The Broncos are one win away from locking up the AFC’s top seed, and Brandon Krisztal and Chris Harris Jr. cover every angle heading into the regular-season finale. From playoff seeding scenarios and the Chargers resting starters to what home-field advantage really means in today’s NFL, the guys frame Sunday as a postseason-level test. Chris breaks down Trey Lance on film, explaining where he can hurt defenses, where he struggles, and how Denver should attack him. The show also dives into AFC West clinching reactions, locker-room perspective, player incentives, crowd impact at Empower Field, and why this team feels positioned for a deep January run.
With the AFC’s No. 1 seed within reach, the Broncos prepare for a Chargers team expected to sit key starters, shifting the conversation from opponent to execution. Brandon and Chris discuss how coaches and players approach a game with massive playoff implications, why style points matter less than discipline, and how seeding reshapes the road to the Super Bowl. Chris Harris Jr. takes listeners inside the film room to break down Trey Lance’s mobility, arm talent, and pocket limitations, emphasizing why containment and pressure are critical. The episode also explores the meaning of finally winning the AFC West, player incentives, locker-room mindset, Hall of Fame debates, and why this game serves as a true playoff rehearsal for what’s ahead.
00:00:03:00 - 00:00:25:28
Brandon Krisztal
Well, the Broncos wrap up the regular season on Sunday. We don't know exactly who's going to be playing for the Chargers. We do know who the starting quarterback will be, and it's not the guy that has beaten the Broncos a number of times. We're going to get into all of it right now. Chris Harris, junior and I bring you Football Fridays now.
00:00:26:01 - 00:00:44:10
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah, Chris Monday Jim Harbaugh came out and he was like, he's not dancing around it. He said he is going to sit. Justin Herbert anybody that needs the rest. So Joe Lombardi brought up on on the podium on Thursday. We don't know if Kahlil Mack's playing. We don't know if Derwin James is playing. And so he's like, you obviously have to prepare that.
00:00:44:10 - 00:01:02:24
Brandon Krisztal
They might. But then we'll find out Sunday. I guess 90 minutes ahead of time, if not earlier in the day if it's reported. If any of those top guys are going. But where do you come down on the idea that they just want to be as healthy as possible and nail at the seeding for all the way it may?
00:01:02:25 - 00:01:24:19
Brandon Krisztal
If they lose and the bills both lose, then the bills actually I think dropped behind them to seventh or the bills are behind them right now, if I'm not mistaken. If the bills win, they jump to six seven. Seed goes to New England, succeeds going to Jacksonville. So, where do you come down on Harbaugh's thoughts to rest his guys, mainly Herbert.
00:01:24:21 - 00:01:42:08
Chris Harris Jr.
Well, he knows he's going to have to go on the road. Either way, it goes in. Just do you want to play the Patriots? Do you think you match up better or with the Jags. And for me, I don't think they want to go to New England. If I'm them I'm trying to win. And try to go to Jacksonville and be able to go there and play on the road.
00:01:42:09 - 00:02:11:04
Chris Harris Jr.
But that's his strategy. He believes in keeping his guys healthy. And making sure they're healthy. Oversee seeding. And you got you got to understand it. You know, with Herbert, he's been banged up all year. Backup alignment. Berman. James, all those guys have been fighting all season. So I understand if he definitely, doesn't play those guys and and puts the health over this evening, going into this last week or the playoffs or last week in a regular season.
00:02:11:06 - 00:02:32:19
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. It's, it's going to be interesting. You know, I was on I do my normal Friday spots on Fox 31 and channel two, and they asked, what do you need to see from this team on Sunday? And, you know, you go back to the Sean Payton. Hey, there's no, esthetically pleasing stat. It's wins and losses. I do think it would.
00:02:32:21 - 00:02:51:09
Brandon Krisztal
And I don't know if the Broncos mind being overlooked or. Oh, they're not the strongest number one seed if they lock this up. But a 30 to 10 win, you know, would maybe rewrite some of that or it gets discounted. So it's Trey Lance and a bunch of backups, you know, because with the Chiefs we saw the way they wanted to play it.
00:02:51:15 - 00:03:10:05
Brandon Krisztal
They wanted those long drives. They wanted to not make any mistakes. It's going to be similar this week I think. But are you going to be if it ends up being 16 to 10 or 20 to 13, was the score we saw against the Chiefs? If it's that versus a decisive but kicking score wise, will you be bothered by that at all?
00:03:10:07 - 00:03:29:24
Chris Harris Jr.
LA this is the last week. And when you look at our NFL players mindset, they've signed get it up. Did get through this last weekend and get to the playoffs and to the real ball. So the the Broncos definitely got to come focus just because you got the number one seed and home field advantage hanging right there over your heads.
00:03:29:24 - 00:03:44:21
Chris Harris Jr.
But so you do have to handle business, but, you know, they're going to make sure they come in and get the job done. Get the win, going against another backup quarterback again. We it was good thing they got a taste of team. So they know they got to at least come out there, bring their A-game.
00:03:44:23 - 00:03:59:17
Chris Harris Jr.
And you know Trey Lance is going to try to come out and prove that he's the starting quarterback in this league. So it's a good opportunity for him. And it also might get get a chance to see some younger players in the Broncos. Get some guys in who hadn't played too much.
00:03:59:20 - 00:04:17:04
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. We're spending too much time talking about the Chargers backups as the Broncos take care of business in the first half. Then maybe you do see Jarrett Stidham play the whole second half for a good chunk of it. And you see Pancho getting back in there. Maybe he's playing tackle instead of instead of guard. And he's in there playing left tackle or whatever it may be.
00:04:17:04 - 00:04:33:21
Brandon Krisztal
You're sitting powers to let him continue to to get out there. Maybe giving Quinn miners a bit of rest. You can only bring up so many guys. Mercedes Lewis needs one catch to have a catch in all 20 seasons. We'll get into incentives in a little bit, you know? But you brought something up, and we're gonna hear from John Payton in just a second.
00:04:33:24 - 00:04:53:15
Brandon Krisztal
But I asked Sean about because he talked about it's a playoff game and we're going to hear what he wants from the crowd and all that. But the I approach it like a playoff game. But the idea of getting that by, while it's nice to have the rest, he's like, we don't really need the rest. And we'll touch on the injury report two in a little while.
00:04:53:18 - 00:05:13:19
Brandon Krisztal
It's about playing one last game. That is the most important thing, and it means even more now than when you were playing, because only one team in each conference is getting it. And so it's the Broncos and it's going to be whichever NFC West team ends up, you know, surviving there. We think Seattle and that means not only are you in the driver's seat everyone has to come to your place.
00:05:13:19 - 00:05:32:01
Brandon Krisztal
You also get a whole week. You don't have to play at all. So no injuries can happen. Essentially in a game where guys get banged up or whatever it may be, or just get beaten up from having to play that. And so it's it's simplified, but it's like, oh, one last game, we just have to worry about the all sticks other teams in our conference have to endure.
00:05:32:03 - 00:05:54:03
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah. And that that home field advantage is is is crucial. But it's not as crucial as it was when I was playing. We had to deal with Tom Brady. So we know that we cannot let him get the first seed and we'd have to go to New England. So now there's not no there's not no quarterback or any team that's dominated at home like that.
00:05:54:06 - 00:06:16:10
Chris Harris Jr.
So the Broncos just being able to get this win, at least they do have a dominant home field, great home field advantage. So that would be huge. But you know the the number one seed and having to get that isn't as crucial as it was back when we were playing. Because there's not a quarterback that is so dominant like Josh Allen and so dominant in Buffalo.
00:06:16:10 - 00:06:25:23
Chris Harris Jr.
We seen him get beat there. Mahomes is in Indy this year. None of the quarterbacks that you can see. You don't really have that much fear on the road or facing those guys.
00:06:25:25 - 00:06:41:12
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And you talk about home field. And just for a split second jumping over to the NFC. If it is the Seahawks they certainly have the best home field advantage of those teams. Now if the Niners got it I think they've got a better home crowd certainly than the Rams do. The Rams just don't have that level of fan base like they once did.
00:06:41:12 - 00:07:03:22
Brandon Krisztal
It's greater than the Chargers. But let's say they played the Niners again like that was a Niners home crowd. The Niners are the second most popular team in Southern California after the Raiders. And so a couple of years ago and I know the Rams obviously survived that. But it's one of those where where you say, okay, if it goes through Seattle and Sam Darnold has certainly played better at home.
00:07:03:25 - 00:07:21:23
Brandon Krisztal
Those teams have gone there specifically the other two NFC West teams, if that was the title game. But take any that the Eagles have to go to Seattle or you know if you've got to fly all the way across country, that that is a tougher place to play than any other place you would have to go save for maybe Lambeau in the in the snow.
00:07:21:26 - 00:07:37:09
Brandon Krisztal
And we've seen the Packers lose. You know Aaron Rodgers certainly a losing the Packers lose at home as well. And they're not going to have home field advantage at any point. So I think that that maybe matters for Seattle and for Denver more than than the other teams.
00:07:37:12 - 00:07:56:14
Chris Harris Jr.
Oh yeah. Seattle's always been a tough place to play when that the 12th man is rocking up there. It can be very tough. San Francisco fans, yeah, they're pretty loud. They're not as crazy as Seattle. But, you know, I think the craziest fans in the NFC that I've always faced was Philly. Their fans are crazy.
00:07:56:16 - 00:08:13:23
Chris Harris Jr.
And then dealing with Seattle. So it's going to be interesting to see what happens on that side of the, you know, the the conference, the, you know, the, the seeding is going to be, you know, it's looking like it's going to be the winner of this out of Seattle versus 40 niners. Right?
00:08:13:25 - 00:08:14:13
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah.
00:08:14:15 - 00:08:21:24
Chris Harris Jr.
So they you know, they gotta battle for the number one seed. That's going to be huge. I guarantee you nobody wants to go to Chicago.
00:08:21:24 - 00:08:41:05
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Right. When that popped up you're absolutely right. If Seattle were to get where to get, beaten in, in, if the standings hold like this and Seattle were to get beaten in the, in the divisional round, and then you have to go to Chicago for the championship game. Yeah. Nobody wants any part of that. Whether, you know, picking those teams around there.
00:08:41:07 - 00:08:54:03
Brandon Krisztal
The Packers, I guess, would be most equipped for it because they've they've obviously done it the most. But yeah, nobody wants to be in Chicago on January, you know, 23rd or Sunday is, 25th.
00:08:54:06 - 00:08:58:15
Chris Harris Jr.
Is that low down there? Nobody wants to touch that. No.
00:08:58:17 - 00:09:15:18
Brandon Krisztal
No, you're absolutely right. You know, one of the things Sean Payton said, because you talked about the 12 man, he he talked about Seattle and he's like, yeah, you know, 12th man. They stole it from him. And he's like, and they ran with it. I don't even know how he threw that in there the other day. But he just want to take a dig at Seattle for stealing the 12th man and that, it gives it.
