
38:30Disaster of possession for Miami right there.
38:35The irony is they declined both the penalties.
38:39So they had the two kind of snap infractions, illegal formations.
38:42It didn't even really matter.
38:44But, you know, so I just think that's really the main question for the Dolphins.
38:48And figuring that out is not going to be an easy task.
38:52They've got about $100 million in dead cap on the Tua contract.
38:55They've got to figure out how they absorb that.
38:57So there's a lot of questions that need to be answered in Miami.
39:01It's been one of the worst days of Jake Bailey's career.
39:04Hits this one much better.
39:05I think Chipson is back to return it with a fair catch.
39:12All right.
39:12It may be time to shift it over to Joshua Dobbs for the 38-10 lead.
39:19Here's resolutions.
39:20We're going to eat a little better.
39:21We're going to get into Jim Moore.
39:23We're going to get a higher at GM.
39:24Yeah, the diet starts tomorrow.
39:25Got to hire a GM.
39:27Who's going to be the quarterback?
39:29Passing offense is so good.
39:31First two years.
39:32Mike McDaniel was there 25th this year.
39:35Devon H.M. was out today.
39:36But he's going to demand some big money after next season.
39:41Tua Tungvalo where they gave that huge four-year contract prior to last season.
39:45Bench after the Week 15 loss against Pittsburgh.
39:48NFL high 15 picks at that point.
39:50You mentioned the pass offense runs 25th.
39:53So quarterback future, head coach future, just a lot of questions going into the offseason.
40:00Josh Dobbs comes in, takes over for Drake.
40:02Mayer rips it to the outside for Hunter Henry.
40:05The game of the field.
40:07I'm going to be curious, though.
40:08You know, what is the order of operations in which the Dolphins decide to approach this movie?
40:15Heard the big reports last week.
40:16You know, they got Troy Aikman.
40:17They got a big group of guys.
40:19Dan Marino is always heavily involved.
40:20Of course, ownership.
40:22So a lot of people are going to have a say to who's the next general manager.
40:26Are they going to wait to hire that general manager and then make a decision on coach?
40:30I think it's going to be a fascinating sequence of events.
40:36Jordan Phillips to tackle right there.
40:38The Dolphins are not just trying to get back to the playoffs.
40:41They're trying to get there and win a game.
40:43Have not won a playoff game since 2000.
40:46That's the longest active drought in the NFL.
40:49In that same time, they look across the field at their division rival, the Patriots.
40:53They've won 30 playoff games in that time.
40:57I kind of laugh because, you know, everyone's like,
41:00Oh, the Patriots have been so bad.
41:01Their fans went through like two years of being bad.
41:05And the rest of the league looks at them like, are you guys kidding me?
41:08You had two four-win seasons.
41:10It's Belichick's last one and Gerard Mayo.
41:12And here you are getting your 14th win in the two-seed.
41:15You guys have no idea what the rest of the league goes through.
41:18Coming after dabs on 37.
41:20Wants it all to 30, but too far out in front of him.
41:24Lacking for arm strength right there.
41:26The punt team will come out.
41:27Update with Carissa.
41:28All right, that's looking more and more like it'll be the Rams at the Panthers
41:32in a rematch of one of the games of the year during the regular season.
41:37Bryce Beringer sends it away.
41:40Just the second part of this ballgame.
41:42I believe Washington.
41:44As a bounce over his set, Marte Mappu has been involved in a couple special teams' plays.
41:49Watch this roll inside the 10.
41:50There's a flag down.
41:57It's when yours gets ready to come back out.
42:06During the kick, holding, receiving team number 18.
42:11Half the distance to the goal from the end of the kick.
42:13First down.
42:16We've been updating you on the NFC side.
42:18The two- and three-seed conversation.
42:20Take a look up there, Greg.
42:22Wow.
42:22Chicago has done it again.
42:24Down from 16 to nothing.
42:27They've tied it up with two touchdowns and two two-point conversions.
42:32And in Philly, Washington and Dan Quinstein have promised revenge
42:36after they didn't like how Philadelphia went for two late in the game a couple weeks ago
42:40in Washington at 17-17.
