Jan. 21, 2026

Inside A Bears Fan’s Post-Game Therapy, From Caleb’s Brilliance To What Went Wrong

Heartbreak has a shape, and tonight it looked like a perfect throw to Cole Kmet that deserved a different ending. We sit with the loss to the Rams and refuse to look away from the fine print: Caleb Williams was electric, the drops were brutal, and the fourth-quarter edges weren’t sharp enough. Pride is real, so is frustration, and both can push a team forward if you translate emotion into habits.

We dig into the sequence that swung the game, why route effort matters when the ball is late or underthrown, and how veterans like Kmet steady a rookie-heavy supporting cast. Caleb’s leadership arc shows up on the field and behind the mic—taking blame, spreading credit, and setting a tone that demands more from everyone, including DJ Moore. We talk development without excuses: cleaner stems, stronger hands, smarter situational football, and the boring details that separate “almost” from “advance.” The Soldier Field crowd and the weather did their part. Now the offense needs to match that energy snap to snap.

Zooming out, we tackle the Mike Tomlin step-down and what it means for Steelers culture, plus a blunt look at the AFC’s shifting hierarchy. The Patriots look ahead of schedule, and that should make a lot of teams uncomfortable. We sort quarterback narratives that got loud this weekend—who elevated, who folded, and why context matters when you hang 30 and still walk off a loser. Finally, we circle back to Chicago’s runway: keep Kmet, rebuild Loveland’s confidence, demand relentless effort from every route, and give Caleb the infrastructure to turn highlight throws into winning scripts.

If you felt the sting and still see the future, you’re in the right place. Hit follow, share this with the diehard in your life, and drop your take: what single change would have flipped this game—and what’s the first move you make this offseason?

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Hosts: Mike Marcangelo, Dave Clarke, Rayshawn Buchanan, Bob Kelly
Producer: Craig D'Alessandro

Inquiries: Craig@mtpshow.com

00:06 - Setting The Scene: Post-Game Grief

01:12 - Pride, Pain, And Perspective

02:23 - Caleb Williams’ Highs And The Drops

05:10 - Veterans, Rookies, And The Kmet Moment

07:00 - Crowd, Weather, And Missed Details

08:20 - DJ Moore’s Route And Accountability

10:56 - Leadership, Interviews, And Growth

11:49 - Mike Tomlin Steps Down: What’s Next

14:10 - Steelers’ Future And Coaching Options

16:20 - Quarterback Narratives And Playoff Performances

18:45 - Patriots Resurgence And AFC Standards

21:00 - Dream Matchups And QB Legacies

23:10 - Looking Ahead And Show Outro

WEBVTT

00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:07.679
It's missing the point.

00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:14.800
It's uh the last fair post-game reaction show.

00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:24.640
The second that I've done with my uh darling wife, Leah, but the last because alas, it's the last because they lost to the Rams.

00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:34.240
Uh, not for want of trying, and I'm proud of them, is gonna be the overall theme, I think, of this show.

00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:37.359
But they lost, and it stinks.

00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:38.399
It definitely stinks.

00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:41.759
Leah's here to do a pod with me, which is very nice of her.

00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:48.880
Um, I don't she she doesn't make me come in and talk about my team losing.

00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:50.719
Her team losing.

00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:55.280
When the last thing I want to do is talk about my team losing.

00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:56.159
So, you know what?

00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:57.600
I respect you for this.

00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:02.560
Uh yeah, I I I see it as more, you know, I talk for therapy.

00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:05.760
I am sad.

00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:11.040
I'm so I I think uh where's my wine?

00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:11.920
Is that your wine?

00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:22.799
Oh I think I owe you an apology because I think that for years I had this very naive view of what was happening to the Steelers, where I would say, like, at least you're making it to the playoffs.

00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:25.920
And my team, and you know, I've seen my team go to a Super Bowl.

00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:33.439
It's not like I don't have this context, but in re- when you go recency bias, you start to become a different version of your own perspective.

00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:39.439
And I would be like, Well, at least you're making the fucking playoffs, you know, like at least you're a winning team.