00:09:15:25 - 00:09:37:16
Brandon Krisztal
He's talking about the crowd. I may actually be in the soundbite we're going to, get to before we, hear from, some of the the Broncos notables from the podium want to thank our friends at Furniture Row. They've got a five day New Year's sale, special zero interest financing available. Obviously several locations up and down the Front Range, but Furniture Row nice enough to provide us.
00:09:37:16 - 00:09:55:08
Brandon Krisztal
You see the cool, fancy chair I'm sitting in? We got a whole new, whole new set, thanks to our friends at Furniture Row and Denver Mattress. All the all the beds in my house are from Denver mattress. And so I, I can't say enough good things about about Denver mattress and furniture Row, real furniture and of course, real value.
00:09:55:14 - 00:10:05:24
Brandon Krisztal
All right. So let's hear from Sean Payton. This is what he wants to see Chris from the Broncos crowd Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High to make things uncomfortable for Trey Lance and company.
00:10:05:26 - 00:10:19:13
Speaker 3
Man I sure hope so. And I and I say this I'm not being critical. But earlier earlier. And so no shell games on the scoreboard. No follow the.
00:10:19:15 - 00:10:44:19
Speaker 3
Follow the Bronco head or any let let's let's let's get this. You know when when they're getting in the huddle deafening and and that's the 12 men that truly there could be no better one in them. Coin that phrase. And then the Seahawks bought it from them. It really fits. You know that that is what's so exciting about this game.
00:10:44:21 - 00:10:56:29
Speaker 3
And then what a win in this game can do you know for the next couple couple games. So and remember you know I.
00:10:57:01 - 00:11:11:24
Speaker 3
Granite. We were in a dome but there's a there's about four stadiums in this league that can be deafening. And I think ours in the last beginning at green Bay, we heard it.
00:11:11:27 - 00:11:30:14
Brandon Krisztal
I think I think some that Chiefs game to the we know what a home field advantage is. Can be. You lived it obviously for five years here. Not that it wasn't still great after after Peyton retired and after the Super Bowl, but especially I mean, look, your rookie year was Tebow time. And then the four years with Peyton.
00:11:30:17 - 00:11:48:21
Brandon Krisztal
Nobody wanted to come here. Whether you were Tom Brady or otherwise. And I mean, you guys held Aaron Rodgers for 70 yards. And so when he's saying earlier, he means get in your seat. And in the first quarter, second quarter, be ready. Be loud. Every single time they're in the huddle at the line of scrimmage.
00:11:48:24 - 00:12:06:17
Chris Harris Jr.
They just tell their friends treat this game like a playoff game. We need your there early. Loud and and causing havoc at the beginning of the game, especially early. Make it hard for Trey Lance to not even get comfortable. He wants to see a true advantage. And this would be a good practice going into the playoffs.
00:12:06:17 - 00:12:20:00
Chris Harris Jr.
You know, I think, you know, we've we've had a nice ten year layoff at home, in the playoffs. So this is a good warm up game for Bronco fans to get to get us ready to go, for the big games coming up.
00:12:20:03 - 00:12:37:03
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Real quick, my buddy Phil sent me a text, my best friend, to help perform our wedding. He is a huge Broncos fan. Family's had season tickets since 1960. Said Broncos. Minus six and a half in the first half might be the lock of the year. And I'm like, oh, nobody's ever said that. And he's like, I said, might I?
00:12:37:03 - 00:12:53:12
Brandon Krisztal
I'm like, no, I could hear it in your voice. Even those via text. You said you. That might be the it doesn't mean that they won't get out to an early start, but it might be ten, six and a half, you know, like let's, let's let's not, let's not just assume anything, because we know how silly it can get when you talk about laying some money down.
00:12:53:12 - 00:13:16:29
Brandon Krisztal
But I think to Sean's point, get in there early, be be loud. And, you know, with what we've seen from Bo Nix, you know, we talked about maybe he gets to rest. But Bo Nix has certainly been on an upswing in terms of his consistency, his ability to make plays. I think it has started. Nick Cosmo might wrote this in The Athletic with using his legs, but Bo was asked about it because even said, we don't want to peak in September.
00:13:16:29 - 00:13:28:16
Brandon Krisztal
I think that was he said that in in the early part of the season. He's like, we want to be playing our best ball later in the year. So he was asked about that specifically. Yeah, I feel like, you know, we've been tested.
00:13:28:20 - 00:13:33:10
Chris Harris Jr.
And, you know, I would say I've gotten better and better as the season has gone on. And.
00:13:33:12 - 00:13:34:06
Brandon Krisztal
You know, ever.
00:13:34:06 - 00:13:40:17
Chris Harris Jr.
Since you know, our break with, you know, Kansas City going on a break and, you know, the last several games.
00:13:40:19 - 00:13:50:19
Brandon Krisztal
Against good defenses, we've been challenged and we've been able to, you know, continue to hit strides and grow as an offense. And, you know, I feel good with where I'm at, but got continue.
00:13:50:19 - 00:13:55:16
Chris Harris Jr.
To, strive for more.
00:13:55:18 - 00:14:11:28
Brandon Krisztal
I think that he's I mean, you're never gonna hear Bo say really the wrong things. I, I snuck it in in the middle of the press conference. You'll hear my question, but this was, you know, going into this game, the biggest story for the week around. Bo isn't about his play. Did you see the video of he and Kirk Herbstreit from pre-game in Kansas City?
00:14:12:00 - 00:14:13:10
Chris Harris Jr.
But misses.
00:14:13:13 - 00:14:33:13
Brandon Krisztal
Okay, so he's there. And you know Kirk brings his dog everywhere. So that first video we saw where it looked like he was trying to grab the balls at Bo's warming up with. Well, as we find out, Bo doesn't like dogs. He has, a fear of the hogs and caught saying, I've got a cocker spaniel that Bo wants no part of.
00:14:33:16 - 00:14:54:24
Brandon Krisztal
And so, Kirk, Kirk is doing all he can to get Bo to pet his pup. Peter's like a year old. And so this is a big. That is Bo said I would be shocked. You're okay. So? So, Bo, you know, it's not as bad. You remember back in the day, Eric Berry with the with the with the horse and the equine.
00:14:54:27 - 00:15:14:01
Brandon Krisztal
Equine phobia. That's a funny video if you want to laugh at the NFL films, but Bo Bo doesn't like dogs. So here, we're gonna take it a step further. I ask him about it here in the, in the press conference, the video went viral on YouTube virtually about dogs. That was the reaction to people we didn't know.
00:15:14:03 - 00:15:18:13
Brandon Krisztal
Your stance on dogs or and your previous stance on dogs. Where's, Well, I think it's,
00:15:18:18 - 00:15:20:02
Chris Harris Jr.
It shocked me. I have, you know, a.
00:15:20:02 - 00:15:36:27
Brandon Krisztal
Lot more people come up to me, tell me they're in the same boat. So, I'm not alone. All right. And I I'll take it one one more step further. I haven't talked about what we don't talk about much in the locker room. You know how it is. Sometimes people just kind of be near him.
00:15:36:29 - 00:15:54:16
Brandon Krisztal
But he was talking to Troy Franklin, and I was kind of waiting to talk to balls, and, you know, a couple other reporters standing there, and I'm like, Bo may end up coming over to his locker and no PR police guard. So he comes over and I'm like, hey, man. I was like, what was your wife's reaction to?
00:15:54:18 - 00:16:08:17
Brandon Krisztal
He's like, she was shocked. She wasn't trying to get us to get a dog. And you know, they're pregnant. I was like, the best time that they'll tell you to get a dog is it is like when you're six months pregnant because in the pup, you'll grow up with the baby. And he's like, yeah, it ain't happening. What do you think about Bo?
00:16:08:22 - 00:16:11:18
Brandon Krisztal
Bo is not a dog guy.
00:16:11:21 - 00:16:31:10
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah, man. He definitely wouldn't be, like to be around my, Belgian Malinois was, you know, I got the real canines out here, so. Yeah, he wouldn't want to be around them, but, you know, that's funny. I didn't know Craig brought his dog everywhere. You know, just everywhere. Everywhere like that. Because, you know, I would love to do my.
00:16:31:10 - 00:16:55:17
Chris Harris Jr.
I think my dogs, they're going to go anywhere, though. My dogs can go to the game. They could go to planes like they're real canine, so they can really go anywhere. But, yeah, you know, him being in Denver, he's going to probably have to get a dog depending on where he stays at. Because I've been I've had I've came home to a whole bunch of deer in the back of my yard before, you know, you're going to see some random animals come back there.
00:16:55:17 - 00:17:00:16
Chris Harris Jr.
So you got to be able to have some type of dog that kind of alert you out there in Denver for sure.
00:17:00:17 - 00:17:16:14
Brandon Krisztal
Well, and I'm not, I'm not, revealing any, any secrets because it was made public and then by black. So even talked about it on the radio. Because I think Bud Black lived next door. But he's in Castle Pines Village, which we know is gated, but it ain't. It ain't gated from.
00:17:16:16 - 00:17:19:08
Chris Harris Jr.
What lies over there. They can double up over.
00:17:19:08 - 00:17:34:24
Brandon Krisztal
At Mountain Lions. I'll jump over it. Yeah. So especially with the baby, maybe that's going to be the reason that they do get a dog is just because those yards aren't fenced in there in Castle Pines. They, you know, you go yard the yard if you if you're ever able to walk that golf course when they have the golf tournament or lucky enough to play it.
00:17:34:26 - 00:17:57:02
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Those those houses there are, at either the Castle Pines Golf Course, a very rarely are they truly gated. Some are. But the you're just right into your neighbor's yard and the wildlife's coming. So yeah, I think that's a, that's a good point that he probably maybe that's his wife's selling point. Is we need somebody to bark, you know, to keep keep wildlife away from the lady.
00:17:57:02 - 00:18:16:29
Brandon Krisztal
Let's get back on track, though, with, with looking at the game so we don't know who's playing other than your old pal. And he was a foe first. And then a teammate. But Keenan Allen has a bunch of incentives, and I know David's got, I think he has a list of them. And if not, we know what Trout's incentives are.
00:18:16:29 - 00:18:34:15
Brandon Krisztal
But, yeah, here's here's what Keenan Allen can get. So he needs I think you need six catches to get, a quarter million bucks because he's hit all those other ones. It says nine or. But I think oh, he got to 71. I think he's at 74. Right. There it is. So quarter three quarters of a million bucks.
00:18:34:17 - 00:18:58:20
Brandon Krisztal
And then if he can get his receiving yards just nine yards, that feels likely. And then the one that's not on there that pays quarter million two touchdowns, pays another quarter million two touchdowns feels unlikely. But you can see him in there busting his ass in the fourth quarter against Chris Abrams, draining while he's sitting, trying to get that trying to get that.
00:18:58:20 - 00:19:07:24
Brandon Krisztal
So, here real quick, this is what Pat said as far as, knowing Keenan Allen has to get his six catches, when you know, something like, you know, and he loves.
00:19:07:27 - 00:19:09:21
Chris Harris Jr.