42:43If the Bears lose and the Eagles win, they flip spots.
42:47The Eagles will be the two-seed.
42:48The Bears will be the three.
42:49Newers from his own end zone has Theo Weiss out across the 20.
42:55I mean, right until the last moment.
42:57And then you're going to have Sunday Night Football to decide the AFC North.
43:00Will that be the Ravens or the Steelers?
43:02Will it be Lamar Jackson?
43:03Or will it be Aaron Rodgers representing the North as the four-seed?
43:11The gift that just keeps on gift.
43:14I'm just so glad that you have such a strong understanding of all these seeds.
43:22Because every time you've said it to me this week, I'm still confused.
43:26I mean, I'm just going to...
43:28Just tell me who we're calling next week, and we'll talk some ball.
43:32I have no idea the answer to that question.
43:34Newers gets rid of it as he's hit.
43:37And it's a little bit slow getting up here.
43:39It's kind of on Chase on.
43:40Hit him.
43:41Good to have Chase on back in the game, by the way.
43:43Hey, you might have seen Drake May running up to his buddy Hunter Henry.
43:49Really excited for this seemingly meaningless three-yard catch.
43:55Not meaningless to the Henry family.
43:58Incentive reached.
43:59Fifth catch of the day.
44:00Sixtieth of the year.
44:01Payday.
44:02Week 18.
44:03I'll tell you, there's some sneaky...
44:05It's about a quarter million dollars.
44:07There's some sneaky moments out there, right?
44:09They kind of fly under the radar, especially for teams that aren't really playing for anything.
44:13Playoff and postseason-wise.
44:15There's a lot of money being made across the league.
44:18You think these guys don't know it?
44:20Diggs got one today, too.
44:2243 yards.
44:23Got him 1,000 yards.
44:24First Patriot to get 1,000 cents.
44:26Julian Edelman.
44:27And 19.
44:28And he gets a half million for that.
44:31But he's at home like, I could have run three-yard speed out.
44:35Caught it and fallen down.
44:36You got it for a quarter million?
44:37For a quarter million dollars?
44:38I could have done that.
44:40But it's the previous 16 games.
44:43It's an accumulation that I'm not so sure for that.
44:45Third and seven.
45:03Quinn Ewers gets pressured by Chase John.
45:06And sacked by Kelevan Chase John.
45:11I think he just did an incentive, too.
45:13Ah, just give everybody an incentive.
45:15You get an incentive.
45:16You get an incentive.
45:17He's like Oprah.
45:18He's just giving things away right now.
45:20I mean, Chase John does not look like a guy that just got another sack.
45:24I'll tell you, he looks like a guy that just got a couple dollars.
45:26And it's been a career season for him.
45:28Seven and a half sacks.
45:30Career high for the former first-round pick of the Jags that hardly even started games after he was a first-round pick.
45:36Eleven starts in four years in Jacksonville.
45:39And then he goes last year to Las Vegas.
45:41Doesn't do a whole lot.
45:43Here in his sixth year.
45:44First one with the Patriots.
45:46Finally tapping into that potential.
45:48I promised that made him a first-round pick.
45:50This is worth a half million, if you think he's running a little extra fast there and seems extra happy after the sack.
45:58You can understand why.
45:59And all his teammates know.
46:01Did you ever have any of those situations right at the end of the season where you had an incentive to tap into?
46:07Not financially, but in 2016, I was like eight yards short of a thousand yards.
46:13And at the time, I was going to be the only tight end in NFL history to go three back-to-back-to-back thousand-yard seasons.
46:20We were playing a meaningless game, last game of the season, at home, against the Falcons.
46:26And I think Cam threw, like, the first seven balls of the game to me.
46:28We finally got the eight yards.
46:29We finally got the eight yards.
46:31So, no money, but a milestone nonetheless.
46:36Thiernes Johnson getting his first chance here.
46:40Running back that cornered from Arizona back in October.
46:43That was right.
46:47It's over there taking a look at Quinn Ewers.
46:49Dr. Uribe.
46:50Oh, missed him.
46:51The doctor sitting next to yours.
46:53He did my shoulder surgery in college.
46:55Quick fun fact.