00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:42.239
Yeah, but it hurts whenever you go out.

00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:56.799
It did it's the very particular sting of losing that game is affecting me in a deeper way than I thought it would, which is understandable, but at least it wasn't to the Packers.

00:01:57.519 --> 00:01:59.120
Thank God we beat the Packers.

00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:08.400
Yeah, you got knocked out by a team that I have listened to you talk about and respect all season.

00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:09.599
All season.

00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:10.000
Yeah.

00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:18.000
You've talked about the Rams and Matt Stafford and like the potential MVP quality of their quarterback.

00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:23.520
I did pick Drake May at the end for the MVP, which I think uh sort of wrecked my season.

00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:25.120
No, of course.

00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:26.639
Like, I don't want to be a jinx.

00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:48.719
I and I and I don't want to be overly super super, but I don't love that we lost the game the way that we did because I it was the moment I started to believe they could win, was when he like it took all season, all these crazy moments.

00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:53.360
And when I finally got confident, it was the moment he threw that pass to Cole Kametta.

00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:55.199
I was like, all right, it's undeniable now.

00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:57.599
And I still think that's true.

00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:04.719
But I hate the fact that the moment I got confident was the was the game that they ended up losing and ending their season.

00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:05.919
Yeah, I'm so proud of them.

00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:11.199
Again, like I'm so proud of them, but I finally got confident and they lost.

00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:13.599
That being said, like I think I got confident for good reason.

00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:17.599
Like, I think that Caleb Williams is an absolute fucking finom.

00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:19.439
Like, I think he's unbelievable.

00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:20.000
Yeah.

00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:23.520
And I think Ben Johnson's our guy, and I think Caleb Williams is our guy.

00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:25.199
Like, that's gonna come as news to no one.

00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:27.520
I think you guys are on the right path.

00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:35.039
I think that you guys are taking positive steps in the right direction across the board.

00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:40.800
I obviously today wasn't Caleb's best game.

00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:41.840
You don't think so?

00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:44.479
He threw like, again, he threw like the best pass of the year.

00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:47.680
Yeah, but he was overthrowing guys for a while.

00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:49.520
There was a lot of drops.

00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:51.759
There was an enormous amount of drops.

00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:52.960
A ton of drops.

00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:59.599
I I I don't think you could if you fought a full-blown war of attrition right now with me.

00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:04.319
I don't think you could make me believe that the losing that game was even one percent Caleb Williams' fault.

00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:07.280
I I think the reason we're in that game was him.

00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:08.960
Fine.

00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:16.240
I think that he I know he overthrew guys a couple of times, a handful of times.

00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:17.759
It does happen.

00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:29.279
But I I do acknowledge there were so many drops, and like there were drops, a lot of drops from Colson Loveland, which I was not anticipating.

00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:40.560
He's been very solid this year overall, and for him to have the number of drops he did tonight, he looked for the first time, I think, like a rookie.

00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:41.920
Yeah, like a rookie.

00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:42.399
He did.

00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:44.160
I was I was in the playoffs.

00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:49.519
The word rookie was going through my head as he was like dropping those balls, and I was like, You'll be all right, kid.

00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:52.079
Yeah, but then I was like, What did I say to you?

00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:58.480
Like, but this is before obviously the most phenomenal fucking play of the entire season happens by Caleb Williams.

00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:07.199
It's it's I said to the fellows on the uh the regular crew on the pod, I said, I just really wanted that pass to Cole Komet to matter.

00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:10.000
And Mike very nicely was like, It does matter.

00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:15.279
That was everyone saw that, everybody saw that, you know, and it was like, okay, cool.

00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:20.399
In like the Bears were on TV a lot this year, and I think that they made a good account of themselves.

00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:21.519
But what did I say to you?

00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:28.160
I said, Cole Komet needs to start getting these snaps because he's a more reliable hand right now.

00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:34.399
And like I think Colson Loveland's a great player, but what ended up happening, Cole Komet caught the fucking best pass of the season.

00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:35.680
He's your veteran.

00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:39.759
You have to be able to turn to your veteran players in those moments.