We've got plenty of these,
00:19:09:24 - 00:19:18:02
Brandon Krisztal
A big data here by themselves that change the way you approach government.
00:19:18:04 - 00:19:42:14
Speaker 3
I could say they would definitely force them in a way. You know, I, I heard it early on today. Sean mentioned that need a certain, you know, incentive, to reach some part of his contract to us. But, like, a bonus, but it doesn't change my preparation or anything like that. You got to stay locked in and start.
00:19:42:17 - 00:19:52:15
Chris Harris Jr.
This is crazy that we're still talking about guarding Keenan Allen like, what else?
00:19:52:18 - 00:20:14:20
Brandon Krisztal
I get it. So let's let's revisit this. Let let's see. David, where are we going to start with with Chris long history. What do you remember within and out. And, so going back to, well, so there was an ESPN article first, go watch that this.
00:20:14:23 - 00:20:24:03
Chris Harris Jr.
Know not until I was here. Think oh, my jockstrap we said is that true? And duplicate the tape to us. The tape and.
00:20:24:05 - 00:20:32:05
Brandon Krisztal
Watch the tape. He says and then then they wrote an article about it.
00:20:32:08 - 00:20:34:08
Chris Harris Jr.
They have a stats on there, and, but.
00:20:34:10 - 00:20:46:17
Brandon Krisztal
We can probably find it. And then what was your response? I think you got in the mix. Two. David, do we have how Chris handled it in real time all the way back in 2019?
00:20:46:19 - 00:21:03:16
Brandon Krisztal
I know he's he's he's DNA man. Yeah. I mean, look, we can pull up these matchups, and, and I don't know how much you were on him game by game, but here. Okay Keenan Allen versus Broncos.
00:21:03:18 - 00:21:09:14
Brandon Krisztal
I mean, do you remember, I guess what started and then when you all were teammates, how'd that go.
00:21:09:17 - 00:21:32:03
Chris Harris Jr.
Was ever no issue. Then. You know, everything was good. Just trying to, you know, trying to get that team over that hump, man. It was it was fun being with them and, challenge them every day and working with those guys and, working with Darwin, Casey Hayward, those guys I respected playing with, but, you know, it wasn't really it wasn't no issue.
00:21:32:06 - 00:21:41:15
Chris Harris Jr.
The rivalry with Keenan, I, I just can't believe that they're still we're still talking about them today going against, Patrick said Dan.
00:21:41:18 - 00:21:48:23
Brandon Krisztal
When when when when did when did you hurt your knee? In 2013. When you were in Super Bowl 48.
00:21:48:26 - 00:21:52:15
Chris Harris Jr.
The first game in the playoffs when I got him.
00:21:52:17 - 00:21:53:21
Brandon Krisztal
Okay.
00:21:53:23 - 00:22:08:23
Chris Harris Jr.
So that is until I got hurt worse. Verse first from memory loss of Philip Rivers. Now we beat them. We beat them. The second round in the playoffs. Right. Divisional round.
00:22:08:25 - 00:22:12:14
Brandon Krisztal
In 2013. Gosh I just remember.
00:22:12:18 - 00:22:17:29
Chris Harris Jr.
I came back and it was like 300 yards in the second half okay. Y'all remember that game.
00:22:18:01 - 00:22:38:07
Brandon Krisztal
No. But my brain doesn't work as efficiently as it did. I'm just looking I'm just looking at his regular season numbers okay. So that was his rookie year. He had he had five targets four catches 41 yards. His very first game against y'all in November. A month later, he had just two catches just 29 yards but scored on both catches.
00:22:38:07 - 00:22:50:06
Brandon Krisztal
So that's pretty good ratio there. Then let's go to the next year. You're healthy again. Now he has nine catches for 73 and a score in an October game in San Diego.
00:22:50:09 - 00:22:51:21
Chris Harris Jr.
I was in San Diego.
00:22:51:24 - 00:23:11:10
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah I was in San Diego still I was 2014 because they weren't in the soccer stadium in 2014. Then he had just three catches for 18 yards in the second matchup that year against you. Then he missed two full seasons against you, didn't play against you at all in 16 in 15 or 16. So 15 years ago in the Super Bowl he's not playing for you.
00:23:11:10 - 00:23:12:16
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah he did.
00:23:12:18 - 00:23:16:27
Brandon Krisztal
I'm just telling you, I'm just reading this game log.
00:23:16:29 - 00:23:19:17
Chris Harris Jr.
Man, I can't I thought that's where I thought he played. Every year I.
00:23:19:17 - 00:23:43:12
Brandon Krisztal
Think he jumped to 17. He had ten targets, five catches, 35 yards, but one score, seven targets, three catches, 41 yards. Those are both in 17 and 18. He 18. He had a good game nine for 89 and a score in the early game here. And then four catches 64 yards no score. And then 19 is when y'all are talking trash four catches 18 yards.
00:23:43:15 - 00:24:01:29
Brandon Krisztal
So we can put on hats before that was right after he said put on the tape. He had four catches for 18 whole yards and then six for 68 and a score. And in the later one, the next year, next year, nine catches again for 67 and score and then seven for 85. So because what year were you in LA?
00:24:02:00 - 00:24:02:14
Brandon Krisztal
What was your for.
00:24:02:14 - 00:24:04:15
Chris Harris Jr.
2020.
00:24:04:17 - 00:24:15:03
Brandon Krisztal
Okay. So 20 I didn't even count. So you were his teammate. So 19 in 19 against you he had again after talking trash. He had four whole catches for 18 yards on you.
00:24:15:05 - 00:24:19:17
Chris Harris Jr.
That was in that had to be in Cali to.
00:24:19:19 - 00:24:29:05
Brandon Krisztal
418 was here and then six for 68 was there. And that that wasn't soccer. That was a soccer stadium.
00:24:29:07 - 00:24:52:00
Chris Harris Jr.
And it's catches are going to be like short routes, like you got he's going to run option route to third down, you know, find the hole. He's going to try to keep the chains moving. I don't see to me and even guard him too much. You know, I see I see Jaquan, McMillan having to deal with the more, you know, this would be a good game for him.
00:24:52:03 - 00:24:56:12
Chris Harris Jr.
What's the other receiver? 15 McCoy is that is McConkey left?
00:24:56:14 - 00:24:59:09
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. McConkey. And then Quentin Johnston, too.
00:24:59:13 - 00:25:18:01
Chris Harris Jr.
He's a guy that's been killing us. You know, he's always had a solid game versus the Broncos. So we got to keep an eye on him. When Johnson is actually playing better you know deep ball. He's playing aggressive going to get the ball. Making one hand catches may improve this year. Improved off getting off the line.
00:25:18:01 - 00:25:35:06
Chris Harris Jr.
That's usually who PSU has to deal with Quinn Johnson. So I see him going against they go on probably Riley Moss try to work, work his way up the field, short routes and they can dunk and, try to move the chains. So I see that kind of being his role this week.
00:25:35:08 - 00:25:42:07
Brandon Krisztal
Quinn is Quinn Johnson, a Texas kid. I know he played at TCU. Is he a Texas kid? And then so yeah, I mean, look, there's.
00:25:42:07 - 00:25:43:27
Chris Harris Jr.
Places to play.
00:25:43:29 - 00:26:06:03
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah, there's plenty of physical tools, you see. And you're like, all right, if this dude gets it all together, he's got number one kind of traits. But oh yeah, it feels like it's just been inconsistent. And you think being around someone like you and Allen who say what you want about, you know, your interactions with him. Keenan Allen is a is a professional wide receiver who obviously has good, good skills, good work habits.
00:26:06:03 - 00:26:24:19
Brandon Krisztal
You would think that that that can only help. And maybe that's that has helped this year. You know last year Keenan wasn't around when he's in Chicago. And maybe that's part of what slowed Johnson's growth. It's not your teammates responsibility to get you going. But you know having been around guys like Champ and Brian Dawkins what that and then to leave.
00:26:24:19 - 00:26:39:07
Brandon Krisztal
But what that did for a reason. The way you approach everything yeah he's there. You guys from temple Texas and like they they spent a first round pick on him. So there's still they're waiting for it to click.
00:26:39:09 - 00:27:16:18
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah. He's still young, still 24. The Keenan Allen was good every year he got better at receiver because he had, you know, Antonio Gates, a route running, expert expert. Right, right. They call you Johnson. They came in the next year, and you had an 80 rule to teach you how to run, right? So he had guys, good vets that pass him up, teach him about running and kind of, give him, you know, kind of the game and his style that he has now to, to Johnson, you know, he needs he needs that same type of, development, with Keenan.
00:27:16:21 - 00:27:34:14
Chris Harris Jr.
I think, it'll be good that he's probably gotten a lot better this year playing with them. And, so that's good to have that vet for him, to learn the routes, learn how to get open in the NFL. It's not all about speed, but it's being able to know the holes, know, know the coverages and be able to find those openings.
00:27:34:14 - 00:27:43:03
Chris Harris Jr.
So, hopefully Quentin is able to get that type of, you know, veteran presence from Keenan to help him out.
00:27:43:06 - 00:27:56:11
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Eddie role is not a name we talk about a lot. One of my favorite guys to ever, ever talk to. He was here his last year in Denver was your rookie year. Did he make you better in coverage because of the type of technician he was?
00:27:56:13 - 00:28:01:14
Chris Harris Jr.
Or how do you say Eddie Royall, Eddie Rowe?
00:28:01:16 - 00:28:02:27
Brandon Krisztal
Braxton, get some help, you know?
00:28:03:00 - 00:28:23:05
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah, yeah. Oh, man. This is speed. And Eddie was very quick and had a lot of speed. So, being able to get adjust to that, knowing that I would probably see a lot of receivers his size. You know, Emmanuel Sanders at RB, you know Tyreek Hill, all these guys around the same size and have that speed.
00:28:23:05 - 00:28:33:10
Chris Harris Jr.
So just being able to go against him definitely got me ready for the other matchups. Brandon Lloyd blessed Welker. Well I think.
00:28:33:11 - 00:28:36:07
Brandon Krisztal
He had to cover Wes Welker than any other teammate.
00:28:36:09 - 00:28:58:21
Chris Harris Jr.
You know, those guys, going against and then going against a smaller receiver, you know, so I was I was lucky all the time that you couldn't get a good look for as a group. There's nothing out there that can get you a look for Gronk other than finding a six, five, six, six guy with a big oh, you know, monster sleeve that can push off on you.
00:28:58:21 - 00:29:15:00
Chris Harris Jr.
That's the only way you can get a get a good look for Gronk you know. But other than that or Calvin Johnson you know TT is probably the closest you can get there. And you know on Emmanuel you know being able to have a big guy on a smaller guy that definitely helped me out and, you know, prepared every week.
00:29:15:02 - 00:29:30:11
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. To get ready for Gronk you almost have to have Derek Wolfe lined up at tight end and say hey, well come on do me a favor. Right? Just run run a five yard out for me and then put it put push me up with your arm because that's not the closest you're going to get. I mean, you talk about one on one.