46:56Nice.
46:56That didn't sound that funny.
46:58It's better now.
46:59Sure.
47:00The shoulder surgery is no joke.
47:03What did he?
47:05What did he do?
47:08Johnson again.
47:09Year of surprises in the NFL, and a lot of those surprises are first-year coaches turning
47:16things around.
47:17You got Ben Johnson taking a 5-12 Bears team, trying to get them to 12-5.
47:22He's already clinched the division.
47:23Liam Cohen, who I know is going to get your vote, would get your vote for coach of the year
47:28in a tough pool, because he's got a bunch of guys making cases, turning things around in
47:33their first seasons.
47:34Both Cohen and Vrabel going from four wins to 13-plus in their first years.
47:42Of course, for Cohen, it's his first year ever as a head coach.
47:45It's just the first year here in New England for Vrabel.
47:47Already had his first chance in Tennessee.
47:5134.
47:52Stevenson's back in, taking the fake.
47:55Dobbs, ducks under, and then gets around the edge.
47:59And scampers for a first down.
48:02Another game break.
48:05All right, 16-16 as the Bears try to lock up the two-seed.
48:0917-17 in Philly, as the Eagles hope that the Lions can take the lead there, and they
48:18can take the lead of their own.
48:19You see, the challenge flag is out.
48:21The spot.
48:23Spotted him a little bit short.
48:24On the field, that the runner was short in the line to game.
48:27We're now under video review.
48:35Let's take a look here.
48:36So, Dobbs, see the ball's in his right hand.
48:40So, they've got to determine where was that ball when he went out of bounds.
48:44And it looked like he was holding that ball out to the side in his right hand.
48:48It's just a matter of when he goes out of bounds, is it short?
48:52I think it's really close.
49:02Coaching it right down to the finish.
49:04Yeah, and, you know, I think so many times around the league, you look, and you just
49:09look in this last hiring cycle, and you say, okay, what is the best approach for all these
49:12teams that need a new head coach, and they're in this cycle?
49:15After video review, the ball was in the runner's right hand, which was behind him.
49:20The call on the field does stand.
49:22It's fourth down.
49:24So, there you go.
49:25And, you know, I think the conventional wisdom is you go out and you find the best offensive
49:29mind who's going to come in.
49:31You know, Liam Cohen, Ben Johnson, the guys that were in this same hiring cycle, and you
49:35say, because we expect to have success, and then you can't steal.
49:38You can't take away our play caller.
49:40You can't take away and have a brain drain.
49:42But the way the Patriots have done it is actually the second best, right?
49:46They get an experienced, defensive-minded head coach.
49:50They pair him up with a former head coach with a ton of experience on the offensive coordinator
49:54in Josh McDaniels.
49:55And Josh McDaniels, it's going to probably be multiple years of success with Drake May,
50:00maybe before he gets another crack at head coach.
50:02So, the ability to keep this staff together is a huge advantage.
50:08Third catch from Washington.
50:11Signal forward, and then Washington bounce.
50:14Rolls out of bounds at the 16-yard line.
50:175.45 left to go in this game.
50:1938-10.
50:20Miami goes back on offense.
50:21Yeah, so, you know, I just think it's such an intriguing way you look and you say, okay,
50:25how do teams around the league, how do you build not only immediate success in the three
50:29teams we just talked about from this year, but the ability to keep it going year after
50:33year.
50:33So, here you have a veteran experienced coach who comes in and does a historically good
50:37turnaround.
50:38A young, cheap quarterback in his second year that, in the world of football, you're paying
50:43nothing.
50:44A ton of draft picks.
50:46A ton of free agent capital.
50:47I mean, there's no reason that they shouldn't be able to keep this collection of staff and
50:53players together and get better over the next couple seasons.
50:58Ali Gordon on first down to the new quarterback in the game.
51:02Zach Wilson, second overall pick of the New York Jets.
51:06This was four years ago.
51:07He spent three seasons with the Jets.
51:09Last year, he was the backup in Denver.
51:11And over here to Miami, where he's played in three games.
51:14Speaking of the Jets, perhaps the biggest news on this NFL Sunday is that the Jets didn't
51:24get an interception.