00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:41.759
Like it's a big reason why we gotta keep him.

00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:43.680
Yeah, we gotta keep he did.

00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:45.759
Loveland had the yips tonight.

00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:46.639
He did.

00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:47.759
It happens.

00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:49.519
He's I hope he learns from it.

00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:50.720
I'm sure he will.

00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:52.240
He's a really solid player.

00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:55.279
It just sucked because that's Caleb's safety blanket.

00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:59.279
He was he made Caleb a better quarterback over the last six weeks.

00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:00.240
Eight weeks.

00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:01.120
Yeah.

00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:04.160
And he was missing a safety blanket.

00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:11.680
You know, like if he catches half the balls he dropped, the game looks completely different.

00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:12.480
You know what I mean?

00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:18.720
Like, I I it's just I'm not blaming, I'm not at all blaming the loss on Colston Loveland.

00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:19.920
I think he had a great season.

00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:21.759
He's a rookie, he's got a big future ahead of him.

00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:26.160
He's a he's gonna be one of Caleb Williams' primary targets over the next few years.

00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:31.439
I love how we came to the party in general, as the Chicago Bears.

00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:32.000
I really do.

00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:33.600
The way we talk shit.

00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:35.040
Yeah, the way we showed up.

00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:42.639
The Billbourne, the the LA Rams team bus passed as they were coming into the city.

00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:45.439
It was like, we dare you to lick the goalpost.

00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:46.000
Yeah.

00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:47.040
I love that.

00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:49.120
And honestly, the weather did affect him.

00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:51.360
Yes, the weather did make him worse.

00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:52.879
Bare weather did make him worse.

00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:54.319
The crowd was great.

00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:56.800
I was really proud of the Soldier Field crowd.

00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:58.560
Yeah, they showed up.

00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:09.360
Knowing that your team is lethal in the fourth quarter is a cool as fuck feeling because so did the Rams.

00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:09.759
Yeah.

00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:13.360
The Rams were worried getting into the fourth quarter because of who we are.

00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:14.079
Yes.

00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:16.959
And obviously that picks a crazy big play.

00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:20.879
And, you know, credit to the Rams defense for making the play on the ball.

00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:25.120
I am very upset with DJ Moore giving up on the route.

00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:25.360
Okay.

00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:30.639
I mean, because it then at the very least he can break up the play.

00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:32.079
Like we saw try.

00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:40.800
We, you know, my cute little nephew and my brother were over to watch the game, and we Steven kept commenting.

00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:48.399
My brother kept commenting on that one play where I think it was it Kemet or Loveland.

00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:50.560
We're pretty fresh here, folks.

00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:54.480
But it was somebody got the their pick broken.

00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:55.680
Oh no, no, sorry, of course.

00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:56.879
It was a defensive play.

00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:03.279
I think it was Bayard, got his pick broken up by a great wide receiver play.

00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:07.600
The wide receiver decided to become a defensive back and like got his hand in there.

00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:10.959
And we were kind of yelling offensive pass interference before he saw the replay.

00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:14.800
And then we all sort of agreed it was like, oh, he played defensive back really well right there, actually.

00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:16.240
He switched his mindset.

00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:34.080
And I think that DJ Moore not giving up on the route, he might just be in the area still, even if the ball's underthrown, which I'm not sure that it was, but even if the ball's underthrown, if he curls harder and he cuts and runs through the whole route, he's there to at least break up the pass if it's going to the wrong guy.

00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:34.720
Yeah.

00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:38.080
And I think that like that, like he gave up on the route.

00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:38.960
He did.

00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:41.919
And I and I think that's like been a thing that he's done all year.

00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:42.799
And I love DJ.

00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:50.000
You know I love DJ because I think he's got I think he's got incredible off-ball elusiveness.

00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:56.080
Like I think he finds soft zones incredibly well.

00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:58.159
I think he's fast, he's athletic.

00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:00.159
He needs to wake the fuck up.

00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:02.559
He's been on a losing team his whole fucking career.

00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:03.200
That's his problem.

00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:05.200
But he's got a bit of that attitude.