00:29:30:13 - 00:29:48:21
Brandon Krisztal
And I know some people they love Travis Kelce. You love Shannon Sharpe. You talked about gates. If you were going to pick the one tight end and everyone's healthy for the whole all game all season. I have a hard time picking anyone other than Gronk as my as my tight end. Oh all time team. When he was at the peak of his powers.
00:29:48:21 - 00:29:56:26
Brandon Krisztal
And hey look you you at least gave it made it tough for him. And TJ took him out a couple times. Oh yeah. But I mean number two.
00:29:56:26 - 00:30:18:13
Chris Harris Jr.
Then Kelsey I would take game two because, you know guys, even though they did kind of feed him the ball. But gates is the original route runner of this. Like Kelsey got his routes from gate like those guys. And then a lot of time is freestyling with Kelsey. If we can go back and look at he probably has two and two catches.
00:30:18:13 - 00:30:34:24
Chris Harris Jr.
300 catches up this Mahomes running around. Let me find open spot. Boom. He's there. You know that's not a lot of you know that's not the route running part. That's more of just being on the same page with your quarterback. So they to run routes. So I would put gates at number two.
00:30:34:26 - 00:30:50:08
Brandon Krisztal
I wasn't sure what year Tony Gonzalez went to Kansas City. And they're sharp. We should shout out sharp because he came to town. I wish we'd known he was here. But he had Elway on Club JJ, so I need to go check that out here. I'm sure it's a good. I've seen some of the clips, you know, that those two are going to have.
00:30:50:11 - 00:31:07:24
Brandon Krisztal
Have fun. I mean, short sharp was. And when he retired, he was number one for tight ends and in yards, catches and touchdowns. And then Tony Gonzalez passed him by. My method you only play against Tony Gonzalez once in your whole career in 2011 or 2012.
00:31:07:24 - 00:31:10:15
Chris Harris Jr.
I mean he's with the Falcons when I played him.
00:31:10:23 - 00:31:35:01
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah, it was that Monday night game, where I think I might have lost to them. It was early on Peyton when Peyton first got there, that was the only time you saw Tony. Obviously he, like Travis Kelce tormented Broncos country for for more than a decade. You know he was there from 97 to 208. And I've known Tony forever too because you know, Doug Gottlieb and and Tony grew up hooping together in Southern California.
00:31:35:03 - 00:31:52:15
Brandon Krisztal
And then I covered the Chiefs back in 2003. But the reason I'm bringing all this up, I got into it a little bit with people online this week because, you saw the Hall of Fame finalists, Drew Brees check Larry Fitzgerald check. Those would be the easiest. It's like when they just say John Elway's name, Brett Favre, his name.
00:31:52:15 - 00:32:11:19
Brandon Krisztal
They just, you know. And then I said Jason Witten, Frank Gore. And he was like, oh, they're not getting in. I'm like Frank Gore a second all time in rushing. So if he's not first ballot, it's just because they want to be haters or get somebody else. And like I get that he was never truly dominant, where you're like, oh, I mean you played against Frank Gore I'm sure some.
00:32:11:21 - 00:32:30:15
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. But how does this guy that second all time in rushing yards behind only Emmitt, not just also get a check mark. But then Jason Witten and like look, gates didn't even get in first ballot and I have forgotten that. So, you know, when you look at some of the other names are there there and it's story hold, it's, it's, who else is in that list?
00:32:30:18 - 00:32:33:10
Brandon Krisztal
I'm drawing a blank now, one of the other top wide receivers.
00:32:33:10 - 00:32:35:01
Chris Harris Jr.
For.
00:32:35:03 - 00:32:51:06
Brandon Krisztal
Who's that? Reggie didn't. Wait, wait, so Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt, guys like that. There you go. Darren Woodson for my money. And look, I grew up in Dallas. They won three Super Bowls when I was in high school. Marshall Yanda perennial Pro Bowl or victory is the best round, you know, big game kicker we've ever seen.
00:32:51:09 - 00:33:11:27
Brandon Krisztal
Keith Lee, defensive player of the year, obviously walked away with gas in the tank. And so just keep getting ahead of Jason Witten I don't know. Eli's going to get in. I don't know if this is the year I think this year about Drew Brees. You know, big Willie Anderson obviously played a long time on some good good teams there for for the Bengals.
00:33:12:00 - 00:33:17:09
Brandon Krisztal
Am I wrong in thinking Witten I mean he when he retired he was number one in all the stats.
00:33:17:12 - 00:33:21:15
Chris Harris Jr.
If Drew Brees goes there and Eli go into.
00:33:21:18 - 00:33:27:00
Brandon Krisztal
Eli's one more more championships. But Drew's numbers are better than Eli's across the board.
00:33:27:06 - 00:33:54:19
Chris Harris Jr.
Everything shifts though. You know I'm like if drew goes in Eli gotta go in right. That this from my standpoint Witten I think wins probably go out the way okay. But drew goes in I'm like, Eli has to go in. But best defensive player on that list right there for me is Lou Cantley right there. So I don't put him in there.
00:33:54:23 - 00:34:18:03
Brandon Krisztal
Darren Watson was the the best defensive player consistently on those three Cowboys teams. I know Charles Haley was on those teams, but I know that he is. He is the all time leading tackler in Dallas Cowboys history. And they've had a lot of good players and Hall of Fame players and and and Woody I mean if I look it up I mean bunch of Pro Bowls, a bunch of you know, it's taken longer for safeties to get the love.
00:34:18:06 - 00:34:45:26
Brandon Krisztal
You know, that's why our guy, Steve Atwater took forever to get in and and Kenny easily and guys like that. But three time first team All-Pro, five time Pro Bowler and an all time leading tackler for the Cowboys, three Super Bowls. I'm just saying it to me. Darren Woodson was a bad dude. He came on the heels of, you know, he was coming into the league as as Atwater and Ronnie Lott and those guys were finishing up and he maybe wasn't that ferocious of a hitter, but he he could hit now.
00:34:45:28 - 00:34:52:18
Brandon Krisztal
So I don't know, maybe I'm biased. And the Marshall Yanda I mean, if I look it up a bit mushy on a pro, I went to what, ten Pro Bowls seem like he kept.
00:34:52:18 - 00:34:57:19
Chris Harris Jr.
Going under and over before willing Anderson like yeah Evans you know.
00:34:57:25 - 00:35:14:05
Brandon Krisztal
Gary Evans. That's the guy that Sean always says. Sean Payton's like he's going to be a Hall of Famer. Yeah. So Yanda was only he was All-Pro seven times. Two time first team five times second team eight Pro Bowls. That's pretty darn pretty darn good. And then I didn't realize just how I think Jerry Evans.
00:35:14:08 - 00:35:27:00
Chris Harris Jr.
Was just going to. And Pro Bowls I was I played at it. They were just giving up on the Pro Bowl, you know? But, he is a good player. But it's it's hard. I would say he's the third alignment on that list.
00:35:27:02 - 00:35:37:13
Brandon Krisztal
All right. And Jerry Evans, obviously so long with the Saints as as a player. I'm trying to find his his Evans.
00:35:37:15 - 00:35:38:06
Chris Harris Jr.
There we go.
00:35:38:08 - 00:35:51:03
Brandon Krisztal
Here we go. Four time first team All-Pro, one second team All-Pro, six Pro Bowls. And he like you, a member of the All-Decade team of the 20 tens and the military. You know, I mean, look, he's a kicker that,
00:35:51:05 - 00:35:51:23
Chris Harris Jr.
He should be paying a.
00:35:51:23 - 00:35:59:08
Brandon Krisztal
Lot the most money kicker we've ever seen. Yeah, in big, big spots. And if my math is right, does he have six rings?
00:35:59:11 - 00:36:10:27
Chris Harris Jr.
Someone he's gonna have a slot for the special teamers. Shouldn't be in this space. Like they should have a separate slot for those guys. You know.
00:36:11:00 - 00:36:17:05
Brandon Krisztal
I just wonder if there's enough of them beyond Vinny. Terry. You know, a guy like Matthew Slater might get in. Steve Tasker like.
00:36:17:11 - 00:36:25:02
Chris Harris Jr.
To not get in? No. Slater. I mean, just that gutter. Gutter. You can't get in that gutter like we gotta score some points.
00:36:25:04 - 00:36:26:01
Brandon Krisztal
Okay?
00:36:26:03 - 00:36:37:27
Chris Harris Jr.
So like a kicker, vanity or punt return? Yes. Not gutter. Well, run and get in. Okay. Sticky. Right.
00:36:37:29 - 00:36:59:23
Brandon Krisztal
Four time Super Bowl chant. Three time first team All-Pro, three Pro Bowls All-Decade team in the 2000 for Venice area. So, all right, we can we can move on from all of him. So the other story this week, though, Chris, and John kind of made it a bigger thing. They won the AFC West on the couch thanks to thanks to the Texans.
00:36:59:25 - 00:37:16:26
Brandon Krisztal
And then, you know, of course, by law, by rule, they have to put the gear out. And so Sean's asked about it and he's like, yeah. Flip asked me what to do with these. Like I guess put it in their locker. He's like, my understanding is it's pretty ugly. And I'm like, that's a way to make sure they don't sell any of it, Sean or not.
00:37:16:28 - 00:37:38:28
Brandon Krisztal
But here's here's what it looks like. I do know our friends at Sports Fan. They have the t shirts. And so it says been there. One that, you know, your guy, Mario Tanzi? He did not like the hat, but does, like the t shirt I saw on on his Twitter feed. But let me ask you, because you won the AFC West.
00:37:39:00 - 00:37:58:14
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah, I, I like the hat more than the t shirt. But you won the AFC West five years in a row. Did you rock that gear at any point. Do you remember. And enthusiasm 2011 again you kind of backdoor it but you still want it at eight and eight. Or were you like, no, we're going on to bigger things because I know for me as a Jayhawks fan, if they go to the Final Four, we've been lucky that they go a lot.
00:37:58:18 - 00:38:01:05
Brandon Krisztal
I don't buy gear unless we win it.
00:38:01:07 - 00:38:17:05
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah. I remember we always got ours on the field or right there. It's like right, right after we won it. But the only year that we didn't get that was I think it was my rookie year. It was like some type of tie or something happened that we.
00:38:17:05 - 00:38:26:02
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. You guys won the tiebreaker. You had the tiebreaker over the Chiefs. And so you won the division at eight and eight and then beat the, the Pittsburgh Steelers as we know.
00:38:26:02 - 00:38:38:08
Chris Harris Jr.
I don't know if we got it that day. I think you had a guy that like that that some time later on that week. But yeah, that'd be the only time that I can remember. But okay. But you know.
00:38:38:11 - 00:38:55:04
Brandon Krisztal
What is your nostalgia collection look like? Because, you know, I don't see where you're Super Bowl gear either. But, you know, you have a Super Bowl championship gear. You have going to the Super Bowl in 48. And then you have five AFC West shirts and hats. Where, where does where does that you live in your life.
