The Broncos go into Kansas City and come away with a massive division win, their first in KC in years, as Denver continues its march toward the AFC West crown. Brandon Krisztal and Super Bowl champion Chris Harris Jr. react to what mattered most in a gritty road victory, why the game plan worked, and how the Broncos handled a tough environment without needing style points. From Sean Payton’s approach to Bo Nix’s growth, the conversation sets the stage for what this win means heading into the final stretch.
Denver’s win in Kansas City wasn’t about flash — it was about execution, discipline, and confidence in a plan. Brandon Krisztal and Chris Harris Jr. discuss how the Broncos managed the game, limited mistakes, and stayed composed in a hostile environment to secure a critical AFC West victory. Chris explains why the defensive approach worked, how Denver handled KC’s coverages, and what stood out on film from the secondary and pass rush. The show also dives into the impact of RJ Harvey, key offensive moments that shifted the game, and how Sean Payton’s situational football continues to show up in tight wins.
The guys also zoom out to the bigger picture, examining what this win means for the Broncos’ playoff positioning, division hopes, and confidence heading into the Chargers matchup. Chris Harris Jr.’s Film Room breaks down notable calls, coverage decisions, and individual performances, while Brandon and Chris close the show with NFL and College Football Playoff predictions, highlighting which teams they trust most as January approaches.
00:00:02:11 - 00:00:19:15
Brandon Krisztal
Happy Boxing Day. What's a better way to celebrate Boxing Day than spending all that money you got on Christmas? Most people in America don't even know what boxing is. It's fine, but something they celebrate in the UK and Canada. But for Americans, it's a good day to go and spend some of that Christmas cash on gear for your favorite team.
00:00:19:17 - 00:00:37:13
Brandon Krisztal
You see big Broncos win, big nuggets win of course ABS keep rolling. Stop by sports man. They got four locations two downtown on 16th Street. Of course the flagship store on federal right behind Power Field at Mile High as well as the store at Park Meadows. And they sell have so many great deals carrying over from the Christmas season.
00:00:37:13 - 00:00:53:09
Brandon Krisztal
Still, a handful of those commemorative Super Bowl 50 hats Collector's Edition. They're only going to make one run of those, and then you'll never have a chance to buy them again. And a bunch of other great deals, including I think they're still running there. Want want sale? Where you buy a Chiefs jersey, get a second one, for free.
00:00:53:14 - 00:01:17:15
Brandon Krisztal
So, for all the sad Chiefs. Sounds like we saw last night stopped by sports fan. You can buy them. Not one, but two gifts. But do yourself a favor and go by and see my friends at Sports Fan. You know, I touched on it. The Broncos win. It's a good way to celebrate the holiday. Chris Harris junior and I are going to break it all down as Football Fridays starts now.
00:01:17:18 - 00:01:32:16
Brandon Krisztal
Chris happy Boxing Day again. I don't even really know what boxing is other than that they give extra presents in the UK and Canada. But speaking of presents, you and your five girls and your wife, did you spoil them on Christmas?
00:01:32:19 - 00:01:47:09
Chris Harris Jr
Oh, yeah, man. But we got some good things, you know, some some artistic things to make them. Color drawer, you know, them to use their mind to be able to create things. So, so that's the type of gift I got them this year.
00:01:47:12 - 00:01:48:10
Brandon Krisztal
Okay, okay.
00:01:48:12 - 00:01:53:19
Chris Harris Jr
Well, they want a Robux. They want Robux points and stuff like that. And, you get your some art stuff.
00:01:53:25 - 00:01:57:07
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Okay, so that was for your kids, not for your wife. You didn't get your wife, art stuff.
00:01:57:09 - 00:01:59:10
Chris Harris Jr
Malala.
00:01:59:12 - 00:02:14:22
Brandon Krisztal
Let me ask you this. Is your wife good at picking out gifts for you? I imagine just based on knowing you and knowing how you dress. I'm not saying you're not a good dresser, but, the the she the she do a good job in the gift department, or do you say, oh, thanks. And then take some stuff back?
00:02:14:24 - 00:02:33:14
Chris Harris Jr
She did. She always does pretty good. She always been a, great surprise there for sure. This year, I think I just got, like, a cool cabin. Real simple. Like a cool, like, like a tea set, like a, you know, got me a old Q, mug. Yeah. You know all that. So it worked out pretty good.
00:02:33:20 - 00:02:34:14
Chris Harris Jr
I like it.
00:02:34:16 - 00:02:52:17
Brandon Krisztal
You know, it's funny, I think my wife and she thinks we have too many Jayhawks, in our life in terms of glassware and clothing, she'll never buy me anything k u related, unless, in fact, I even sent her, you know, because for a stretch of her, the quarters, if, like I'm wearing, they had the the white, all white one was pink for breast cancer.
00:02:52:17 - 00:03:09:03
Brandon Krisztal
I'm like, give me this. And that was like around Thanksgiving it did not come. And she she doesn't mean to do this, but she list of buy me clothes that I'm like, I'm not going to wear that. So I end up taking it back. And instead of trying to pick out sunglasses, she just got me a gift card to sunglass so I can go pick out my own.
00:03:09:03 - 00:03:24:04
Brandon Krisztal
I'm like, I really want new lenses for my glasses, but either way, I do take back more than I'd like. I did not get out of the park for her, but that was because literally, like, she was running out of perfume, so I just replace that. So you wanted new sunglasses, so I replaced those because hers are all scratched up.
00:03:24:07 - 00:03:37:05
Brandon Krisztal
And she may take them back, but I think I always do a little bit better of kind of trying to pay attention. I'll make a note on my phone, and then the kid's spoiled. Of course. Kiddo got a new bike. My my seven year old. He got a new bike. He's stoked. And my daughter, everything. K-pop demon hunters.
00:03:37:05 - 00:03:58:19
Brandon Krisztal
Dude, it is unbelievable the amount of K-pop stuff. But let's jump into the game because of course, the Broncos and in fact the nuggets. But let's let's stick with the Broncos. Because that's what we do. It may not have been a Sean Payton said, esthetically pleasing. It doesn't need to be. But 20 to 13 they go to Arrowhead against an undermanned Chiefs team who's still going to play tough and get that win.
00:03:58:19 - 00:04:02:11
Brandon Krisztal
Give me some takeaways from the game and from where you're sitting.
00:04:02:13 - 00:04:22:22
Chris Harris Jr
It's always tough going in KC. Regardless of the record, their team that it's a division game. They know each other very well. They're always going to play each other type. I mean, that's that's just the type of game it was. It was Thursday night game Broncos this plays Sunday. So to get the body ready to get you acclimated and ready to go for four tonight.
00:04:22:24 - 00:04:39:24
Chris Harris Jr
And that's how they played. You know they played like hey we're just trying to come in here and handle business and get up out of here. So, salute to them for being able to pull it out, even though it was a tough game. You're going to have games like this, but, you know, to go in there win in KC.
00:04:39:24 - 00:04:50:01
Chris Harris Jr
We haven't done that in a long time. To be able to get the job done and, one game away from division title man. You definitely should be excited.
00:04:50:03 - 00:05:09:06
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. You know, I take Sean Payton at his word on, a lot of stuff. I think we just do. The longer you cover them, the more you realize, okay, this guy, the reason he's won this many games, but he's like, the game unfolded how we thought it would. And he said that a few times, and they just didn't want to do the couple things that I think let the Chiefs stay in the game was, would turn out to be a great interception.
00:05:09:06 - 00:05:30:20
Brandon Krisztal
You know, Bo's under pressure. He throws the ball. Great play by the DB. Great. Christian Fulton, that was you know, is obviously a good player for for LSU and then Nick, the linebacker who's one of the fastest linebacker in the league to snatch the ball out of the air. That sets up their only touchdown and then big return in the kicking game that sets up points.
00:05:30:22 - 00:05:46:14
Brandon Krisztal
Otherwise the Broncos were fine. And so had they have not, you know, in those instances, shot themselves in the foot. The final score might have been like 20 to 9 if you will, but they weren't going to do anything to like Bowden. Take too many shots because you need to throw a deep interception that I know can essentially be a punt.
00:05:46:19 - 00:06:04:00
Brandon Krisztal
Didn't need to drop him back. I mean, I guess he did end up, you know, dropping back 38 times, but but not make him stand there and try to pick apart the defense. Just kind of take what was out there and keep the game manageable. So when Johnson didn't have to be esthetically pleasing, like, you know, like you said, they've got a shot to win the division and they can do it from their couch on Saturday.
00:06:04:00 - 00:06:06:22
Brandon Krisztal
If the Texans take care of the Chargers.
00:06:06:24 - 00:06:29:00
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. You know both. We definitely tried to still go down the field. It just wasn't there. And the Chiefs were playing more let's say coverages. They weren't blitzing and doing all the different things that they usually do from a Spagnola defense. But you know, so they kind of kept umbrella over top over there in cup a cap and they, the defense play good.
00:06:29:00 - 00:06:45:02
Chris Harris Jr
You know, you got to give credit to the Chiefs. There's still an NFL defense. You know it's crazy. Those over there still got some guys over there that can play. So our offense is that, high potent offense here to where the Chiefs defense wouldn't be a tough game. Does that make sense? When.
00:06:45:04 - 00:06:45:15
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah.