00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:11.200
Like, he'll give up on the game, the team, the like play.

00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:13.039
He's ready to lose a little bit sometimes.

00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:13.360
Yeah.

00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:18.559
I want the guy who's always trying to win, who always believes he can win.

00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:26.159
That like I want Kayla Williams mentality across the whole offense, yeah.

00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:26.639
Yes.

00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:34.720
And I think, in large part, that'll come at like this is his second year leading the team.

00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:34.960
Yeah.

00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.840
And I've been saying this throughout the season.

00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:47.200
You see from his interviews, from how he carries himself, he is becoming the leader of the absolutely true.

00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:48.960
You said that very early on in the season.

00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:52.799
And I remember that that call out specifically because of how he was.

00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:55.360
I think he had a 10 out of 10 interview year.

00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:55.919
Yeah.

00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:59.759
You know, like I think I think that what he was his Mike skills this year.

00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:03.759
I do think I would love to coach him out of some of his verbal ticks.

00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:05.200
He says, you know, a lot.

00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:08.480
And I just think you can you hate a verbal tick.

00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:10.320
I mean, you you come on.

00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:11.519
Yes, I get him.

00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:19.360
Like, but I think that the way he steps up, takes we all have them, but you you have what some of them are worse than others.

00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:23.759
The way Caleb steps up, takes responsibility for the team.

00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:25.600
He sees himself.

00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:26.320
Yeah.

00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:33.279
Like we talk about coaches and managers for European football.

00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:33.759
Yeah.

00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:42.000
The guys who are the best guys, they when themselves succeeds, it's someone, it's because of someone else.

00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:44.000
When the team fails, it's because of them.

00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:44.879
Right.

00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:47.039
Mike Tomlin does that.

00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:47.919
Did that.

00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:48.399
Yes.

00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:48.879
Oh.

00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:50.720
Sorry to tell you, did that.

00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:52.159
Fired as fuck.

00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:52.799
No.

00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:54.000
Step down.

00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:54.399
Okay.

00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:55.039
Step down.

00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:56.000
Did not get fired.

00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:56.720
Let's talk about it.

00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:57.440
We haven't done it.

00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:59.919
We haven't we haven't done the Mike Tomlin autopsy.

00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:01.120
Let's talk about it.

00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:06.480
I think personally, my read of the situation is I think it was a mutual decision.

00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:08.960
I don't think the team really wanted him to come back.

00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:11.840
I don't think no, I don't agree.

00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:13.120
You think he got fired?

00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:14.399
No, I don't think he got fired.

00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:15.679
I was just kidding about that.

00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:18.240
I think that he quit because he's burnt out.

00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:21.759
Yeah, I think that's it, 19 seasons.

00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:24.960
19 seasons, no losing seasons.

00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:26.000
Yeah.

00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:32.080
And also, I think he was able to step down with dignity because he has that two years left on his contract.

00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:39.679
So he's kind of sitting pretty because if another team wants to hire him, they have to give away compensatory picks.

00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:40.320
Yeah.

00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:44.399
And I think that's a real kind of tip of the hat to the Steelers organization.

00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:54.080
Who have really treated, I mean, if you were an employee of a of a high-level company, because these are all these are all companies.

00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:54.639
They are.

00:11:55.360 --> 00:12:02.240
But if you're the employee of a high-level company and you had 19 years and you made that much money in that 19 years, you've got 50 million left on the company.

00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:06.799
I would really love to see him stay with the team in some capacity.

00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:07.679
I don't think that's gonna happen.

00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:13.200
He's gonna still get paid by the Steelers.

00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:17.120
And you think he's going the commentator out?

00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:19.200
Yeah, well, he's good in interviews.

00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:20.320
Like he's always had a few.

00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:24.639
I mean, I guess the prevailing is yeah, and he's been funny.

00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:33.200
I think that if it were me, I I mean, I you couldn't get me out of bed in the morning if I had that much money in the bank and I was making 25 million a year for the next two years still.

00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:34.879
Like, there's just no way, you know.

00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:35.679
Yeah.