00:38:55:06 - 00:39:05:15
Chris Harris Jr.
Broncos stories I got cleats I got like three buckets of cleats, gloves. You know the stored away man. So I have to give it away sooner or later.
00:39:05:17 - 00:39:29:19
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Like some of that stuff, especially the game worn stuff. We could we could find some some charities out there I think. Would love to have it. What's funny is, I mean, me think about Emmitt Smith. Most touchdowns, as a running back in NFL history. Second most all time to Jerry rice saved every football ever. And some of them you know he wins a rushing title or it's touchdown number 20 or number whatever.
00:39:29:21 - 00:39:53:23
Brandon Krisztal
Some of them are just like week eight against the Panthers second touchdown. And they're all in like storage in Pensacola where his parents, lived. And I think over time he's just giving away because random touchdown 130 nobody gives a damn about. So you know who else has a lot of stuff? If you want some Walter Jones gear, apparently DeMarcus Ware has more Walter Jones stuff than Walter Jones from all the times at the Pro Bowl together.
00:39:53:25 - 00:40:08:29
Brandon Krisztal
So he's got a storage out there in Dallas. He said that just has, you know, boxes of Pro Bowl stuff. So either way, stop by sports. Maybe you want to grab one of those t shirts because it will be a collector's item. Maybe get Sean Payton to sign it. If you run into him because he's not a.
00:40:08:29 - 00:40:23:02
Chris Harris Jr.
Fan, I you to have more than everybody. I mean, damn, you should go to Pro Bowl every year. Oh. Yeah. Yeah. I don't have what else is going to probably get close. He could probably break all the records, whatever bands or 10th record.
00:40:23:04 - 00:40:43:06
Brandon Krisztal
Champion eight times here. Champ, 12 times overall champion Tony Gonzalez have gone to the most Pro Bowls for anyone to not win the Super Bowl. I think they either both went to 12 or Tony went to 14 or something. Okay, but so on on all that, Courtland Sutton winning the division for the first time. And now what has been a, you know, a long career, eight, nine years, first time with the division here.
00:40:43:06 - 00:40:48:08
Brandon Krisztal
Here's caught on his reaction to getting the shirt and hat and his locker.
00:40:48:10 - 00:41:04:15
Speaker 3
You know it's it's one of those tricky things people keep reminding me that it's my first time doing it. And you know, I do acknowledge that part of it. However, it's one of those things that, I think coach, somebody said it best when we have meeting with him on Monday. You know, it's one of those things that you and you.
00:41:04:17 - 00:41:21:11
Speaker 3
Is it a commitment? Yes. But it's one of those bittersweet ones to where, you know, you continue to win and then you, you know, it's, you know, the ultimate goal is to win the whole thing. You win the whole thing. And then that becomes like a, you know, just another shirt. You know, it was it was a part of a part of the journey.
00:41:21:13 - 00:41:36:25
Speaker 3
If you lose, it just becomes a reminder that, you know, you. And if it's the only shirt you have and you end up losing, it just comes a reminder that you didn't finish it all. So, it's bittersweet, but, you know, you small acknowledge it. You don't have to give it the 24 hour rule. Kind of like winning a game.
00:41:36:25 - 00:41:53:27
Speaker 3
It's like one of those, like you acknowledging and say, okay, you know, you check that box and then you got to move on to the next one because there's more ahead, you know? And, I know that all the guys in the locker room would tell you that their goals are bigger than just winning the AFC West.
00:41:54:00 - 00:42:09:24
Brandon Krisztal
All right. When you hear caught say that and I'll say this because that was kind of asked about it as he walked off the podium. He's like I'm not sure I agree with coach. As far as the gear. You said you like that. I think I like I like the hat too, but, I guess what's it mean for a guy like Gordon Garrett to actually win the division, even if they did it while they were on the couch for the first time?
00:42:09:24 - 00:42:11:29
Brandon Krisztal
At this point in their career.
00:42:12:01 - 00:42:31:19
Chris Harris Jr.
I mean, I think Cortland should definitely be more excited, you know, and that, you know, it took you eight, nine years to win AFC West. It's a great privilege. It's very hard to do, extremely hard to do. And, now you get to kind of put that banner up, put that up there with the banners with ours, and, and, you should be happy for that.
00:42:31:19 - 00:42:50:05
Chris Harris Jr.
So, it's just the first step is the first goal that you have. And every year, coming in as the NFL, you want to win the division, right? Check that off. Now let's try to get a higher seed for the playoffs. But man it's something to be proud of. We haven't won that division. Won a division in ten years.
00:42:50:05 - 00:42:55:09
Chris Harris Jr.
So. Hey, man, it's, I'll be rocking my hat, my shirt everywhere I go.
00:42:55:12 - 00:43:16:22
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah, and then your hope is that you get a Super Bowl, the bowl thing, and Super Bowl gear, and then you get the Super Bowl championship gear. As well, because I know we love to see a parade here. So speaking of, you know, win the division to get that number one seed lock down, you've got to take care of business.
00:43:16:24 - 00:43:35:04
Brandon Krisztal
We know Trey Lance is not Justin Herbert. I did ask Vijay though. How do you prepare? Because there isn't a lot of tape out there which apparently Vijay disagreed with. So before we jump in the film room here, here was Vijay's answer when I asked, how do you prepare for Trey? Lance again? Five NFL starts. So I said, there's not a lot of tape.
00:43:35:04 - 00:43:43:26
Brandon Krisztal
But this was Vijay's response. You mentioned Trey Lance. How different is he getting ready for him with just not a lot of tape really general, but especially here versus getting ready for.
00:43:43:28 - 00:44:01:23
Speaker 3
Is plenty of tape. It's plenty of tape. I mean he is a first round pick for a reason. He's athletic. He can run. That's coaches you know theme this week about rushing and got it right away because he can hurt us with his legs. I thought the kid we played last week was athletic also. And he got away a couple times you know not not bad but you know not good enough.
00:44:01:24 - 00:44:20:01
Speaker 3
You know to our standard. So I think Trey is a exceptional athlete. He can make every throw on the field as a first round pick. So playing our best ball is going to be important for us guys. We don't care who we play. It's just doing our jobs, you know, and each week it doesn't change. What's the best plan and get these people stopped right.
00:44:20:08 - 00:44:28:28
Speaker 3
And put our guys in a position to make plays and that's it. All right. We don't care who's playing for them. At least I don't.
00:44:29:01 - 00:44:48:11
Brandon Krisztal
All right. And I get that I think he's I guess I believe there's plenty of tape out there. Some preseason tape all along the way as well. But here, let's let's do this. We actually have some tape of Trey Lance. So let's hop into the Chris Harris Junior film room.
00:44:48:13 - 00:44:57:26
Brandon Krisztal
All right. So we kind of went through these a little earlier before we got on there. These are in kind of mop up duty. How about that Von Miller getting to him.
00:44:57:28 - 00:45:05:29
Chris Harris Jr.
About the ass. There we go. Let's say I see now we get some pressure up the middle on him. He's going to struggle with that.
00:45:06:01 - 00:45:08:00
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And I think that's.
00:45:08:02 - 00:45:20:15
Chris Harris Jr.
Pretty good a good job out John Franklin Zach Allen those guys do a good job of getting a lot of pressure. So you put some pressure on him up front man. He can he still. I like to get out.
00:45:20:17 - 00:45:25:27
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. That's a heck of a play. Because you think he sacked I mean, the cameraman thought he was sacked.
00:45:26:00 - 00:45:37:00
Chris Harris Jr.
I mean, he's a big guy, man. He's every bit of six four. Yeah. You know too. Probably 215, 220. That was a hell of a throw right there. You can make the throws on the run.
00:45:37:03 - 00:45:55:28
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. More so than the kid we saw last week for the Chiefs. Right. You said oh you bet on me. Yeah I mean there's some tools. We see that there are some tools. And which is why you see NFL. And you know Keenan Allen is gonna be trying to get his numbers. Ladd McConkey he's not just going to roll over because the Herbert's not out there.
00:45:56:01 - 00:45:59:22
Chris Harris Jr.
We say the we have to say we got the sack record right. Do we have that. Yeah.
00:45:59:24 - 00:46:01:11
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah 64.
00:46:01:14 - 00:46:06:26
Chris Harris Jr.
Okay. Because I'm about to say he's going to give us about three, 3 or 4 more from just holding the ball.
00:46:06:28 - 00:46:15:21
Brandon Krisztal
Well, it's can you catch the bears? I guess you get you 8 or 9. But he will hold on to the ball, is what you're saying, to try to extend plays because he's athletic, right?
00:46:15:24 - 00:46:32:10
Chris Harris Jr.
Yep. He wants to move around. He wants to get out the pocket. We want to rush this guy, make this guy beat us from the pocket. Let's see if he can throw. Of course. We've got to stop the run. Hampton is going to get 30 carries, right? So we got to stop. The running back. The rookie running back.
00:46:32:12 - 00:46:42:09
Chris Harris Jr.
He's starting to get hot, too. So you got to definitely shut him down. You know, they're going to they're going to pound the ball. You know, that's what they're going to try to do.
00:46:42:11 - 00:47:04:24
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Because well come on. But I didn't play the other day. Hampton's missed two days of practice though. And then over here to the ankle. And he doesn't say because like some of these are Non-injury rest for Derwin for Carlisle. For Keenan on Wednesday, as well. It says very clearly on this report that Omarion Hampton ankle DNP, DNP.
00:47:04:24 - 00:47:10:17
Brandon Krisztal
Now they may just be resting him because they're like he doesn't need the the practice necessarily. I mean I guess he's still a.
00:47:10:17 - 00:47:13:27
Chris Harris Jr.
Rookie like mostly most rookies don't think.
00:47:13:29 - 00:47:29:29
Brandon Krisztal
That they're more served by keeping him off his ankle I guess. Yeah I don't know. If he doesn't play and Vidal doesn't play, then Lance doesn't even have a lot there to work with in the backfield. But. So. Yeah. So if anything scares you about Trey Lance, what is it?
00:47:30:01 - 00:47:47:27
Chris Harris Jr.
This is legs like V.J. said, saying him being able to buy time, make a little play is kind of like this Casey guy. But, you know, he's a much bigger guy. I think the Casey guy might have been a little bit more elusive than Trey Lance, but Trey is a bigger guy. He can make make, the throws all over the field.
00:47:48:00 - 00:48:05:10
Chris Harris Jr.
But where he does struggle at, it's thrown in the pocket. He can't sit there and be a pocket passer all game. So, that's the advantage that the Broncos have versus guy. We cannot let him get outside the pocket and scramble and run. We cannot let the Chargers develop a running game that's going to help him.
00:48:05:12 - 00:48:15:03
Brandon Krisztal
642 26. When I when I do a little research, I saw when he was born, he's born May 9th, 2000, but a week before I graduated college, I was like, oh.
00:48:15:03 - 00:48:16:17
Chris Harris Jr.
He's still very young. You know, he's still.
00:48:16:18 - 00:48:20:00
Brandon Krisztal
Other way to make me feel. I'm like, all right, man, fine. I'm thinking.