00:06:45:16 - 00:06:59:14
Chris Harris Jr
No motor offense shows their elite then we expect them to be you know go to the Chiefs and put up 30. But right now we're not there yet. We're still working progress. And you just got to go over there and get the job done and get the win.
00:06:59:16 - 00:07:14:02
Brandon Krisztal
Well that leads into kind of our first piece from from post game. And, Bo Nix was asked about the way Steve Spagnola and defense played him, and is it what they expected to see with that two high safety shell that, that Chris just mentioned?
00:07:14:04 - 00:07:30:09
Speaker 3
Well, it's honestly, it's the exact opposite of what I thought we were going to get. I thought they were going to pressures like crazy. But you're right. We got a bunch of two high zone the whole game, and it they put a lid on top of it and they make it tough to find explosive plays. So you just got to enjoy it down the field.
00:07:30:09 - 00:07:40:27
Speaker 3
And I think obviously the plays we scored on, they were longer drives, a lot of plays. So we just did what we had to do. But that was a good defense.
00:07:40:29 - 00:08:08:12
Brandon Krisztal
And they're a good defense. These Magnolia a heck of a coordinator. You mentioned Chris Jones. And of course Broncos fans appreciate him with the very, veteran move of of lining up offsides to set up the Broncos, late touchdown. But what's interesting is when they put Trent McDuffie, who's definitely their best corner, as well as as well as, Jalen Watson, their other corner on I.R. then I would think, okay, maybe they're not going to go, man, because they're taking their two best corners off the field.
00:08:08:17 - 00:08:28:14
Brandon Krisztal
And in order to help out the younger corners. And I know Christian Fulton obviously played plenty of football and was on that LSU title team with Joe Burrow in them. But he's that there's a reason that, you know, they play those other guys more. Certainly McDuffie that they weren't going to maybe try to get after it as much as there wouldn't be pressure looks, but that they were going to say, okay, you're going to have to beat us here.
00:08:28:14 - 00:08:46:18
Brandon Krisztal
Bo Nix and we've we can keep it close. Then maybe we come up with a play like they did. And so I, I'm not surprised just cause Bo said that doesn't mean that's what Sean said necessarily. Although I know they kind of, you know, probably are talking about this. Don't you think that's exactly how you would have played it once you lose your top two cover corners?
00:08:46:21 - 00:09:04:04
Chris Harris Jr
I see the philosophy in it. The philosophy is that, hey, the Broncos drive our big plays. What can we do to eliminate that? Make them, drive the ball down the field? Let's see if Bo Nix can put together ten play drives. You know, 15 play drives. And they were able to do that multiple times last night.
00:09:04:06 - 00:09:25:16
Chris Harris Jr
But that could be a strategy. Hey, let me make the Broncos big plays. Let's see if they're going to be consistent and run the football and see if they can work their way down the field. It worked. Last night. We had multiple drives with, multiple plays. But, you know, it's something that could be a possibility that you could see in the future for sure.
00:09:25:18 - 00:09:39:10
Brandon Krisztal
And so a couple other things that we want to get to from last night's game, you know, talking about those injuries to the Chiefs. Not a surprise. Not only did they shut down those two corners for the final two games, Richie Rice, who told the team he thought he had a concussion after the Chargers loss a couple weeks ago.
00:09:39:15 - 00:09:57:18
Brandon Krisztal
They were obviously focused as a team. I think maybe a little more on the Mahomes knee injury, but he ends up sitting out last week against the Titans and they shut him down as well as Tyquan Thornton. So you take two of your top 3 or 4 receivers off the field. And still he's worthy in Juju. But you knew that they weren't going to have many weapons for for Oladokun.
00:09:57:20 - 00:10:20:12
Brandon Krisztal
And and on the other side though, the Broncos we knew Nate Atkins reactivates the knee. Obviously Pat Bryant with the with the concussion. No no expectation that he'd be back and not sure how far along he is in that process. We'll probably have a better sense next week. And then Dre Greenlaw with the hamstring. I'm not sure how bad that is, but you on the side of caution there, especially with not being able to play after hurting his foot.
00:10:20:14 - 00:10:46:19
Brandon Krisztal
I think that maybe surprised some folks that he was able to get out there. But but the one that the way they manage the roster and we know that this is Sean's thing. Luke Wattenberg hurting his shoulder. And then you see, you know, just, as they go through their transactions for game day, they put Mercedes a little bit Mercedes Lewis I'm sorry on the on the 53 because he was out of elevations and they put Wattenberg on I.R., which means he has to miss four games.
00:10:46:19 - 00:11:02:19
Brandon Krisztal
I don't know how that factors in come playoffs. And I should see if I can find that out because, I mean, he can only play in the Super Bowl if you're the one seed. I guess we'll find that up. But Alex Forsyth steps in. He's a guy who started four games a year ago and then, you know, didn't play very, very much.
00:11:02:19 - 00:11:13:18
Brandon Krisztal
Loses a job to Wattenberg full time or it's Wattenberg job. Wattenberg with the Big deal force. I stepped in and I thought he he handled himself just fine against Chris Jones in that defense.
00:11:13:21 - 00:11:19:11
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. Empowered that that power play solid. That was how many games it has been back or was that his first game?
00:11:19:12 - 00:11:36:26
Brandon Krisztal
No game and a half. I mean, he played 20 games. And he played or 20 snaps. I think it was like 40 something to 20 something. I'll check the snaps real fast. But but yeah, just an interior O-line when you don't have that consistency that they, they've been Brooks have been lucky to be that consistent up front.
00:11:36:28 - 00:11:52:11
Brandon Krisztal
But just in general though, going when you go to backups, you know, it's sort of like PJ lock. And I know that this isn't the exact same, but it's not a guy that's never played or you're not moving a guard who's mostly a guard but is your backup center. So they've got to feel good about where that is.
00:11:52:11 - 00:12:09:26
Brandon Krisztal
And as for the snap breakdown, Paul Gesicki 31, powers 41. So he's already kind of retaken his spot. I guess we'll see how the game plays out on, a week from Sunday against the Chargers. But in general, just let's let's.
00:12:09:28 - 00:12:27:18
Chris Harris Jr
The Chiefs test that power soon. You know they they play was on him the first couple times. You know especially in pass rush and Power's held up an down. He was strong. That showed me that hey this guy's ready to come back. I got to see him a little bit more. Be more effective in the run game.
00:12:27:18 - 00:12:48:06
Chris Harris Jr
But, you know, I thought he looked solid. You know, he looked good. Because else was. He was getting his ass kicked so much inside, he had to go outside to go get some pressure. Right? So, so look at those boys inside. And you got to have some good veteran backup, especially in today's NFL. We can see what's going on with the Vikings.
00:12:48:06 - 00:12:55:21
Chris Harris Jr
I don't know how they won with that trash quarterback. Right. I have veteran backups due to go win a Super Bowl.
00:12:55:24 - 00:13:15:14
Brandon Krisztal
Okay, so, I want to hear Bo talking about Forsyth in a second, but let's stick there just just for a set because I don't know when you crossed the threshold from young to to veteran because Roseman was making his second start for the Vikings three passing yards total and they win that game I mean the four to the four turnovers credit to Brian Flores.
00:13:15:14 - 00:13:36:00
Brandon Krisztal
But it's funny because I see people tweeting How's Brian Flores not getting more talk about as a head coach? And I'm like, don't sue the NFL. He's actively selling his future employers. So all it takes is one. All it takes is one team that likes him that either isn't in the lawsuit or doesn't care. You know, let's pretend the Giants who were part of that lawsuit, and I think are pretty prominently named.
00:13:36:02 - 00:13:55:02
Brandon Krisztal
If the Giants said, hey, we'll hire you, drop the lawsuit. Maybe that's enough. I don't know, but anyway, Rosen has two starts. He looks bad and both terrible in Seattle. Not great yesterday. Oh, the Duke wins in year four, but he's been a practice squad player mostly. It's. As Kirk Herbstreit pointed out in the broadcast, two rings.
00:13:55:05 - 00:14:12:20
Brandon Krisztal
And he didn't look like a guy. He didn't look like a deer in headlights didn't look great, but there was a comfort level. So my biggest takeaway for the Chiefs in a lot of ways was they don't need to bring Minshew back. And I don't know how hard he is that I think Oladokun will probably be fine as Mahomes backup going forward.
00:14:12:22 - 00:14:32:10
Chris Harris Jr
Oladokun is a good scrambler. He's a good runner. He can make plays off script, but when it comes to passing, he is not a right. They need a guy that can pass the football. That's going to be behind Mahomes. Oladokun. He didn't show me that he can pass and be a consistent backup. But, you know, you should make make plays with his legs.
00:14:32:11 - 00:14:50:27
Chris Harris Jr
You can't scramble, when it's time he's doing. He's better than a lot of other backups in this league, though. But do I think he should be penciled in as automatic? And the answer is the backup? No. But then he makes them all Oscar plays. Yes, but when it came down to it and he had to win the game with his arm, he was very inaccurate.
00:14:51:00 - 00:15:07:08
Chris Harris Jr
So that's that's the kind of things I look at. Can he make some throws when the teams meet, when a team needs him. And a lot of times I thought those were listed for lucky. The Broncos haven't faced a guy like this. You're getting in there, getting used to his play style. And once they caught on to it, the Duke can really do anything.