00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.080
I mean, do they still have to pay him?

00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:39.440
Yes, I think so.

00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:40.799
Is it guaranteed money?

00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:41.440
I have no idea.

00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:43.360
I mean, he has two years left on his contract.

00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.440
But if he doesn't quits, it's like, is that a con?

00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:47.279
Like, may I bet they make a deal.

00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:50.000
Because he stepped down, not he got fired.

00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:51.120
I bet you're right.

00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:56.720
Or, you know, another a slick move would be like, trade me to the Browns.

00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:00.559
And then, but then he goes, like, I'm not going to work.

00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:02.080
Like, I'm done for two years.

00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:04.000
Like, get the Steelers the picks.

00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:05.039
This isn't gonna happen.

00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:11.519
But this would be a this would be a slide devil move where he's like, trade me to the Browns, because the Browns would be delighted to have me, right?

00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:14.960
And they would feel like they're getting one up on the Steelers, and then I won't go to work.

00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:16.399
Like, I'll be like, No, I'm retired.

00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:18.879
I just I told you I'm retired, then unretire.

00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:32.000
And then you get the you probably get the Steelers like honest to God, I bet you get the Steelers like a s like a like three third round picks for Mike Tomlin or like a second round pick, like a really good pick.

00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:41.200
And then we need a good pick, we need a quarterback, and then what you do, I mean you you can think about this in two separate viewpoints, right?

00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:45.759
And I think the more interesting one is probably what Tomlin is gonna do.

00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:56.960
And we'll come on to talk about that, but because you're a Steelers fan, I think we should talk what are the Steelers gonna do because I don't know who is the coach of the Steelers next year that's an upgrade on Mike Tomlin.

00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:00.480
And this has just always been my opinion on it.

00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:04.879
So it's like, are you it seems like a little bit of a weird time to make the move?

00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:07.919
Well, are you finally gonna tank?

00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:13.840
Like, are you finally gonna have a couple losing seasons and look at the Patriots?

00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:20.960
Are we gonna let like Arthur Smith step up and take over the team and just tank for a couple of years?

00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:23.039
Go hire go hire.

00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:27.360
I mean, I know this is the most unsteelers-y thing ever, but go hire like Jason Garrett.

00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:30.080
Go hire the worst coach you can find.

00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:30.960
You know?

00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:37.279
Go hire like someone you just know is gonna fail.

00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:44.399
And then you take about what's his name that we hired from was it Miami?

00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:50.639
When they were like really racist against him.

00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:52.240
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:53.360
Was it my Flores?

00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.720
Yeah, Brian Flores.

00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:55.679
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:57.600
You uh Tomlin like gave him a gig.

00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:59.039
Yeah, we now first.

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.639
Well now, see here, dude.

00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:02.480
That's actually a fucking shout.

00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.960
That's a shout as the next Steelers head coach.

00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:05.919
That's a shout.

00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:09.360
He's the defensive coordinator for the Vikings right now, I think.

00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:10.480
Is that right?

00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:21.519
Uh he's I don't remember where he is right now, but he we hired him for we hired him for a season because he got like shit canned and really raw deal.

00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.360
Yeah.

00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:28.240
And then it was just like Tomlin had so much respect for him.

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.759
I gave him a gig.

00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:30.240
Yeah.

00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:33.360
After all that shit, because he was bridgier, though.

00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:38.639
He was like got hired as a defensive coordinator the year following in Minnesota since 2023.

00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:46.399
And but he was like, fucking black coaches get treated different, and that's what he was saying, and they do, which is true.

00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:49.039
Black quarterbacks get treated different too, still, yeah.

00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:51.200
So, I mean, you know what I mean?

00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:52.480
Like, it's it's a real thing.

00:15:52.639 --> 00:16:07.519
Like I I was arguing against this in the group chat, the missing the point group chat, but like Ray made the point of like Josh Allen's gonna get a pass for like failing, and I was like, I don't know, I don't know if it's his fault.

00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:16.639
Like the defense, he hung 30 on them, like and yeah, he had turnovers, but he hung fucking 30 on them, and then the defense also let up 33 points.