00:48:20:01 - 00:48:21:24
Chris Harris Jr.
Always go, man. He's young. He's still young.
00:48:21:25 - 00:48:26:19
Brandon Krisztal
Well, look, man, I'm going to be 50 in 3 years. You're about ten years younger. Me? You're gonna be 40 here soon.
00:48:26:21 - 00:48:28:17
Chris Harris Jr.
I got three years.
00:48:28:19 - 00:48:53:01
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what's up. Anyway, no, not a lot there in the film room, but enough to know that. Yeah, you got to keep Trey Lance contained. That's something. And B.J. kind of went into detail, this week about explaining what gauge rushing is. And you obviously just touched on it, but the, you know, you want to keep him contained because the best play he made was clearly outside, the pocket.
00:48:53:01 - 00:49:13:08
Brandon Krisztal
And if we know that the Broncos at times aren't always, I don't know, spatial whatever like spatially sound. And that's why there has been opportunities. Trevor Lawrence is able to take advantage of it at times. And certainly they've hit receivers out of the backfield in the flats or tight ends. So you know, because of the aggressiveness that leaves some vulnerability.
00:49:13:08 - 00:49:23:29
Brandon Krisztal
So against this kid you can't do that. All right let's let's go from the film room. So that was our trip inside the film room.
00:49:24:01 - 00:49:36:22
Brandon Krisztal
All right. Touched on a Marion Hampton now. But let's do it officially and look at the injury report.
00:49:36:24 - 00:49:53:05
Brandon Krisztal
All right. Our latest Belen Pollack injury report is a good one for the Broncos. Other than we're obviously keeping an eye on Andre Greenlaw hamstring. He's on the other field every day. You know that. They're going to let him take it easy and on the side of caution there. The fact that he's on the field versus not that's ultimately a good thing.
00:49:53:09 - 00:50:13:07
Brandon Krisztal
But then Pat Bryant, full participant Nate Atkins with his knee full participant JV FM limited with the hip. So maybe you're going to go easier there if it's bothering him. But it's a good time to, you know, knock on wood, be healthy heading into January.
00:50:13:09 - 00:50:34:28
Chris Harris Jr.
The Broncos are fairly healthy, you know, not now. No major injuries. Great loss. Been battling in and out all season, but, for the most part, you know, everybody's been fairly healthy. We do need John Franklin to be healthy, especially going into the playoffs. But, you know, we have a lot of dogs on the D-line, so he can afford to get some rest.
00:50:35:01 - 00:50:51:05
Chris Harris Jr.
But, you know, especially with the Chargers pretty much laying out all their backups this game and throwing the white flag, you know, Broncos may be able to take advantage of getting some guys that, like a Greenlaw an extra week, to be able to recover.
00:50:51:08 - 00:51:16:06
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. As, as I'm looking at, the, the Chargers injury report, Vidal did practice full yesterday, so his neck is doing better. You know, he's even that last week, in Houston, against Houston. And then Hampton's the one that keep an eye on beyond, you know, the old guys like Khalil Mack. I say, Derwin, he's not old, but that's it may just may just get the week off to rest so that they are a full go for the playoffs.
00:51:16:08 - 00:51:30:18
Brandon Krisztal
I know that. So things pop up whether, happened over the, the holidays, New Year's, you get in the fender bender, you have an ax and you have an injury. You don't anticipate it, you're going to need help. And there's nobody I trust more than our friends at Bell and Pollock. The champions of the people, for a reason.
00:51:30:23 - 00:51:44:16
Brandon Krisztal
The fight for you to come up with a winning game plan. So call today. 303795 5900 or champions of the people.com.
00:51:44:19 - 00:52:04:10
Brandon Krisztal
All right. We've obviously had some big games this weekend. The only game before Friday. Let's, let's real quick. It's been a minute or two on college. So before we get to our NFL predictions, what did you think of the of the four bowl games that we saw? The one that impressed me the most, other than Indiana is for real.
00:52:04:10 - 00:52:12:11
Brandon Krisztal
For real. Clearly Miami beating Ohio State I think surprised a lot of folks. But what do you think of those four games?
00:52:12:13 - 00:52:29:20
Chris Harris Jr.
The best game was that Miami Ohio State game, for sure. Just seeing actually Ole Miss game was pretty good too. But Miami, you know, those guys just not afraid of Ohio State guys. They're not afraid of Jeremiah Smith. They was up there, playing with no fear, playing aggressive. I love the way their corners play.
00:52:29:20 - 00:52:37:00
Chris Harris Jr.
Their defense, play those edge rushers, my guy. Man. And, what's the other guy message door for number three. Yeah, they.
00:52:37:03 - 00:52:47:21
Brandon Krisztal
May have means, unique body, but I think he is going to be a problem in the NFL. Like, he feels like he's projected to go in the top five, but he's one year like I don't care what he looks like. Like I want that dude on my squad.
00:52:47:23 - 00:53:07:12
Chris Harris Jr.
Some guys you know like we got to stop with the metrics and all that B.S. and some guys are just dogs. And they got a different, you know, different tick to him. Man. This guy's a monster. We see how he comes off the ball. Motor is nonstop. Oh, I was they all those first round guys? They got on the O-line.
00:53:07:15 - 00:53:25:13
Chris Harris Jr.
Five star, four star. They couldn't block them. Nobody has been able to block them all season. So that wouldn't have to show you that. Hey, this guy's worth it. But I love the way their secondary played. Oh, my gosh, that was a beautiful play on, jump in that, bubble by number zero. Did you see that for the pick six?
00:53:25:20 - 00:53:27:02
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah, it was, it was.
00:53:27:04 - 00:53:40:17
Chris Harris Jr.
That was a great play. Of course, me being a nickel, seeing him do that, that was beautiful. I like Ole Miss. Their quarterback is a problem, you know, really, when it came down to it. And he was a better quarterback than Georgia's quarterback.
00:53:40:19 - 00:54:01:23
Brandon Krisztal
Chambliss. Yeah. Made the plays. You know who's loving that as much as anybody? He's not only I think at the game in the sweet their Lane Kiffin got half a million bucks from LSU because they said they would match his incentives from his Ole Miss contract. And I want to say six of his coaches that are going with them to Baton Rouge are still there coaching.
00:54:01:25 - 00:54:23:17
Brandon Krisztal
Let me let me ask you this. If Ole Miss could find a way to win this championship and they obviously have, you know, to what would be two big games of enormous games, does Lane Kiffin get a ring from Ole Miss if they if they do colleges make championship rings away? I don't think they do it the way Super Bowl teams do or NBA championships or whatever pro teams.
00:54:23:20 - 00:54:26:20
Brandon Krisztal
But there's a ring right? There's a national championship ring.
00:54:26:22 - 00:54:29:06
Chris Harris Jr.
Are they out there running his plays.
00:54:29:08 - 00:54:30:15
Brandon Krisztal
Yes. And are they his players?
00:54:30:15 - 00:54:54:12
Chris Harris Jr.
Hey, you give me that. Give the guy his ring. He brought the quarterback. Wouldn't be there if it weren't for Lane Kiffin anyways, right. A lot of those guys wouldn't be there. So, he definitely deserves his ring. I think he's allowing his assistants to go back there and coach. Right. That all right LSU even though he did try to coach they wouldn't let him go.
00:54:54:14 - 00:55:16:26
Chris Harris Jr.
But he's allowing his guys to go back there and finish the job. And they are running. Lane Kiffin system. So of course he deserves a ring. He deserves to get his bonuses. And hey that's just the way it goes man. He's winning. He's he gets the double that And hey shout out to the NCAA being able to allow the coaches to eat like this.
00:55:16:28 - 00:55:18:12
Chris Harris Jr.
Okay.
00:55:18:15 - 00:55:42:15
Brandon Krisztal
David, let's see how fast your your fingers are. I just sent I found this is the ring that everybody gets, okay? That that not only does it exist, this is one where the CFP is taking care of you because the ring is pretty uniform. With it, it has the kind of the CFP logo, and they've been doing it since 2019, at least when I just looked it up, going back to LSU.
00:55:42:18 - 00:56:04:00
Brandon Krisztal
And so every team gets kind of their colors mixed in with the championship ring, but it kind of looks the same. And it's yeah. So see each year like you can see the if you if you scroll down a little David he went too far. But like LSU is purple. You know it's got purple diamonds and purple gems.
00:56:04:02 - 00:56:31:21
Brandon Krisztal
Michigan State, Michigan or Michigan had a blue one, that I saw there. See, like, I think it's kind of cool and, and so, I would think that especially if the CFP is in charge of it, then they'll bright mail lane. I don't know. Either way. I think that I know what, a half million bucks for each win, he'll happily just get his own damn ring or but buy a championship t shirt to put in his closet.
00:56:31:24 - 00:56:46:27
Chris Harris Jr.
Like the end of the day, he can go buy a gold ring. I mean, damn, he got he's going to be able to make, you know, get a couple million off this. And, they have a great chance, a legitimate chance to win. You know, with that white, with that quarterback, anything can happen. The defense continue to play better.
00:56:47:04 - 00:57:00:19
Chris Harris Jr.
Ole Miss is just a terrible tackling team. You know that tackling teams make it this far. But they're gonna have to clean that up if they want to get past. They want to get past the next game and be able to go in the championship, whoever they play well, they play, they.
00:57:00:19 - 00:57:21:25
Brandon Krisztal
Play Miami, they play Miami. That's the one game I games Thursday. So we can make that pick right now. The canes are three point favorites that games in in Arizona at the Fiesta Bowl. And we found out yesterday Darren Rizzi Broncos special teams coordinator. His son you know is a hurricane. And his daughter's one of the recruiting coordinators.
00:57:21:28 - 00:57:43:10
Brandon Krisztal
So the and he just as much carries the bye week means as much as anybody else because he can shoot down the Phoenix Thursday night. Assuming that, you know, Sean gives him a few days off, because if they blow this to the Chargers, the Broncos then race is getting ready for a playoff game. That that means he can't go down that Thursday night.
00:57:43:13 - 00:57:57:04
Brandon Krisztal
But yeah, hurricanes three point favorites in Phoenix where I don't know who's gonna have a bigger fan base there. Like, you know, Miami has a little more money. Ole Miss as a whole. Families. But who wins that game?
00:57:57:07 - 00:58:16:08
Chris Harris Jr.
I, I like my name. Is defense better? Well, I just like Ole Miss quarterback way better than Carson Beck. So I'm. I don't miss this because of the quarterback. You know, a better quarterback. I don't see Beck being able to you know he he can compete with the Ohio State quarterback saying I don't think he was just that good, especially with his legs.
00:58:16:10 - 00:58:24:00
Chris Harris Jr.
But this guy, this guy Trinidad is a monster. So, I just see the Ole Miss quarterback being too much for for Miami.
00:58:24:02 - 00:58:32:05
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. I think he surprised me when he took his helmet off. He looks like he's about 35 years old. Trinidad. Yeah. I was like, oh. All right.