51:25It means they become the first team in NFL history to go an entire year without a single
51:30pick.
51:30How is that possible?
51:31And how is it possible when you're losing virtually every game?
51:36I don't know.
51:36I just, you can't just fall into one.
51:38Greg, just get lucky and teams are trying to run up on you and just a deflection, a tip,
51:46one, just something.
51:47It's, I don't want to say it's virtually impossible because it's clearly non-impossible, but it's
51:53only impossible until somebody does it, Greg.
51:55Yes, well said.
51:56Taylor and Ponder applying the pressure there on Wilson.
51:59There still is time left in that game.
52:01But if the Bills throw a pass up 35 to 8 with 4.50 to go, I'll be surprised.
52:05How about Mitch Trubisky?
52:07Four touchdowns today.
52:09No picks.
52:10QB controversy.
52:12That's right.
52:13Going into the playoffs.
52:14Rudy played.
52:16Third down and nine.
52:191-8 teams.
52:22Wilson drilled.
52:24Wow.
52:25Leonard Taylor.
52:27Another former Jet.
52:28That was not fun, Wilson.
52:35Zach Wilson's like, thanks.
52:37You know, he was very honest, a couple.
52:39I mean, can we, all right, forget all this.
52:40Look at the top of the screen.
52:42Look at these two games coming down to the wire, tied, and I'll let you remind everyone
52:47again why it matters.
52:4816-17.
52:50We get it.
52:51We get it.
52:51We get it.
52:51We get it.
52:56This is him.
52:56We're up to watch it bounce and get out of the way.
53:02Texan-Miami bounce to the 36.
53:04Tonight on Fox, your prescription is ready.
53:06Don't miss the special premiere of Best Medicine.
53:09Critics are raving that it's the most delightful and charming show of the new year.
53:13Emmy nominees, Josh Charles and Annie Potts, starring Best Medicine.
53:17Tonight on Fox.
53:17It's almost all sorted out, this playoff field.
53:22Give it to us.
53:23I mean, I've been giving it.
53:24I don't want to beat a dead horse.
53:26If you need somebody to give it to you, just get, tell Pete Micheska, here's my number.
53:33Give me the scenario.
53:35What time is he going to text you?
53:364-17 in the morning.
53:37Of course.
53:38You'll have everything you need.
53:41Oh, man.
53:43You think Zach Wilson's like, thanks for throwing me in there?
53:46Yeah.
53:46Right?
53:46It's like, you had your chance with Bench Tua to give me an opportunity.
53:50Now you wait until week 18, down 28.
53:53Get my teeth knocked in.
53:54Speaking of, Johnson gets hit hard right there by Ashton Davis.
54:00So, barring the late rally in Denver, Broncos are going to get the one seat, going to get the bye.
54:07You'll have Mike Vrabel's team as the two seat, hosting the Chargers and Justin Herbert next week.
54:14Jacksonville, the three, to take on Buffalo.
54:16And we haven't really talked about Buffalo.
54:18And the 4-5 matchup, by the way, will be the winner of tonight's game.
54:21And the winner of the Raven-Steelers game, taking on Houston.
54:25But Buffalo's a team that's been sitting there with Josh Allen for years, feeling like they're ready to break through.
54:31This is not a great version of the Bills, but you've got the best player on the planet, perhaps, right there.
54:37And the best chance of any, with the path clear, not having Mahomes in the picture.
54:46Talk about the Bills in a moment.
54:48For now, it's time for another game break.
54:49Carissa, you're earning your money.
54:51Check your 4-17 a.m. text to get confirmation that they're going to be the five seed when you hang on there.
54:56How do you view the Bills going into the playoffs?
54:58You know, I view the Bills, you know, kind of interesting.
55:00We've had them a couple times.
55:01They've made a pretty seismic shift to a very heavy run team.
55:06James Cook has been incredible.
55:08It's not the Bills offense that we've seen in the past of Josh Allen in the gun, kind of every play in his hands.
55:15And certainly his health with that foot injury is going to be a big story.
55:20They left him out today.
55:21He sat.
55:22You mentioned Trubisky played really well.