00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.600
Like, you know what I mean?

00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:21.759
Like, they let you know the defense had to win the game for them, and they didn't.

00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:33.360
And if you hang 30, I mean I think you're fine, but it is true that Strat, I mean, Stroud had one of the worst quarterback playoff performances I think I've ever seen this weekend.

00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:35.360
Like, he was absolutely atrocious.

00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.000
What was it?

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:40.320
Four turnovers in the first atrocious was it first quarter or first half?

00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:41.279
First half, yeah.

00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:45.679
It was the first four picks was by the time halftime hit was absolutely abominable.

00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:46.639
They should have benched him.

00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.919
Disgusting.

00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:52.000
Don't ever try to fucking sun Caleb Williams, please.

00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:52.799
Like, you remember that game?

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:53.919
Hey, you're gonna be a great player.

00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:55.600
Yeah, Caleb was like, okay.

00:16:55.759 --> 00:17:04.640
Yeah, and it's like, by the way, when it's all said and done, it's not even gonna be in the same fucking galaxy.

00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:07.839
Like, I just want you to understand that viewing public.

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:24.400
What I saw from this year's playoffs is that it's not when it's there's gonna be a clip of CJ Stroud trying to lecture Caleb Williams on his like potential and Caleb being like, get the fuck away from me.

00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:26.799
I'm so mad I just lost a game.

00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:30.880
And that's gonna get funnier as the years go on.

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:40.400
I guarantee you that is a if you if you could buy meme stock, if you if there was a is there a poly market for memes?

00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.680
I have no idea.

00:17:41.839 --> 00:18:04.319
I would smash the over on Caleb Williams getting sun by fucking CJ Stroud is the funniest thing that's ever happened in football because they're gonna end up being Peyton Manning and one of the probably five guys that were starting QBs that neither of us can name the year that Peyton Manning was a rookie.

00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.200
Do you know what I mean?

00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:09.440
Like it's CJ Stroud was a trocious.

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.680
He was so bad.

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:17.119
And the fact that they kind of almost came back was shocking.

00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:21.119
It was that first halftime.

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.319
They then sort of just didn't.

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.519
They just figured it out.

00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:30.720
Like, yeah, I know that.

00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.480
As you would expect them, yeah.

00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:39.920
Obviously, you're a Steelers fan, you you you know, you don't love the Pats, but like I You don't say I don't love them either.

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:42.720
I mean, I grew up in in Boston as a fucking Bears fan, you know.

00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.720
I I I saw them win everything.

00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:58.559
I just think there's a little bit of a marriage between the Bears and the Patriots destiny right now, and it's something we've all talked about with each other on the show, and I've talked about it with Matt.

00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:01.839
And there is a sort, you know, they played each other in '85.

00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:03.519
It's 40 years ago.

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:10.000
We all kind of maybe thought, I'll see you in there, you know.

00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.839
It felt very possible.

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.519
And then maybe we all like get go.

00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:16.160
Like maybe we all try to find tickets, you know, and like go.

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:20.720
And it and it's and Bears Pats was always a thing in in my mind in the Super Bowl.

00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:21.839
Of course it always was.

00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:38.799
But I really think that what the Patriots have right now is an ahead of schedule situation in the AFC that's gonna make a lot of AFC teams, and if they go on to win the Super Bowl, a lot of NFC teams seem hold on, seem like they're crumb bum cowards.

00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:50.480
Like they're not about it because the Patriots dominated them for 20 years, took five years to fucking pick their shit up when the best quarterback ever left them.

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.079
The best quarterback ever.

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:52.960
Do you deny?

00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:54.079
Do you deny?

00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:54.880
I don't.

00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.720
Who's the best quarterback ever?

00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:59.680
I don't deny, but I will say.

00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:01.279
Who's the best quarterback ever?

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:08.720
I will say the Patriots have a cakewalk now to the Super Bowl with a Bonixless Denver Broncos in their pack.

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:10.319
That's my whole point.

00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:14.079
The rest of the league should be fucking ashamed of themselves.