00:58:32:07 - 00:58:40:10
Chris Harris Jr.
Well, these guys are with the with the transfer portal. You know, guys are going to get older and older and older as we as we get into, watching these guys in college.
00:58:40:12 - 00:58:59:22
Brandon Krisztal
I know they're going to be like, well, it's like Chris everybody's everybody's Chris Winky and Brandon Weeden where they're just been playing college football for forever. And staying in next year high school. They, you know, go to prep school or whatever. All right. Let's jump into these NFL games. I think the NFL, for the most part, got the schedule right, except for with the how they're handling the Texans.
00:58:59:28 - 00:59:14:14
Brandon Krisztal
But you're two Saturday games. Huge huge stakes. How about this. So the Bucs could win. And if Atlanta were to win this weekend even of New Orleans might actually be the best team in that division right now. All three teams would be eight and nine. But I think the Panthers hold the tiebreakers.
00:59:14:16 - 00:59:15:13
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah.
00:59:15:16 - 00:59:21:24
Brandon Krisztal
Who wins this game though? And but Mike in yeah in Carolina do the right.
00:59:21:27 - 00:59:28:01
Chris Harris Jr.
You know Baker Mayfield being of the go get the job done I think he can get it done this week.
00:59:28:04 - 00:59:41:15
Brandon Krisztal
If they don't they're seven point favorites at home. If they don't is Todd Bowles seat hotter than he is already hot today. Is Todd Bowles not coaching there next year? If they blow this at home with a chance to win it.
00:59:41:17 - 01:00:02:25
Chris Harris Jr.
This seat should be hot. If Todd Bowles is seen as hot, Atlanta's, I think Raheem Moore's seat should be hot. Yeah. You know, but, you know, they won the division every year with this track record, eight nine North barely winning nine games. It's not like Todd Bowles is just been killing everybody in that division.
01:00:02:27 - 01:00:03:16
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah, and.
01:00:03:17 - 01:00:17:06
Brandon Krisztal
Very winnable division. Right, Carolina. This is the best version of Carolina we've seen in years. Atlanta is still won a bunch of games of late. But they're they're not world beaters. And we know what the Saints have been the last couple of years. Oh yeah.
01:00:17:08 - 01:00:36:06
Chris Harris Jr.
So he's an experienced defensive coach, Super Bowl winning. Coach. There's not a lot of good coaches. So when you got somebody like him, you maybe you might twist around the offense coordinator or defense corps, even though he's the defensive coordinator, might just make some little adjustments. But I wouldn't get rid of Todd Bowles.
01:00:36:09 - 01:00:59:18
Brandon Krisztal
Okay, then the other game, this is for the number one seed. And you see the Seahawks going to San Francisco. So we know it's going to be a little bit of an advantage there. And the Niners with the win at 12 and four would jump to 13 and four. They'd win the division. And they obviously have the tiebreaker over the bears.
01:00:59:21 - 01:01:17:26
Brandon Krisztal
Because the bears bears have 12 wins. Right. So bears are 12 and four. So at 13 and four, they mean we saw they won the tiebreaker last week. But when you look at it the Seahawks are four and a half point underdogs. Niners are the favorite at home rock pretty well. We're not hanging MVP's. Brock Brady's been the MVP the last two weeks.
01:01:17:26 - 01:01:24:15
Brandon Krisztal
Ten touchdowns in two weeks on primetime against a good bears defense especially. And a Falcons team that's better than it's been.
01:01:24:18 - 01:01:49:00
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah I like Seattle, man. I like Seattle's defense. Those big boys up front of problems. Leonard Leonard Williams, all those guys. The linebacker course is tight fit. It can move. Their secondary is damn near six one and above everywhere. Right? Yeah. They can all run, all physical. I like Seattle, I like I'm going with the top defense right now.
01:01:49:00 - 01:02:14:27
Chris Harris Jr.
To me, I'm gonna go with Seattle. Knocking off Purdy. I don't think as a secondary, I would not fear the 40 niners at all. Any of the receivers if I'm there. So if I'm Seattle, I'm getting up. I'm making this game, a grind out game. We're going to see if Christian McCaffrey can beat us, because I don't see the 40 Niners receivers or tight ends messing with these guys in the back.
01:02:15:00 - 01:02:35:20
Brandon Krisztal
Although my man Thomas, he, he's like George Kittle who he hands off a nice certainly a nice first half last week for the for the Niners. And maybe they run more two tight end stuff now just to kind of change it up. Joanne Jennings was the complete no show until the very end of the game, when his touchdown catch actually hurt me in two fantasy championship.
01:02:35:20 - 01:02:52:19
Brandon Krisztal
So you know, just like Shelby said, I don't care for him either. I'm not going to get as as descriptive in my language, but I have no love for Joanne Jennings. If that guy, but, I'm going to go the other way. I think the Niners at home, you know, we saw this game a couple of years ago in Seattle on Monday night.
01:02:52:19 - 01:03:09:02
Brandon Krisztal
I think at the time you a Sunday or Monday night. And the winner won the division that and got the one seed and the other team dropped to the five seed. And so I think and I want to say Seattle won it that time with Russ. Like they made a stop at the goal line, if I'm not mistaken.
01:03:09:02 - 01:03:30:00
Brandon Krisztal
And maybe I had it backwards, but I feel like that's what happened. So I think it'll be in reverse of that. I think the Niners won at home, but, it won't blow my mind. Obviously, if Seattle wins. All right, then Sunday we got a bunch of good matchups that I think, we know the Dolphins have found ways in historically to to make things tough for the Patriots in the final week of the season.
01:03:30:04 - 01:03:53:27
Brandon Krisztal
That's why I think you guys ended up hosting the AFC title games in, in 2013 and 2015. But the Pats obviously big favorites here in this one. Well actually, you know, two and a half. So, the resurgent Dolphins won, whatever, five in a row, for Mike McDaniel before losing, who wins this? Pats? Dolphins.
01:03:54:00 - 01:04:06:12
Chris Harris Jr.
I'm gonna go with the Pats. This probably being, you know, the Dolphins last, hurrah. You know, especially with Mike Daniels, saying, Troy Aikman is also going to be a.
01:04:06:14 - 01:04:09:00
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah, consultant to hire that GM.
01:04:09:02 - 01:04:18:04
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah. When I say that, that means, okay, he's also going to be hiring the head coach. So when they say that, you know.
01:04:18:07 - 01:04:48:19
Brandon Krisztal
I don't know what Troy's tie is to Stephen Ross other than, you know, obviously they've maybe met each other. It was an interesting hire, though. Or an interesting whatever he is, I'll call it a higher, but yeah. To to that partnership, the. Could the Cowboys use Troy's help? Maybe. But yeah. You you think Troy being brought in is good or bad for our guy, Chip Kelly, who is interim GM, traded away Jalen Phillips, got him some more ammunition and then they won a bunch of games.
01:04:48:19 - 01:04:51:04
Brandon Krisztal
But that's more Mike than charm obviously.
01:04:51:06 - 01:05:15:04
Chris Harris Jr.
I think it's bad. Is this sucks that they have a let them cook let them cook for a while. You know he's going to he's going to fine guys. He's a great talent evaluator. All those guys in Denver that we had coming through underdogs that was balling Kay from camp. I guarantee. Yeah. You know and he's always been he always has guys around the league that you wouldn't know about that just pops up out of nowhere.
01:05:15:04 - 01:05:31:06
Chris Harris Jr.
And they're both so I would if I'm them. And in Miami I would give them a chance. You know, let them see what he could do. Hopefully Troy can, you know, give him a fair interview and not try to get one of his guys that he knows. You know, a shout out. Let's give him a fair, you know, interview.
01:05:31:06 - 01:05:40:13
Chris Harris Jr.
Let's go off the results of what he's been able to do. And, the guys that he's had and let them prove it, you know, I think Miami be a good spot for to.
01:05:40:16 - 01:06:10:01
Brandon Krisztal
A couple things that would be funny would be if Troy got either Stephen Jones, he's like, I think Stephen Jones should be the Dolphins Jeff. Or because Jerry won't let him be GM or like one of the one of Stephen or Jerry Jr's kids. One of Jerry's grandkids gets hired as the GM. This happened years ago. Jerry Colangelo was hired by the Sixers to consult and after an exhaustive search, you're never going to guess who he landed on to be the GM Brian Colangelo, his son, was the best choice he could come up with.
01:06:10:04 - 01:06:13:01
Brandon Krisztal
When they were moving on from the process. How do we.
01:06:13:04 - 01:06:19:09
Chris Harris Jr.
Know he doesn't want to be the GM? You see guys you guys guys this morning.
01:06:19:11 - 01:06:47:04
Brandon Krisztal
He's like yeah. He's like, I like calling games. I know $20 million and I'm making 20 million a year to be a GM. Troy's got plenty of money, but, he's the highest paid analyst in the NFL. So there's that. The reason New England's win this game, too, is to stay ahead of Jacksonville with the with the two seed because I think Jacksonville if they win would have the tiebreaker because their conference record is going to be at that point they will be ten and two in conference and the Pats will be eight, eight and four.
01:06:47:04 - 01:07:03:23
Brandon Krisztal
So, yeah, I'm with you. I think the Pats win, but I, I love the chaos. I'm always a fan of chaos. So if the if the Dolphins win and I like Mike I don't want to. He might get fired. But I'm either. But I think I think it's, I think, if and if they win, that strengthens champ's case to a little bit to like.
01:07:03:23 - 01:07:29:06
Brandon Krisztal
Look, since I've taken over clear, there's a synergy here. Either way. All right, then the Sunday night game, which is, I think, good for TV. Putting the Steelers on TV is still always good. Aaron Rodgers it's still an interesting story. And then the Lamar thing is really the most interesting story. The line on it the the Steelers are four and a half point underdogs at home.
01:07:29:08 - 01:07:39:22
Brandon Krisztal
And I know it took so long, but they've decided to give Derrick Henry the ball again. He's got 1500 yards now 600 yards. He was a monster last week. Who wins this game.
01:07:39:23 - 01:08:01:12
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah I'm on with the Ravens running game. You know Henry, I almost like them better if Jackson doesn't play. But, you know, I think I seen Jackson is playing, all the reason why I say that is because I know for sure Henry would get 30 touches. So, I think this week, they'll still kind of stay in that same philosophy.
01:08:01:13 - 01:08:20:25
Chris Harris Jr.
Pound the ball. Play action game with with Lamar. Steelers just, you know, their offense. This is a good you know that the there there's no really weapons. Nobody that fears you in there as at the receiver position. You know Aaron Rodgers is going to be a lot of help. So I got to go with the Ravens.
01:08:20:28 - 01:08:39:16
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah there's conversation you know that we we talked about it last week too that Mike T could walk away for a year and and go do TV. Get, get recharged just like we saw with Sean Payton. Obviously other teams would want to talk to him, but he may want to just decompress. Arthur Smith is a name that you heard at various points like, oh, is he gonna get a second shot?