00:15:07:10 - 00:15:13:02
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Well, let's be honest. You don't really scheme against the guy dribbling the ball to himself.
00:15:13:05 - 00:15:18:02
Chris Harris Jr
Right? Moving the ball. Why you scrambling?
00:15:18:04 - 00:15:37:18
Brandon Krisztal
But also a guy that's in your line of work. I guess you've been doing a little longer. Jordan Palmer, who's Carson Palmer's little brother, works with every quarterback you work with. Burrow coming out, Josh Allen, Mahomes. He says that he has a, I guess, a theory that was developed, you know, or inspired by his brother saying, you know, when Carson gets to the league, he's number one pick, but he might get in a for a year.
00:15:37:18 - 00:15:58:27
Brandon Krisztal
And then Kitna stayed on that roster. And Carson even in year ten once a vet in the room. So that's like Chad Haney Matt Moore. Guys like that have always been good. Minshew in this case, it always been good for Patrick because having a true vet in the room, yeah, I guess can speak to that theory. What do you think about especially for quarterbacks because different position groups are different.
00:15:59:00 - 00:16:19:15
Brandon Krisztal
Although we know like what Dobbins brought to the room. Or what probably Tim Patrick is doing down in Jacksonville kind of situation, certainly before Jacoby Myers got there. What do you think, though, for quarterbacks specifically about no matter how good you are, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen Lamar Mahomes obviously and Bo Nix with guys like Stidham. But what do you think about that notion.
00:16:19:18 - 00:16:37:22
Chris Harris Jr
I think that always helps. A lot of quarterbacks are very young. So if you can get a better guy with them. I think even the veteran quarterbacks like an older guy with them, somebody that you know, kind of knows the game, knows the way around just to help them out with their, you know, preparation and then being able to have that, you know, guy that can connect with.
00:16:37:22 - 00:16:59:23
Chris Harris Jr
So I think as a, as an organization, as a GM, a head coach, you gotta find that backup that can mess with that starting guy. If you got a guy like a mess with them, that they can be able to prepare together, be great, great teammates towards each other. That can be huge. And, you know Stidham is a great choice for Bo Nix even though they went to that competition right.
00:16:59:25 - 00:17:18:18
Chris Harris Jr
Instead just you know he understands his role and and the things that he has to do. If Bo did get out and we we expect him to come in and play solid. So this is where teams are losing it. You know, the Colts find a way to get to give Philip Rivers. But, you know, every a lot of teams that run a league are struggling with this, right?
00:17:18:18 - 00:17:32:13
Chris Harris Jr
They're struggling with this, Tua that hadn't had a vet, you know, backup quarterback with a more vet quarterback to be able to help him along. And then some other young quarterbacks. Michael Penix got lucky. Guy Kirk's cousins.
00:17:32:13 - 00:17:44:13
Brandon Krisztal
Well, and and, Jayden Daniels has Mariota. Yeah. But like Justin Fields never really had it. No I don't think. And look at kind of where he is I guess he had Russ you know last year in Pittsburgh I don't.
00:17:44:21 - 00:17:45:04
Chris Harris Jr
Count that.
00:17:45:04 - 00:17:59:27
Brandon Krisztal
One. I don't think I don't think Russ isn't equipped to be the vet. Like so the Giants are maybe a good example Jaxson Dart, they think he's going to be their guy. Or at least they're certainly I don't think in the the business to draft. And that's why that game's really interesting. Raiders. Giants are not looking at quarterback for the Giants.
00:17:59:27 - 00:18:15:14
Brandon Krisztal
They're looking at can we be number one so we can trade to whomever and maybe someone Leapfrogs Raiders gives us a pick. But dart has to take Russell way. He has James. If I'm the Giants I'm like, no, I want James, I want James back. I want Jameis around where I get James is the goofiest dude around, but he's still a vet.
00:18:15:14 - 00:18:32:09
Brandon Krisztal
He's seen a lot of football and I know in meetings, and I'm sure on the sideline he's because that's kind of the biggest thing is you need someone that isn't the coach, right? Not that your quarterback coach isn't value, but you want a guy that's almost like a coach, but is still a player, right?
00:18:32:12 - 00:18:50:05
Chris Harris Jr
I think James would be perfect. You know, he's a perfect backup quarterback. You know, a guy that's going to be very influential in the locker room. He's going to also, you know, hype up your quarterback Greg Wood, being able to, great communicator. So, you know, if I'm a backup quarterback I'm looking at the Vikings.
00:18:50:07 - 00:19:05:08
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah, I'm looking at the Raiders. Even though, you know, they're probably going to get some young guys. But still man it's going to be wide open over there. With some other good teams. You know that the some other teams that might miss some spots, the Saints quarterback is playing a lot better. He's improving.
00:19:05:08 - 00:19:07:05
Brandon Krisztal
That's a good one though. Is is New.
00:19:07:05 - 00:19:10:00
Chris Harris Jr
Orleans. Yeah.
00:19:10:03 - 00:19:17:06
Brandon Krisztal
You look at you look at in you know that same division I think Carolina Andy Dalton probably been great for Bryce Young.
00:19:17:09 - 00:19:17:26
Chris Harris Jr
Oh you think.
00:19:17:26 - 00:19:36:14
Brandon Krisztal
About right when you think about look at where Bryce is now in year three that he might go ahead and win that division. And so who are the other guys out there? It's funny because we talk about quarterbacks, and I always have said that it's crazy to me with 380 million people in America and now 8 billion people on the planet, we can't find 32 good quarterbacks.
00:19:36:17 - 00:19:41:06
Chris Harris Jr
Oh, that's bad man. It's but the value of that backup quarterback.
00:19:41:06 - 00:19:55:26
Brandon Krisztal
And I you know, I go back to a year ago. You talk about the competition between City and Bo City in the locker room is like I think I'm one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the NFL. And some people took that as like, oh, I'm better than Bo, which is not what you were saying. He's basically saying, I'm better than Chris Oladokun.
00:19:55:28 - 00:20:06:02
Brandon Krisztal
You know what? I'm better than than JJ McCarthy. Certainly what we've seen through his two seasons, you know, now 24 games and counting. But yeah, the idea.
00:20:06:02 - 00:20:08:23
Chris Harris Jr
That I can get a great cornerback, they got to draft the quarterback.
00:20:09:00 - 00:20:29:11
Brandon Krisztal
Well, like you said, rivers do like the fact that rivers can walk off the street, that he's a better option than than whatever they had in that building, or they can't coax Sam Ellinger to come join them. And that said something about Ellinger too, that he would rather stay here on the practice squad. And then they put him on the active, but then go be the starter in Indy who was in the playoff mix.
00:20:29:13 - 00:20:31:25
Brandon Krisztal
The. That's pretty remarkable.
00:20:31:27 - 00:20:45:04
Chris Harris Jr
I'm definitely going if I'm Sam Ehlinger I'm sorry. You know yeah. No time to gain some time and get an active check. For your accrued years business, why is it smart to go play. Well the Browns.
00:20:45:07 - 00:21:05:04
Brandon Krisztal
Putting them on the 53, so. Oh, he did okay. But regardless, if you're a competitor, why wouldn't you want to play like I understand the notion of the Broncos maybe going far this year. So if you want to ring, they still send him a ring. I think if they were to win and any could break. Come back here if you don't sign, and you got a long term deal, I can come back next year, but I don't.
00:21:05:04 - 00:21:19:01
Brandon Krisztal
Oh. So here. So speaking of backups, this is Bo, and I kind of forgot this. It just wasn't that. It was in the back of my mind, cause I'm thinking, okay, what can four sides do in place of Wattenberg? But this is bo last night on on. So I step in. Who's going to be the center now for a while?
00:21:19:04 - 00:21:47:12
Speaker 3
I'm super proud of him. Nobody prepares. I would say nobody prepares more in this league than he does. I think he is, one of the most, you know, in-depth preparers I've ever seen. And it's, awesome to play behind him. I knew going into this game that he wasn't going to leave a stone unturned. And, you know, he prepares like no other, and he's going to do his best to put the team in his, in the best chance of succeeding.
00:21:47:12 - 00:22:05:02
Speaker 3
And I think, you know, we all know what happened here last year and how, you know, how much it hurt him and how much, you know, it meant to him. I think it's just, you know, sort of a god wink that he got to, you know, come back here and start and play the full game, and we get our first win here for, you know, in a long time.
00:22:05:02 - 00:22:13:06
Speaker 3
And so I think, he's earned that. And he does fully, well deserving of that game ball.
00:22:13:08 - 00:22:37:21
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And and I think about that. Right. Like stepping in to the place where you last year on that on that blocked field goal. That's, that's I guess kind of fun football. Justice if you don't you call it. But the karma whatever it is I don't know for Forsyth who had probably the worst moment of his young NFL career, the now certainly one of the best.
00:22:37:24 - 00:23:06:06
Chris Harris Jr
You know, it can it can happen like that. You know, the the game changes. You got to be able to be able to fight and still be be prepared and ready to play any time your time is call for side is have experience of playing in this league for a while. So you know Broncos have veteran alignment and, you know, losing those tight games and Casey just as callous at, strengthens the team and strengthens their confidence.