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:20.240
The rest of the league got absolutely daddied by the fucking New England Patriots.

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.279
The Steelers didn't.

00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:22.720
The Steelers beat them.

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:25.519
The Steelers lost to them more than they didn't in the era of.

00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:27.359
Oh, I meant this year.

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:29.519
No, I'm talking about 20 years.

00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:31.680
I'm talking about 20 years of dominance.

00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:33.359
I'm talking about six titles.

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:41.119
This is denial of their greatness is small team mentality.

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:47.200
I want to my team to acknowledge the standard, and that team is the standard.

00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:50.960
I'll give you I'm not denying what they've done.

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:54.319
I just don't like them.

00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:56.559
Okay, but that's not what I'm talking about.

00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:03.359
What I'm talking about is they are now back.

00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.960
Yes, they're back.

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:11.680
And everyone, especially the AFC teams, should be ashamed of themselves.

00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:14.400
And I know you know what I'm talking about.

00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:19.680
You and it's an extension of the whole Buffalo Bills point, you know?

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:24.559
It was 2001 to 2018.

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:29.519
Tom Brady is the daddy of the NFL in the AFC.

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:33.920
Then it's 2018 to 2020.

00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:37.759
Tom Brady is the daddy of the NFL in the NFC.

00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:45.759
And then when he leaves, Mahomes, granted, some great performances.

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:48.400
He never got fucking dominated.

00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:51.839
Brady never got dominated like we just saw Mahomes get dominated.

00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:53.759
Brady never had a season.

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.440
Like the season we just saw having.

00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:58.480
That those are black marks on his record.

00:21:58.559 --> 00:22:06.160
And also, I told everybody we shouldn't have been having this conversation until he started to approach the Super Bowl numbers.

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:09.200
I don't even really think he's out of Montana.

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.359
So because he isn't.

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:18.319
So what are we talking about here?

00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:20.960
What's the standard?

00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:24.880
Before the Patriots, the standard were the Steelers.

00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:25.519
I get that.

00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:27.119
They won the most.

00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:29.119
And now they're tied.

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.720
I get that too.

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.880
And you beat them this season.

00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.079
Agreed.

00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:36.240
But that was a regular season.

00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:44.319
The Patriots, to me, are the most likable team left in the playoffs.

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.000
Drake May is like.

00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:46.559
Why?

00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:49.279
Because I'm I'm making the entire point.

00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:52.480
They are showing the rest of the league.

00:22:53.119 --> 00:23:00.160
They're showing in no uncertain terms the rest of the league that you can't dick around for five years.

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:02.319
Lamar Jackson dicked around.

00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:04.000
John Harbaugh fired.

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:08.160
Josh Allen dicked around up until fucking yesterday.

00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.880
I find the Seahawks very likable though.

00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:15.599
Sam Darnold is not winning a Super Bowl.

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:22.240
Sam Darnold is not going to win a Super Bowl in your lifetime.

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.920
You're not going to witness Sam Darn.

00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:30.640
If Sam Darnold faces Drake May in the Super Bowl, Sam Darnold will get dog walked by Drake May.

00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:33.839
It's I know they don't play each other, but you know what I'm saying.

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:37.359
We all have accepted that it's it's QB versus QB.

00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:44.000
The Patriots would make it a QB versus QB game, and Drake May would dog walk Sam Darnold.

00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:44.960
That's what would happen.

00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:48.319
He's a fucking, he's a he's an absolute gamer.

00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:50.160
I hope this is the matchup we see.

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:51.680
What do you think would be the better matchup?

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:53.680
I want the Rams because I want the Patriots.

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:58.240
I want Drake May to dog walk Stafford and say I was the MVP.

00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.759
I was the MVP the whole time.

00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:02.160
I fucked you up in the fucking big game.

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:05.599
MVP versus MVP candidate is tumultuous.

00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:07.519
It's so tumultuous and so exquisite.

00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:08.000

Inside A Bears Fan’s Post-Game Therapy, From Caleb’s Brilliance To What Went Wrong

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NFL Offseason Power Rankings 2025, Part 2. Teams 19 to 10