01:08:39:16 - 01:09:01:04
Brandon Krisztal
And I'm not saying he won't, but with what their offense has been able to or not been able to do, I'm not even sure that the Steelers would. I'm not saying they wouldn't interview him. I don't think they would hire Arthur Smith either right now. And so I think Arthur's gonna have to go be a, OC somewhere and, and have, you know, a bit of, of success.
01:09:01:11 - 01:09:24:17
Brandon Krisztal
Here's your Ravens injury report, though. Lots of guys on there, Lamar. Two days of full practice. Ronnie Stanley healthy. Keep an eye out. No, Calvin, I would obviously affect them, but, I think that if Lamar plays the way we know he's capable of, and they give Derrick Henry the ball 30 times, they're going to sneak into the playoffs.
01:09:24:17 - 01:09:43:25
Brandon Krisztal
And there's a world where the Broncos could see them real quick here, because they would host the game and they would host, the Texans I guess. So the host, the Texans. I certainly think they can beat the Texans if they're hosting a game. And then they're getting on a plane potentially and flying here if if the two home teams were to win.
01:09:43:25 - 01:09:59:09
Brandon Krisztal
Now we don't know what the Chargers and Bills would do going on the road to doing it. But we can see Lamar. Everyone said, oh no Lamar, no Joe Burrow, no Patrick in the playoffs. This is Josh Allen's best chance right? That's been a narrative. Well Lamar might might sneak in the back door here and then watch out.
01:09:59:12 - 01:10:04:20
Brandon Krisztal
Because if anybody can get get hot and carry a team it's that dude.
01:10:04:23 - 01:10:26:06
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah. But their defense is just so bad this year I wouldn't be fair in too much of the Ravens. And they don't really have an offensive identity yet, even though it should be very simple. Right? Just get the ball back to to the running back, you know, and and play action all of that and get Lamar out in motion and get or get him out or boots, out the pocket to make throws.
01:10:26:06 - 01:10:47:07
Chris Harris Jr.
But they just don't do that. They make their jobs very hard. And, so I just think that nobody wants to see the Ravens in the playoffs, the fair without, you know, the fair playing the Steelers without DK Metcalf is gone. And that is a fear, right? When you got a big playmaker like that outside, you have to account for him as a on the defense.
01:10:47:07 - 01:10:59:14
Chris Harris Jr.
So they don't fear they don't have any fear versus these guys. I see the Ravens balling getting into the playoffs. And you never know what can happen if Lamar Derek Cameron get in there. You know they can get rolling.
01:10:59:16 - 01:11:27:13
Brandon Krisztal
Let me correct a couple things I gave you opening lines which is set early in the year weeks ago. Bucks are three point favorites. We still like them to win. And so it it opened at seven. That was before then scrolling on down another one. The Dolphins and Pats. Pats are now 11 point favorites. Okay. And that's an interesting game now to bet, because I certainly could see the Dolphins showing up or even late touchdowns.
01:11:27:14 - 01:11:49:01
Brandon Krisztal
Hrn rips off an 80 yarder and and they cover that. The the Ravens Steelers got even closer. It just it's it was four and a half. It's three and a half. And in that Niners game, I scrolled right past it. It's a one and a half. Seattle's a one and a half point favorite nonetheless. So you like Seattle?
01:11:49:03 - 01:12:07:27
Brandon Krisztal
And then the Broncos, like, we we're about to get to the Broncos. I'm looking at two and a half. I'm like, no, it's way more than two and a half. So the final game Broncos 12.5. And as I mentioned earlier, my buddy Phil said six and a half in the first half feels like the lock of the year if the Broncos come out fire and if they take the ball and they probably want the price, they'll kick.
01:12:07:29 - 01:12:16:15
Brandon Krisztal
Give Trey Lance, you know, first dibs on the ball. But yeah. What what do you see this game shaping up as and what's the final score?
01:12:16:17 - 01:12:24:16
Chris Harris Jr.
I give them probably a touchdown to or let's give them let's give them 12 to 20, a.
01:12:24:19 - 01:12:29:25
Brandon Krisztal
28, 12 Broncos. I'm with you. If they score two touchdowns like Keenan Allen has the quarter million dollars.
01:12:30:01 - 01:12:30:28
Chris Harris Jr.
Couple field goals.
01:12:30:28 - 01:12:49:10
Brandon Krisztal
And yeah, it feels like a couple field goals and two touchdowns. About all that that Trey Lance could muster. And it feels like it's going to probably take Broncos going for it on fourth down at midfield and not getting it. Or another turnover, a fumble or an interception. And that is something you know, the Broncos have harped on is taking the ball away.
01:12:49:13 - 01:13:09:16
Brandon Krisztal
And, and Vance talked about it again yesterday and Sean talked about it earlier this week. Only one team ever in the playoffs has had a negative takeaway in the playoffs. Now you guys in 2015 are one of like six teams all time to have negative give away takeaway and win the Super Bowl from the regular season.
01:13:09:19 - 01:13:13:01
Chris Harris Jr.
You still have a negative. But even with all the turnovers ever again.
01:13:13:04 - 01:13:21:22
Brandon Krisztal
You were plus four. Well Peyton had ten interceptions to six touchdowns. I mean he had four interceptions against the Chiefs.
01:13:21:24 - 01:13:29:17
Chris Harris Jr.
So but I mean, you know what we're having though, we weren't like we were still in the top and takeaways okay.
01:13:29:17 - 01:13:40:09
Brandon Krisztal
Well I guess giveaways I can Tyler. Yeah I know because we talked about this the other day. I was talking to Andrew Mason when I did the research.
01:13:40:11 - 01:13:42:05
Chris Harris Jr.
You know, Mason's going to have all the information.
01:13:42:05 - 01:14:08:00
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. May Mason has it. Here you go. 2015. The Broncos were, Wait, why is it only giving me half the teams, like it's NFC? That's why, your Denver Broncos that you start on you guys were minus four going into the playoffs. You guys had 14 interceptions as a team leader. Takeaways 14 and 13.
01:14:08:03 - 01:14:23:21
Brandon Krisztal
For 27. You gave it away. Well this math is wrong with this. Giveaways 23 totals 31 oh 23 interceptions, eight fumbles. So 31 to 27. Yes. Oh, yeah.
01:14:23:23 - 01:14:24:13
Chris Harris Jr.
Yeah, yeah.
01:14:24:17 - 01:14:27:19
Brandon Krisztal
Go on the carpet a little a little too much.
01:14:27:21 - 01:14:31:03
Chris Harris Jr.
We gave it away but we still took it away a lot too.
01:14:31:06 - 01:14:39:25
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah 27 takeaways. That's getting that's getting obviously getting it done on that side of the ball. Something they haven't done. But in the playoffs y'all were plus four.
01:14:39:28 - 01:14:48:16
Chris Harris Jr.
Now how many takeaways we have now. Oh I mean takeaways. So how many do we have now.
01:14:48:19 - 01:14:59:01
Brandon Krisztal
You have pull up the we didn't even go to the matchup page today but Broncos are.
01:14:59:04 - 01:15:13:08
Brandon Krisztal
Takeaways. As a team you are minus five as a team. Total Broncos have nine interceptions which is 19th in the league three fumble recoveries on the season 30.
01:15:13:10 - 01:15:34:19
Chris Harris Jr.
That's the stat right there. That's mind blowing because when you have that many sacks and you're going for a sack record, you would usually get sack forced fumbles and more turnovers. So, I think that's something that they should harp on a lot more going into these playoffs, trying to knock that ball out of the quarterback's hands because they are getting to the quarterback.
01:15:34:21 - 01:15:40:13
Chris Harris Jr.
Right. But it's making a play on that ball to finish the play. We got to get some more sack forced fumbles.
01:15:40:16 - 01:16:02:03
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah that's something PJ Sergeant. He's like look we want them to aim for the elbow. I mean von was truly a master at that. And von said he was always going for the ball that the sack would come. But he was aiming for the ball. Clearly it obviously paid you dividends and you would think as much as they live in the backfield, you'd be at the mesh point every now and then on a handoff or, on a toss to throw all of that time.
01:16:02:03 - 01:16:15:24
Brandon Krisztal
And, and they just haven't done it. And that has been a bit of a head scratcher, but yeah, I'm with you. I think the Broncos roll in this one. And I think maybe they even get to 30 points, especially if guys like Derwin James and Khalil Mack aren't playing, you know, and we could see.
01:16:15:27 - 01:16:17:01
Chris Harris Jr.
James there done.
01:16:17:04 - 01:16:25:00
Brandon Krisztal
We could see some Stidham the Pat Bryant touchdowns or Stidham to Michael Bandy touchdowns. Even Mercedes Lewis and Trautman has got to get five catches. So we'll see.
01:16:25:02 - 01:16:25:10
Chris Harris Jr.
That.
01:16:25:10 - 01:16:40:01
Brandon Krisztal
And well as Sean joked that's how many he has. No hole in the whole season. And then we of course we'll have your, yeah, there's his incentives. There's 20 catches on the year, but he'll get.
01:16:40:04 - 01:16:41:19
Chris Harris Jr.
Given that five. Coach.
01:16:41:22 - 01:17:01:28
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Because a 125 million if he has 15. Did a big day for trout. The career day truly. Well, this has been a lot of fun, Chris. We'll be back next week to preview the playoffs, where hopefully the Broncos are just chilling. I just want to remind everybody that that on Sunday, we will have our normal postgame live show with Chad and Kristen Brown, and I'll join them from the field.
01:17:01:28 - 01:17:08:24
Brandon Krisztal
So enjoy the fun weekend of football. Happy New Year! Do you make any New Year's resolutions?
01:17:08:26 - 01:17:10:26
Chris Harris Jr.
No, not right now.
01:17:10:28 - 01:17:12:21
Brandon Krisztal
Okay, well, you're on it. I think you've been.
01:17:12:27 - 01:17:16:28
Chris Harris Jr.
Playing keep my sexy clean man cave clean. All. Hey. Yeah.
01:17:17:01 - 01:17:18:18
Brandon Krisztal
That's a good way to do it.
01:17:18:20 - 01:17:20:24
Chris Harris Jr.
Of 26.
01:17:20:26 - 01:17:27:12
Brandon Krisztal
There you go. And, I think I'm trying to do the same thing. I'm trying to, yell at my kids a little less, but they're seven and five. They're easy yell at.
01:17:27:14 - 01:17:28:07
Chris Harris Jr.
It's hard. You lot.
01:17:28:07 - 01:17:41:12
Brandon Krisztal
Of silly. They do a lot of silly stuff. I'm like, why would you leave that there? Why is that? You know, like, what are we doing here? I say, clean up the house and they make it dirtier. Like during the cleaning. So you know how that goes with five little ones. All right. But, well, happy, happy new year.
01:17:41:14 - 01:17:52:19
Brandon Krisztal
Let's hope we get this Broncos win. And we'll see you next week. On where the Harris is on Tuesday. And then of course here. So thank you David. Thank you John. And thank everybody for watching and listening. This has been Football Fridays.