00:23:06:06 - 00:23:19:24
Chris Harris Jr
And being able to win in the playoffs and being able to get that all those little we kind of have shadows kind of fall on us, right? We didn't make the playoffs for ten years. We did what what was the streak of in Kansas City?
00:23:20:00 - 00:23:44:25
Brandon Krisztal
15. Oh, in Kansas City, y'all hadn't won since the I think the Rob the Rob Marsh, it's been I think a decade had happened since the year before that, 2014 because we all remember 2015, even though you won there. That was in the Miss Four interception game. When Peyton sets the record for most completions on out to Ronnie Hillman, they tried to stop the game and Peyton's like, no, no, no, because he'd already 20 picks.
00:23:44:28 - 00:24:05:05
Chris Harris Jr
Right? That's what I'm saying. Like, it was a lot of dark clouds, that the Broncos had to overcome and do the blocked field goals and losing the tight games and Kansas City and things like that. You know, beat them up and now they're ready to go. So I think they, they, they should be way better in the playoffs this year.
00:24:05:05 - 00:24:20:02
Chris Harris Jr
I don't see them going one and done. But will it be hard for them to win a Super Bowl as, as, as well as they're playing right now? I would say, yeah. Because they're not playing the best football right now. But they're calloused, they're more prepared, they're more experienced to go into the playoffs issue.
00:24:20:04 - 00:24:38:27
Brandon Krisztal
Well, and speaking of that callous, the one thing you know, and I'm watching the game with some friends who had us over for Christmas. It's a bunch of Broncos fans. The one random neighbor who's a chief fan who's talking trash just to do it, knowing that his team is, you know, isn't in it. And there's a nervousness I'm feeling on Twitter like, oh, we should win this game, but why am I so nervous?
00:24:39:04 - 00:25:02:08
Brandon Krisztal
And I think it is all the stuff you talked about the decade, the losing of the Chiefs, you know, not making the playoffs, but the other side of it is the Broncos have been behind in all 12 of their one score wins. And so there's not a panic there. And we know every playoff game is close. Typically you know you'll have the outliers those early round games or the random Super Bowl blowout like last year.
00:25:02:11 - 00:25:18:18
Brandon Krisztal
So when they get in the playoffs and they're down, you know, 2314 or whatever it may be, I don't know if that's the end of the world because, you know, that's how they were down in the Chargers game. They they've been there. This is where they live. And so I get your point about you got to play better because a team like the Jags won't let you get back in.
00:25:18:18 - 00:25:23:08
Brandon Krisztal
It May but they'll be fine in these close games. It feels like.
00:25:23:11 - 00:25:39:17
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah you just don't know. In the playoffs games can get ugly fast right. And they can you know it could get ugly real quick. A team scored three times in a row. Bam! You found yourself in a hole. You got to be able to fight back and come back. That's what I'm worried about on Denver.
00:25:39:17 - 00:25:56:01
Chris Harris Jr
You know, we play a team in the playoffs and get in the hole. Can we come back and win that game? You know, we want to play tight games. We've shown that we can come back this season, but it's different in the playoffs. It's a lot harder. Teams are a lot better. So that's just one thing I'm worried about is that we need to play it.
00:25:56:02 - 00:26:03:25
Chris Harris Jr
We need to get our running game better. Our secondary has been a little leaky. The last couple games that we need to tighten it up before we go.
00:26:03:27 - 00:26:29:20
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And I'm not. You know, I think it was easy to point to PJ Locke after, you know, that first game against the Jags. I don't think you could do that yesterday. Although it's hard to say that they were leaky like you talked about with your solid. Yeah. With the way the the Chiefs threw the ball. You know so in that road to to now 12 wins by in the one score or in the comeback all technically a comeback where they were behind they get to 13 on the season.
00:26:29:22 - 00:26:44:08
Brandon Krisztal
Sean Payton is in pretty rarefied air here. He ties only Bill Belichick as the coaches to win at least five, win 13 games at least five times. And Sean was asked about that the distinguished mark last night.
00:26:44:10 - 00:27:07:08
Speaker 4
Man, I've been fortunate to have been on and coached a lot of great players. There's nothing like winning. And, all of those teams, when I heard that, I had trouble figuring out, you know, which were the 13 win teams, but because because we had some other teams that were 12, you know, 11 win teams.
00:27:07:08 - 00:27:29:00
Speaker 4
But, I've been fortunate to have really good players and real good coaches, some of them right here that have been a part of you know, all of those wins, part of those wins. Obviously Bill's good company. So let's keep it going.
00:27:29:03 - 00:27:50:29
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. I think you know Belichick, so long as you're not tying him for most adult cheerleading competitions. Watched in person. But, when it comes to NFL coaching, he's he's pretty unmatched. So when you can get in a club with him, how much do you think the two of those guys being around Bill Parcells. Is it total coincidence or is there something to that?
00:27:50:29 - 00:27:55:07
Brandon Krisztal
Obviously Parcells that other assistants but those two specifically.
00:27:55:09 - 00:28:23:14
Chris Harris Jr
Just being you know, straight to the point, guys, you know, champagne and sugar coat too much. He tries to with the media sometimes, but, you know, you know, he just can't do it. He's always a guy that's got a pretty much gotta be is, straight forward. Is he can even with interviews. And I think that's where that comes from, you know, that that that Coach Gentry is a, you know, hard nosed coach.
00:28:23:14 - 00:28:44:12
Chris Harris Jr
And truly, most of his coaches are they're not team, let's say, young team coaches or, you know, team guy type guys like that, you know, a players coach, they're not like that. So they're more even though Peyton can't be, he has a little bit in there. But most of the guys from Ed true, they're all hard nosed.
00:28:44:14 - 00:28:54:27
Chris Harris Jr
They're all, you know, get the job done or get out of here type guys. And, you know, that's that's just, you know, that's history, you know?
00:28:54:29 - 00:29:10:12
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And and it's obviously served both of them really well. You know, it's funny, when they came in and especially that first year, you're trying to change your culture here. The idea that, like, everyone's kind of walking on eggshells or, you know, you're looking over your shoulder, am I doing my job well enough? But that's also just an accountability thing.
00:29:10:15 - 00:29:31:03
Brandon Krisztal
And so I think that, clearly Sean knows how to win football games. I think maybe the biggest thing to that, that those guys both had in common is the situational awareness and situational football, with what they, you know, what they preach to their team and then and then practice on Fridays. And obviously that helps them execute.
00:29:31:03 - 00:29:44:21
Brandon Krisztal
So how about we do this as we do every single week? It is I think, the, the the part of the show people look forward to the most. We're going to hop into Chris Harris Jr film room.
00:29:44:23 - 00:29:45:23
Chris Harris Jr
Let's get it.
00:29:45:26 - 00:30:04:09
Brandon Krisztal
All right. So we're all, as we seem to have to do every single week, start with questionable calls on defense, and questionable calls in general. How about this egregious pass interference? Can you believe they didn't get Pat for assault there as much as he, was all over worthy right now?
00:30:04:09 - 00:30:27:03
Chris Harris Jr
Live what is in the great situation right there. I think they call him for a little push tomorrow or a little push, at the top right there. The ball is now uncatchable. Pat didn't even have to touch them. So, it's a little ticky tech. If I'm a ref, I want to call it it, because there's no way you can catch that ball.
00:30:27:06 - 00:30:47:24
Chris Harris Jr
But, you know, Pat doesn't have to put his hands two hands on him at the top. It was great at the line of scrimmage. Great staying on top. He didn't even have to panic or anything. So, it was just pretty much, you know, Pat, just being able to be comfortable up top and just be able to turn back and look at Lane and, you know, so you don't get that,
00:30:47:26 - 00:31:11:24
Brandon Krisztal
It's take that off. It feels as ticky tacky as it comes. And speaking of ticky tacky, it happened the other way, too. And it's funny, you get number two. Here's number one. Let's look at Evan Ingram. How egregious was this pass interference? Nick Bolton.
00:31:11:27 - 00:31:26:27
Chris Harris Jr
No. That happens. That happened to me, but got like 50 times. Oh, that he is not a, you know, an NFL RB did that. All those guys, man pushed off just like that. I see Pickens do that every game.
00:31:27:00 - 00:31:29:24
Brandon Krisztal
Right? Michael Irvin's in the Hall of Fame because of that.
00:31:29:27 - 00:31:38:03
Chris Harris Jr
Exactly right. So is is taking Dak Ingram is the second leading receiver on the team. So he is doing something this year.
00:31:38:05 - 00:32:00:12
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah it's funny because his numbers are you know as dynamic as they could be in this offense. And with Sean having his his joker or who we thought would be the Joker but he has come up with some big plays. That one there. I mean, good job, good concentration to find the football and secure it. I couldn't believe that that was a call that feels as bad as any that we've seen all year on either side of the ball.
00:32:00:14 - 00:32:04:26
Brandon Krisztal
But here's your silver lining. Nothing call on Riley Moss yesterday.
00:32:04:28 - 00:32:13:05
Chris Harris Jr
So Moss had a good game. It was quiet. You know, those are the games he made, and, I don't. Did he get a target? Probably. I like two targets.
00:32:13:07 - 00:32:31:29
Brandon Krisztal
I mean, it's hard to tell exactly where that kid was going all the time. With the football, so. All right, we got those two. The defense, you know, V.J. and the defensive line. Keyshawn talked about this. They they weren't trying to rack up sacks. They wanted to cage rush this guy because you touched on all that.