55:24But they need him healthy if they're going to have a shot.
55:28Roughing the passer.
55:29Defense number 91 with body weight.
55:3115-yard penalty.
55:33First down.
55:33It's Matthew Butler that gets stalled for the penalty.
55:36So you talk about, you know, we mentioned earlier that in the playoffs, run game, defense, and, you know, run game's been great all year.
55:44The defense has played better as of late.
55:46Now a healthy, versatile, mobile Josh Allen, you arguably have the best player in the league.
55:51So certainly gives them a chance.
55:53You mentioned Mahomes is no longer in their way.
55:55That's been the biggest obstacle of this era of Bills football.
55:59So we've said it a few times.
56:02That AFC, I can sit here and make a pretty strong argument that every team in the AFC, for the most part, could find themselves competing in football.
56:11Well, the path finally is clear.
56:12Kansas City has won the AFC five of the last six years.
56:16This is going to be the first time they're not in the playoffs in more than a decade.
56:19You better go back to 2014.
56:20And to further your point about anybody could win it in the AFC, we haven't talked about the hottest team.
56:27The Texans go into the playoffs on a nine-game winning streak.
56:30Do they have enough offense to be the team out of the AFC?
56:34Well, here in Week 18, they scored 38.
56:36And they took C.J. Stroud out of the game late.
56:39Davis Mills came in.
56:40He led them actually on the game, the go-ahead drive to take the lead late against Indianapolis.
56:45So they put up 38.
56:46Now they gave up 30 to Riley Leonard, making his first start.
56:50So that's a little alarming for what's been one of the best two defenses, Houston and Seattle.
56:55Those, in my opinion, are the best two defenses in the playoffs.
56:58Letting Dobbs have some fun.
57:00He throws it outside.
57:01And that is Jack Westover's first career touch in his second year in the NFL.
57:07Takes us to the two-minute warning.
57:09Almost all the pieces in place as we set up the NFL playoffs just a week away.
57:14Everybody got to do it.
57:15Turn his TV off.
57:16Turn his TV off.
57:17Turn his TV off.
57:18Turn his TV off.
57:19Turn his TV.
57:20Coming up next, the OT presented by Ford.
57:37If you missed any of those scenarios and the seedings, they'll have all the details for you
57:42and look ahead to the final game of the regular season to decide the final spot of the playoffs.
57:47Will it be the Steelers or the Ravens as the four seed?
57:50If you're the Texans, who are you cheering for?
57:53That's a great question.
57:56Love the idea.
57:57We've talked about the run game and Derrick Henry coming off that great performance a week ago.
58:02I think if I'm Houston, I think I'd rather play Pittsburgh than a healthy Baltimore.
58:16And that sounds crazy, right?
58:17You've got Aaron Rodgers and you've got DK Metcalf back.
58:21Obviously, he won't play again tonight serving that two-game suspension.
58:23But I think if you made me choose, I think I'd rather play Pittsburgh as opposed to try to defend that run game of Derrick Henry.
58:34Anybody's game, top three seeds in the AFC have combined for one playoff win the last six years.
58:41And that was Jacksonville the last few years ago.
58:46Patriots will be looking for their first playoff win since the Super Bowl win to end the 2018 season.
58:52It's been a long time since this iconic franchise has been at the top.
58:56It's been forever since the team has done this, to go from four wins to 14, like they've done in Mike Rabel's first year.
59:04It's the sixth time in franchise history they've reached 14-plus wins.
59:09Done it with an 8-0 record on the road.
59:11So, yeah, they're going to get at least two home games in the playoffs.
59:14But if they have to go on the road, they are not afraid to do so.
59:17Three, four, eight, seven.
59:19Fourteen and three.
59:23And the two seed in a home playoff game coming up next week.
59:27It'll be the first playoff game in Foxborough in six years.
59:3438-10, the final score.
59:36Drake May finishing touches on his MVP case.
59:39A perfect second half.
59:40It finishes with a 191 yardage total with a touchdown.
59:44They will be the two seed barring a miracle there in the final 226 in Denver.
59:49We'll take a break and be back here to Foxborough to wrap things up after this.
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