00:32:31:29 - 00:32:50:09
Brandon Krisztal
You can certainly can use his legs. But this was kind of that sequence where in 2 or 3 straight plays, they really made him uncomfortable. I think this is maybe the one of the biggest plays. And if Bonito pops it in the air, maybe he ends up walking into the end zone. Well, what are they doing up front here?
00:32:50:10 - 00:32:53:13
Brandon Krisztal
That's.
00:32:53:15 - 00:33:11:18
Chris Harris Jr
Broncos didn't play him. Play a man and send him five. You know being able to just bring the heat. That's what we always do. We know that that they don't want to go deep. So be able to get up play aggressive. Bonito has been great at getting his hands up all season. Ten plus sacks. And, that's that's what they do.
00:33:11:19 - 00:33:22:25
Chris Harris Jr
You know, the Broncos are going to be going to blitz are going to bring some heat. They know this guy wasn't going to be able to read the coverages, and they just have to keep him in the pocket. Well, they got nothing, you know.
00:33:22:27 - 00:33:39:24
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Speaking of sacks, not a lot. But again, as Sean said, the goal of the game wasn't to rack up sacks. It was to keep him caged in. So you only end up with technically one sack, but it ended up being a pretty big one. Historically, I guess.
00:33:39:27 - 00:34:01:19
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. Elliss makes plays. You know, he's just been a guy since they drafted him, with, limited playing time. He's made plays, so I love John Ellis. He has great. Always a high motor, very intelligent guy at the edge. He's a great backup. He's a great. You know, number three could possibly be a starter, you know?
00:34:01:19 - 00:34:07:12
Chris Harris Jr
So, not tell him what the stats would be if he plays a full year starter. Because the guy always makes plays.
00:34:07:15 - 00:34:31:28
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And I read. Yeah, we write. You get a team record for sacks or passing their own record from a year ago. And they did it. They did it in 16 games. So, at least you look at it and say, all right, well, that's a, that's a mark that really beats the 84 team. Now that they had whatever it was that many more sacks in the final game last year, they did play the Chiefs.
00:34:31:28 - 00:34:56:00
Brandon Krisztal
Now I think all they do can even got in the game a little bit in that one. But it's a credit to them. I don't think they're going to catch the 84 bears, with the 72 or whatever. But they're going to be poised come playoff. I mean, you talk about Ellis, they really have a nice almost five man rotation because it's Ellis, it's Tillman and Q Robinson is certainly demanding playing time as well.
00:34:56:00 - 00:34:58:19
Chris Harris Jr
And yeah Tillman.
00:34:58:22 - 00:35:14:20
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. So it'll be fun to see in the playoffs when BJ unleashes them. As far as that strategy, what do you think about that the the cage rush versus let's let's go get after him. Because Sean said the worst place to be in the NFL is behind the quarterback, especially an athletic one.
00:35:14:22 - 00:35:32:00
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. You got a cage. This guy, you know, the only way he can beat you is with his legs. And that's when he did. Because when he created all, all script throws and found guys wide open. Other than that, he can beat you in the pocket. He was not a grab bag passer. And that's the thing you got to kind of have.
00:35:32:03 - 00:35:49:29
Chris Harris Jr
You gotta kind of try to cage rush. He's got to keep him in a pocket, don't give him easy throws. And, make him beat you do that. And, that's what the Broncos did. They play the game non. They play. You know, I feel like something coach the game like that. Like he knew like, hey, we don't have to do too much.
00:35:50:02 - 00:36:05:03
Chris Harris Jr
We don't feel this guy on, defense at all. So, that was a great game plan by BJ. Even though we didn't get the stats and things that you wanted. When you play a guy like this, a back up kind of just want to make sure that you just, make sure all the guys do that.
00:36:05:03 - 00:36:15:09
Chris Harris Jr
Follow the game plan. You don't want to bring too much exotic stuff. And, because you got to be some new wrinkles that they bring out coming into the playoffs.
00:36:15:11 - 00:36:30:13
Brandon Krisztal
All right. A guy that we haven't talked about maybe enough. He was a Pro Bowl alternate alternate. We can also touch on the the problem here when we get out of the film room. But this dude has been a stalwart as a leading tackler on special teams in the NFL and is now an alternate for the Pro Bowl.
00:36:30:13 - 00:36:39:04
Brandon Krisztal
But here's this one of, many plays that he's made all season. What do you think of Devin Ki, the backup safety who's been so key, if you will, on special teams?
00:36:39:07 - 00:36:57:12
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. You got to have some guys like that. I mean, you know, he's played he hasn't played a major on defense, but special teams, he's definitely been an impact player. Leading the team in tackles. Most tackles, special teams, tackles and team history. And we've had some great time. Very special teams. Guys from broom Keith Barnes. Right.
00:36:57:12 - 00:37:13:23
Chris Harris Jr
Barnes is, shoots. He's bad. Especially since Hall of Fame Barnes would be in. Yeah, right. So key to come up there and match him and, you know, have a chance to be able to have the most tackle or. Well, he's tied for the. But to be able to stand alone next week. That's a great job by the kid.
00:37:13:23 - 00:37:26:23
Chris Harris Jr
Great effort. And you need impact players on special teams. Especially, you know, with the today's day, with a lot of young players, you got to have some key guys or special teams that can give you high effort and go make tackles.
00:37:26:25 - 00:37:48:26
Brandon Krisztal
And it's funny because guys get bumped up to have to play more. And talking to you about, you know, that's always the biggest challenge when PJ Locke is the core special team person. Add, their thrust into action at linebacker that can have that domino effect, and then, you're relying on guys that maybe aren't in there as much because you can't have starters on every special team the way they do.
00:37:48:26 - 00:38:09:04
Brandon Krisztal
And the when you're totally healthy. Let's look at a couple of plays on offense. How about, you know, we talked about you said would that cover two but still took some chances down the field. They weren't deep, deep shots, but here's a big one that ends up adding to Courtland Sutton this season. Total. And and what about you know you get the drop in the end zone.
00:38:09:04 - 00:38:17:01
Brandon Krisztal
You had a couple drops last week. But just what you've gotten from Sutton, especially after paying him in his 30s, which is something you don't always see.
00:38:17:03 - 00:38:37:11
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. You know he tried that was a great though being able to find that hole shot. I think that might have been his biggest, catch of the day. But, being able to get a thousand yards, that's huge. Three for Cortland has great. That's right behind it. And I don't think anybody catches right right now at this pace.
00:38:37:13 - 00:38:42:29
Chris Harris Jr
He's got guys alone right now. But congrats the court. This is his first bubble.
00:38:43:01 - 00:39:00:14
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. No no no it's a second. But over 2019 he makes it I think he and Chubb made it. But then he takes his knee the next year. And so to fight through it, it's the fact that he's still been able to string, you know, all these thousand yard seasons together goes back to back thousand yards.
00:39:00:15 - 00:39:01:16
Brandon Krisztal
00:39:01:19 - 00:39:19:24
Chris Harris Jr
I think now, Sanders 33. All right. Yeah. Playing the as the number two winning team and still getting a thousand every almost every year that he was here even with, even with the Trevor he got a thousand. Right, right. Oh, hey, he was low key baller. That's Bronco with.
00:39:19:26 - 00:39:43:18
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And and so to see caught in that you know I guess it's his third thousand yard season. But to do it back to back years and to have that gap between Pro Bowls. I do want to talk about the Pro Bowl here in just a second, but let's look at, one more play that ended up being, I think, the, the difference in the game, in so many respects, at least in how the game ended.
00:39:43:20 - 00:40:04:26
Chris Harris Jr
There's Harvey making the play, knowing where he's at, being able to, extend the his route as much as possible, knowing that he is the number one guy. And they probably work this scramble drill right here and being able to act like they're going out and being able to stop on a dime, that's that's, you know, that's the pattern in champagne when you play champagne, you know, you're getting both to the left.
00:40:04:28 - 00:40:07:01
Chris Harris Jr
It's coming and.
00:40:07:03 - 00:40:08:29
Brandon Krisztal
You going left.
00:40:09:01 - 00:40:25:12
Chris Harris Jr
To defend to the left or right. That's how I'm talking from a defensive standpoint. Right. It's coming to the left, guys. You know, it's coming every time. And, they were on it. But, you know, sometimes you got to be able to scramble and make a play. Harvey's out. The Harvey being out to make big plays.
00:40:25:15 - 00:40:35:27
Chris Harris Jr
I mean, he was probably the only guy that really had stand it out on the offensive side of the ball last, yesterday. So shout out to Harvey, man. Playing playing some good ball right now.
00:40:36:00 - 00:40:57:09
Brandon Krisztal
And in some pretty rarefied air. He scored in five straight games. So that ties a team. Team record. You know I didn't watch in the early 72. I wasn't around, so I didn't see John Keyworth, but I remember Peyton Hillis, rolling for that stretch. And then Philip Lindsay, of course you were. You were there for that, undrafted local kid and and now RJ Harvey.
00:40:57:09 - 00:41:17:06
Brandon Krisztal
And then you see how about that rarefied air Alvin Kamara certainly in offense. He's a touchdown away from tying him. And then Gale Sayers because he had to kick returns there. So Gale or not I'm sorry. So Gale had 20 touchdowns rushing and receiving any of two kick returns. He set the rookie record with 22. I believe Dickerson had 20.
00:41:17:08 - 00:41:39:21
Brandon Krisztal
So are they likely not catching them? I don't think he has, a nine touchdown game next week, but yeah, he did, he did. I saw this stat. Let me pull it up real quick. He did tie so some pretty, you know, pretty unique company with who has had five rushing and five receiving touchdowns as rookies.
00:41:39:23 - 00:42:07:18
Brandon Krisztal
Here's the list. We'll go in reverse order. Doak Walker, Charlie Taylor, Gale Sayers Kamara and now RJ and Ashton Gente the only the only rookies in NFL history with five rushing and five receiving. So that's that's pretty good. Pretty good. That list was even more, I guess exclusive because of the seven, rushing touchdowns there. So, how about this?
00:42:07:18 - 00:42:15:02
Brandon Krisztal
So you say it's part of the Sean Payton offense. Bo Nix gives RJ credit since you see this game like a quarterback. Here's Sean though talking about the play.
00:42:15:04 - 00:42:35:12
Speaker 4
Yeah it was covered initially. And then you know he kind of climbed. And then man he's got receiver skill sets that are I couldn't see the angle. And I heard the cheer and I just said please tell me that's not an interception because it was loud enough where I, you know, I didn't know if it was the, you know, Kansas City cheer.
00:42:35:15 - 00:43:04:28
Speaker 4
Fortunately, he was the Bronco cheer. So, I mean, I'm sure it was a heck of a throw in catch. But in to score seven, it greatly changes the dynamic with with their kicker. You know, how the the kicking game is like you're starting right at the 35 average, so it greatly changes the the outcome of the game.
00:43:05:01 - 00:43:09:15
Speaker 4
That they needed a touchdown.
00:43:09:17 - 00:43:35:10
Brandon Krisztal
I think that yeah. When you saw that final drive they just need to go down and get a field goal. But Butler that's that's going to be different. So so so Sean says he has receiver skill set both as he sees the game like a quarterback. What you was how valuable is that when and what do you think Harvey did you expect this level of production as a rookie and to see him really come into his own after the Dobbins injury?
00:43:35:12 - 00:43:39:11
Brandon Krisztal
Anthony wasn't playing well in his limited action before that.
00:43:39:13 - 00:43:58:12
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah, I seen him coming in, just based off him playing in the big 12. Always one of the top running backs. And they were loaded with a lot of good running backs and a big 12. Harvey was always explosive and and seeing, his catching ability, matched with what I've had to play against going against the Sean Payton, seeing how he uses his running backs.
00:43:58:15 - 00:44:19:05
Chris Harris Jr
You know, he's going to have been an impact this year. I just thought Dobbins would be the bell cow. He would be the leading guy. And, and, be able to ride him in the playoffs because he's more of a playoff guy. But Harvey's doing solid. You know, he's doing his role. When you play with Sean Payton, you have a great chance of always having the high number touchdown catches and rushing as a running back.
00:44:19:07 - 00:44:41:14
Chris Harris Jr
If you're able to, able to do that. But, you know, getting high praise from your quarterback saying you're very he's saying he's smart guy and able to pick up the offense as a rookie. And, that's that's what it takes, man. You got to be able to, be able to fight through that long rookie year. You know, it's hard as a rookie playing with Sean Payton, all that verbiage and and offense that you have to learn.
00:44:41:15 - 00:44:56:07
Chris Harris Jr
But he's picking it up well he's having a good rookie year and we haven't really seen a drop off a Harvey. Then you know compared to Dobbins you have. But as a rookie you know he's doing pretty solid. You know he's Ashton's right there. And you got to go Harvey as number two.
00:44:56:10 - 00:45:16:03
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And obviously he's part of a winning team. You would have thought about it feels like it's a three person race. Maybe McMillan gets in there as your offensive rookie of the year. But it's it's interesting. Right. Like all four of them can make a case and it'll make for one of the more exciting, if you will, seeing award results in an NFL honors.
00:45:16:06 - 00:45:24:02
Brandon Krisztal
That does it, though. For this week's trip inside the Chris Harris Junior Film Room.
00:45:24:04 - 00:45:44:00
Brandon Krisztal
So I mentioned Pro Bowlers court goes back to the Pro Bowl for the first time. You know, in a minute since 2019 and your other five Pro Bowlers, no surprise, two now, four Pro Bowls in five years. He's a starter. Nick Benito a starter, outside linebacker. Zach Allen a Pro Bowler. So that's a three on defense.
00:45:44:00 - 00:46:07:19
Brandon Krisztal
I thought he might have gotten snubbed, but they they ended up putting, Derwin James and Brown a Blake on the other two safeties. But Jalen Ramsey was I think one of them and so he's one of the alternates. And then on offense minors again he's your All-Pro right guard. Makes his first Pro Bowl this year even though he's first team all pro court as we mentioned it.
00:46:07:19 - 00:46:15:03
Brandon Krisztal
How about your boy Garrett bowls in year nine. Going to his first Pro Bowl is playing like the best left tackle in football right now.
00:46:15:05 - 00:46:31:08
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. Shout out to Bozeman. Be able to find still able to get it. You have your first probably year nine. That's amazing. You know usually when they're they're saying you're falling off and having to be able to get it at nine is huge. Shout out there at the minors. Is that his first Pro Bowl?
00:46:31:10 - 00:46:34:02
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Even though his first job pro this is his first Pro Bowl.
00:46:34:06 - 00:46:39:17
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. Minors first Pro Bowl Zach Allen I don't know him in the Pro Bowl Z two.
00:46:39:19 - 00:46:50:09
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Back to back to back years I think I know last year he was I can double check it. Last year he was second team all pro, so.
00:46:50:09 - 00:47:15:05
Chris Harris Jr
Oh yeah I be first team all pro. He slowed down a little bit. I know Jeffery Simmons inside is playing like a all pro. But Zach Allen at one point. Hey, man. Benito slowed down. They had first team all pro. I don't know if they're gonna be able to get all pro anymore. You know, it's going to be hard, with the way the Russians turned up with, you know, Myles Garrett is going to be a whole pro for one.
00:47:15:08 - 00:47:35:04
Chris Harris Jr
There's probably some other guys, you know, that's that's high up there. Will Anderson is high up there. Simmons it's going to be hard, man. But, so look to those guys making the Pro Bowl. Like I said earlier in the season, when you win games, you get more guys there. Six guys going there is huge. And it just shows that the Broncos are getting better.
00:47:35:04 - 00:47:44:08
Chris Harris Jr
They are starting to get more respect around Lee. I just did like the Drake mail with the Bo Nix. You know, I didn't like that. You know that's the only pick out it.
00:47:44:11 - 00:48:11:22
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. But we get it, you know, and I get that East Coast bias. Lots of Patriots fans voting, I guess. Yeah. Because the way they pick the Pro Bowl, it's three three voting blocs. It's fans coaches players and they all count 33%. And so some of the numbers though, this is the first time since 2016 that the Broncos, are sending six players to the Pro Bowl.
00:48:11:22 - 00:48:17:10
Brandon Krisztal
Can you, remember who was on that 2016 Pro Bowl roster?
00:48:17:12 - 00:48:18:04
Chris Harris Jr
00:48:18:05 - 00:48:30:14
Brandon Krisztal
Oh, sorry. It's the first time you said, oh, 2014 2014. When y'all sent six, I'm trying to read these stats.
00:48:30:17 - 00:48:33:11
Chris Harris Jr
Probably made to Lavon. Be.
00:48:33:13 - 00:48:56:03
Brandon Krisztal
Okay. That was so. Yeah. So 2014 was your first Pro Bowl, C.J. Emmanuel Sanders, and then you guys think Payton was on there and he was on there, and, Talib wasn't there yet. Yeah. So here Pat's written no second behind only one, two, two other corners in NFL history. I mean, in Broncos history. Champ Bailey obviously.
00:48:56:11 - 00:49:05:12
Brandon Krisztal
And Louis. Right. Who last people think should be in the Hall of Fame. So he ties two other corners with four Pro Bowls. You know who those two corners are?
00:49:05:14 - 00:49:06:27
Chris Harris Jr
By moving to Lever Baker.
00:49:07:03 - 00:49:11:24
Brandon Krisztal
Yep. You nailed it. So good work.
00:49:11:27 - 00:49:17:20
Chris Harris Jr
Though. You know, going first round, top five, pick pack. I give you a good Pro Bowl every year, you know.
00:49:17:24 - 00:49:19:07
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. I mean, yeah they get it out.
00:49:19:13 - 00:49:24:27
Chris Harris Jr
You see Pat five again. At least five more. So I mean I mean is the record for in Denver.
00:49:24:29 - 00:49:30:12
Brandon Krisztal
Well eight in Denver champ has 12 overall because he made it all four years and in DC.
00:49:30:12 - 00:49:53:19
Chris Harris Jr
And he's like damn he's the same you know first first round top picks. Usually those guys are the ten Pro Bowl guys eight Pro Bowl guys. Because they come in. Everybody already knows who they are. So they automatically should be, you know, ten Pro Bowls, ten plus Pro Bowls. That's not a successful career for Pat. Does that makes it.
00:49:53:24 - 00:49:54:04
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah.
00:49:54:09 - 00:49:59:10
Chris Harris Jr
But his size and his stature skills he said he's had ten plus Pro Bowl well.
00:49:59:10 - 00:50:21:09
Brandon Krisztal
And also his ability because it's he is lived up to the expectation basically right away. Could have been a Pro Bowler as a as a rookie. And when you look at so all time record. Yeah. Champ champion von have a Steve as a all hall of Famer. All you know Steve should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer.
00:50:21:09 - 00:50:32:22
Brandon Krisztal
Von will be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Sharpie Hall of Famer Bradshaw finally a Hall of Famer. What's crazy about Mac, by the way, is Mac play an interior D-line playing.
00:50:32:28 - 00:50:33:09
Chris Harris Jr
Linebacker.
00:50:33:09 - 00:50:39:29
Brandon Krisztal
And and playing off the ball linebacker. It's it's pretty remarkable for Khalil Mack now.
00:50:39:29 - 00:51:01:27
Chris Harris Jr
All pros. It's it's crazy. I know the waves come and kill people. Malcolm Burke, Mecklenburg. You know, it was a damn problem. But everybody on that list, you know, you got to at least have some hall pros. Pro Bowls, man. And, Oh, I didn't have any first team. All pros. That's where I'm standing.
00:51:01:29 - 00:51:05:02
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah, I guess not. That's crazy. Right? I'm sure you have bunch of first.
00:51:05:02 - 00:51:07:18
Chris Harris Jr
Team all pros. Elway.
00:51:07:20 - 00:51:08:15
Brandon Krisztal
I wasn't voting.
00:51:08:16 - 00:51:11:22
Chris Harris Jr
That cannot be right. That can't be right.
00:51:11:24 - 00:51:37:21
Brandon Krisztal
And speaking of Elway, I don't know if if you. It's only been on a couple days. And he came in and talked to Liddy and the crew on After the Horn. I got to go to the screening of of that documentary, watch it on Netflix. Any Broncos fan, give yourself 90 minutes. It's a great it's a great walk through, his life and trip down memory lane to show all that he went through to fight to win that first Super Bowl, let alone the two of them.
00:51:37:24 - 00:51:48:28
Brandon Krisztal
But it's a it's a really good watch. So if you and if you and Lee are looking for something to do, once the girls are chillin, throw that on 90 minutes. It's a quick, easy watch. And so check.
00:51:49:01 - 00:51:51:13
Chris Harris Jr
That John Madden movie. Man, I think that's going to be good.
00:51:51:20 - 00:52:02:27
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. I think what we do, I just don't need to see a preview 11 months. I mean, it's not the Avengers. You know nothing. Thanksgiving movies. Let me let me set my calendar right now for next year on Thanksgiving.
00:52:03:01 - 00:52:10:14
Chris Harris Jr
Coming out. Right. I suck at it. I gotta watch, you know, I got to go watch the avatar. Yeah, I'm having an up and down reviews on it, but I gotta go watch.
00:52:10:16 - 00:52:26:25
Brandon Krisztal
I want to see it in Imax, you know? Oh, of course, that's one of those ones you want to. I mean, James Cameron's making a movie in Imax, for a reason. Are we gonna get to our predictions here in just a second? But let's do this real quick. Because we need to maybe get into the details.
00:52:26:28 - 00:52:38:17
Brandon Krisztal
And look ahead. Let's, hop in, to this week's latest injury report.
00:52:38:20 - 00:53:01:21
Brandon Krisztal
So, Belen Polic injury report. Let's start with, very first thing, town of Havana. You see, I'm kind of shaken up. He finished the game, so that's encouraging. And then talking about Luke Wattenberg, he heads to er with that shoulder injury, I guess, you know, you talk about these games being tough. Chargers will be a tough game. What do you think about not having Wattenberg for maybe for the entire run the rest of the way if he's not back?
00:53:01:21 - 00:53:09:19
Brandon Krisztal
Because Sean said it was procedural more than it's like, oh, his shoulder is he's done the way Brandon Jones is with his back.
00:53:09:21 - 00:53:26:22
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah, I mean, that's huge. He's being able to lose that consistency that we've had. And the O-line and but no power has been out. They've been able to fill in for him. You know, for a side. Good thing that, you know, he has very, he's very familiar with the center position. Then then he go to Oregon.
00:53:26:24 - 00:53:28:10
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. He's like, oh.
00:53:28:13 - 00:53:46:05
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah, he played with Bo. So they have that connection, right? They understand he understands the game. So it's a good thing you have him as a backup, a veteran. So, the injuries, you want to see him go back? We're already down. What's what's all this, Joe? All that safety? So we need we need a who.
00:53:46:07 - 00:54:02:21
Chris Harris Jr
I'm going to stay healthy, right? Especially going into the playoffs. We need our guys healthy, especially this week versus the Chargers. Big game in which you're going to have to, you're going to need that veteran guy back there. So hopefully he can get healthy with the extra days off. And hopefully the whole team is kind of use this kind of like a little bye.
00:54:02:21 - 00:54:03:10
Brandon Krisztal
Week.
00:54:03:12 - 00:54:12:04
Chris Harris Jr
And get some rest. You know, hopefully guys can get some freedom today and this weekend and be able to recharge and get ready to go to finish this season strong.
00:54:12:07 - 00:54:29:15
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And we'll keep an eye on Dre Green law's hammy. You don't feel good about Nate Atkins with the knee. And then you hope that Bryant can come back from the concussion. But in general there you know knock on wood relatively healthy knowing that the playoffs are on the horizon and they get a little bit extra time to heal up as well.
00:54:29:22 - 00:54:43:25
Brandon Krisztal
I know there's sometimes you don't plan on on these injuries popping up. Certainly players know that it's part of the game, but they're not planning for it. And when it happens, when you end up in, in, perhaps an auto incident, and have an accident, you need a team you trust and you need a good game plan.
00:54:43:25 - 00:55:05:24
Brandon Krisztal
So there's no one I trust more than our friends of Bell and Pollock. That champions of the people they'll fight for. You come up with that winning game plan. Call today, 303795 5900 or champions of the people.com.
00:55:05:27 - 00:55:26:18
Brandon Krisztal
So the er, at least at this point I thought it was four games, but I just texted someone in the know and they said it's four weeks. It's four weeks at this point. So that means he could come back for the AFC title game. If there's a bye. Or if you play in week one, it's will be the same weekend for weeks.
00:55:26:21 - 00:55:37:13
Brandon Krisztal
But these final two games and then with Greenlaw, it's a hammy and you're going to on the side of caution unless he's 100% or you're playing him against the Chargers.
00:55:37:16 - 00:56:00:26
Chris Harris Jr
He can play. Yeah, but you know, a Greenlaw injury history. I'd say be out probably about three weeks. Get him ready for the playoffs. Hopefully we can get him going to the playoffs 100%. But you know Chargers is a game is a team that attack our linebackers. They run routes out the backfield Herbert Keys on the running back game in the passing game versus versus the Broncos.
00:56:00:26 - 00:56:03:19
Chris Harris Jr
So that's a key matchup to look forward to next week.
00:56:03:21 - 00:56:18:10
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. And look we're we're going to get to the predictions. But I do have one final thing from Bo because he was asked about the notion of winning division and what you have to look to look for in the Chargers game. And we gotta remember, had they beaten the Jags, they could have clinched everything last night.
00:56:18:12 - 00:56:33:22
Brandon Krisztal
And then you would had decisions to make with how you handle the the final regular season game. Do you want them gone from the 25th to January 17th, 18th without playing some key guys? The Chiefs did that a year ago and it ended up being fine. You know they made it to the Super Bowl. But that's a veteran team led by Patrick Mahomes.
00:56:33:28 - 00:56:41:04
Brandon Krisztal
This team isn't necessarily that. Here's Bo though on on looking at winning the division and next week's game with the Chargers.
00:56:41:06 - 00:57:01:21
Speaker 3
Well I think you know, at the end of the day, none of it really matters because we had to play the final game and we have to, you know, take care of it. And, you know, they're going to be a good football team. Now, some other team can help us along the way. But, at the end of the day, it's going to come down to, us versus them.
00:57:01:21 - 00:57:12:18
Speaker 3
And, we're excited to have them at home. It's going to be, you know, a really good environment. It's going to be a great atmosphere. And honestly, it's it's playoff time, it's playoff atmosphere.
00:57:12:20 - 00:57:29:10
Brandon Krisztal
All right. So let's do this. Let's jump into our predictions. Although I know David has the College Football Playoff games ready. So do we want to just get those out of the way quick. And then we'll circle back around to the NFL because Chargers Texans on Saturday is going to be a good one. I got a double check.
00:57:29:10 - 00:57:33:11
Brandon Krisztal
Let's look at the bowl games. I know where they are.
00:57:33:13 - 00:57:34:19
Chris Harris Jr
Ohio State.
00:57:34:22 - 00:57:55:01
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. So Ohio State and Miami, because I want to make sure we know which bowl is which. Ohio State, Miami. I know Miami beat a good A&M team. If it's not Ohio State and Georgia in the championship, assume I guess I need to look at the bracket. Those are the two best teams, for my money.
00:57:55:03 - 00:57:57:24
Brandon Krisztal
But who wins? Ohio State, Miami.
00:57:57:27 - 00:58:10:23
Chris Harris Jr
State. Better quarterback. Defense is pretty equal. You know, I like my home. Miami's defense, I'll say, just got a little bit more dogs on the defensive side of the ball. Just a better quarterback. I don't trust Carson. Big at.
00:58:10:23 - 00:58:17:13
Brandon Krisztal
All. That game is in the Cotton Bowl. So you can go watch it in Dallas on, on New Year's Eve if you want to.
00:58:17:13 - 00:58:18:22
Chris Harris Jr
Great. Down there.
00:58:18:25 - 00:58:19:23
Brandon Krisztal
What's that?
00:58:19:25 - 00:58:21:24
Chris Harris Jr
So it's a lot of red down here right now.
00:58:21:28 - 00:58:44:11
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah, I get that. They're. Yeah. They're going to keep making their way down there Ohio State 9.5. favorite. Now I don't know I think they win I think they cover so we're both on Ohio State there. Let's jump to the next one Oregon and Tech. Obviously you've got plenty of tech fans there. That's the Orange Bowl. So Lubbock to Miami or Dallas or Houston to Miami is easier than North.
00:58:44:11 - 00:58:50:23
Brandon Krisztal
You know, the Pacific Northwest to Miami. But close game Oregon at two and a half point favorite.
00:58:50:25 - 00:59:04:04
Chris Harris Jr
This is the probably the heart of the game right here. You know, I'm gonna go over Oregon on top quarterback. I like the receiver weapons. I think they can be able to block tech with the. Oh, man, I think I'm gonna go to Oregon. This shirt.
00:59:04:07 - 00:59:21:04
Brandon Krisztal
I'm gonna stick to my, our big 12 routes. I'll go Texas Tech. Just just for fun, you know, big owl, shout out to our buddy, big ol Alfred Williams going into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame now. Yeah, he's like b k come on down to let's go to Miami. You know he and CJ got golf set up and I was like I got kids.
00:59:21:08 - 00:59:40:13
Brandon Krisztal
And I got to cover the Broncos. We got shows to do. So what I like to go do New Year's in Miami. Yes. But in this case I'll just have to see the pictures and videos on social media or whatever. They Texas. All right, two more bowl games real quick. In the CFP bearing Indiana, the Hoosier six and a half point favorites.
00:59:40:16 - 01:00:01:14
Brandon Krisztal
Bama. Obviously once they fell behind turn it on to beat the Sooners last week. That's going to be the Rose Bowl. So not that easy to get from Tuscaloosa to the Rose Bowl. But we saw those Alabama fans there when they played Michigan a couple of years ago and then Indiana. I have to think that every Indiana fan in the world, they can get on a plane and can afford a ticket will be there, through this whole run.
01:00:01:16 - 01:00:07:10
Brandon Krisztal
So do the Hoosiers. Keep it going as the top seed, does this magical run continue?
01:00:07:12 - 01:00:29:19
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. I believe so. They have a lot of weapons on offense, you know, and the quarterback should be number one overall pick. Very solid, pro-style type quarterback. The defense plays hard nosed. Bama. You know, I think they they said last verse of you or you that came out hot. They just didn't close the game. Dumb turnovers and not having a quarterback to be able to dice them up.
01:00:29:22 - 01:00:34:10
Chris Harris Jr
Well guess what Indiana has that. So I see Indiana winning this game.
01:00:34:12 - 01:00:53:11
Brandon Krisztal
What's funny is so Mendoza and maybe have some friends come down from the Bay area. But Mendoza, he grew up in the on the east Coast in Boston, then went to Cal, where he was obviously a pretty good quarterback. I think. Went to a couple bowl games there. And, you know, finished product by the time in a lot of ways by the time he gets to Indiana here for for his this season.
01:00:53:13 - 01:01:10:10
Brandon Krisztal
But yeah, I think I'm with you. I think that they do in that one. And so then yeah, looking at the bracket and I remember I checked this, your final game will be the Sugar Bowl, which is obviously, they're in New Orleans. So Ole Miss Georgia it's closer for Mississippi. This is a dogfight to get to the New Orleans.
01:01:10:10 - 01:01:34:15
Brandon Krisztal
So, I think that it it'll it'll be a good one. Georgia. Six and a half point favorites. Ole Miss obviously without Lane Kiffin. Does Lane Kiffin to support his players. Does Lane Kiffin go down to the game and sit in the box and watch and players. He just watch it on TV and who wins? I have a hard time picking against Georgia, but they would play Ohio State if both teams advance in the Fiesta Bowl in the semifinals.
01:01:34:17 - 01:01:52:09
Chris Harris Jr
I'm gonna go with the upset. I'm gonna go with Ole Miss. I hear this because I got a corner. I work with my little brother, Jalen Braxton, Ole Miss. I'm will go with him. I like the quarterback. He you know, he's scrambling. He's very active back there. Yeah. He definitely can make some, plays with his legs versus Georgia.
01:01:52:11 - 01:01:57:22
Chris Harris Jr
You know, it's I'm I'm gonna have to go with the underdog this week. Let's go, Ole Miss. Let's go.
01:01:57:24 - 01:02:13:26
Brandon Krisztal
All right. I'll go Georgia. Because I think they're the better teams. And then Georgia, Ohio State, you know whoever wins that I think could be the national champ or probably will be the national champ. So that's that's our our college football picks. Makes for a fun couple days, leading into the final weekend of NFL games.
01:02:13:26 - 01:02:29:04
Brandon Krisztal
And we don't know how the schedule is going to shake out because the league waits to set the schedule, get a couple games Saturday. They make a big deal about the Sunday night game. The Broncos could very easily be playing Saturday night. Because that game is going to mean something to the Broncos. And Chargers. Or they could be the final game.
01:02:29:06 - 01:02:49:09
Brandon Krisztal
And if the Chargers win tomorrow, then that's a game for the AFC West and presumably for the Broncos for a chance at the number one seed. And and so obviously the Broncos didn't lose. So but they could still drop to the fifth seed. Right. Because the Chargers can catch I need to double check that. But the Chargers.
01:02:49:13 - 01:02:51:24
Chris Harris Jr
Get dropped from first place. The wild card.
01:02:52:00 - 01:03:13:28
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Well that's crazy that they can yeah. Right. Because they if the Chargers are 12 and force the Chargers win tomorrow Chargers will have the number one tiebreaker which is head to head. They will have beat them twice after the Broncos lost that game. So Texans Chargers first game of the weekend tomorrow. I think the Chargers are a slight favorite, but I'm going to check real quick and.
01:03:14:00 - 01:03:23:25
Brandon Krisztal
How do you see it playing out though. Again where there's there will be Chargers fans there, but they just don't have the same fan base they once did. And Texans fans aren't getting on a plane for that game. So who wins?
01:03:23:27 - 01:03:49:14
Chris Harris Jr
I got history with this guy. Houston defense is nasty. The pressure they bring in I think they're going to get after the Chargers. You know I think the Chargers you know haven't been playing solid and having a great year. The receivers have stepped up. But this is a different set of corners right here. You know Texas secondary is probably number one when you look at totality of everybody, safeties and corners included.
01:03:49:16 - 01:03:53:06
Chris Harris Jr
They're probably playing the best right now. So I'm I'm gonna go with you.
01:03:53:08 - 01:04:11:22
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. I'm, I'm with you. I think the Texans are a better team. I think at some point the Chargers, I don't call it luck, but just they're undermanned. The fact that they're playing their backup tackles, it's a credit to Herbert and, and the Jim Harbaugh and that defense that, you know, they lose Joey Bosa. And it hadn't seem to bother him.
01:04:11:22 - 01:04:29:08
Brandon Krisztal
And right. Perriman hadn't played as much as he has over the years. So the Chargers are two and a half point favorites, 39.5 over under. But yeah, I think the I think it's a low score. I'll bet the under all day on that. And I'll watch it be you know 35 to 31. And that's one thing too, Chris, because we've talked about the Broncos quality wins.
01:04:29:11 - 01:04:46:10
Brandon Krisztal
I know they knocked C.J. Stroud out, but we mentioned the Eagles win in Philly beating the Chiefs the first time the Packers win obviously that one it Houston. It was hard fought. They made plays when they needed to especially late against a really really good defense. But that's as much a quality win as anything because of how good that defense has been.
01:04:46:12 - 01:05:07:06
Chris Harris Jr
I think people just don't count. I don't give them credit because C.J. Stroud got hurt, but, who knocked him out? Right? We lock him up, you know? So, it just didn't work out, you know, for for the fans to get the no credit for that win. But that's a tough win, man. Anytime you got to go on the road to beat that team, they still had everybody on that Texas defense out there.
01:05:07:08 - 01:05:17:05
Chris Harris Jr
And the coach he says coach you know he has he's his mentality of coaching has been embedded into those guys. You can say sat down with the Chargers.
01:05:17:07 - 01:05:23:06
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. Demeco Ryans, N and Harbaugh both sit there. Fingerprints are on their teams for sure.
01:05:23:08 - 01:05:30:07
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. They changed the programs there. So salute to those coaches. But I got the need to win this game. I'm gonna go with the better defense.
01:05:30:10 - 01:05:52:07
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah okay. So I'm I'm there with you. How about this? We expect to see cross conference games. You know, Chargers Texans or rivalry games division games this late in the year. In the final two weeks NFL gave us a sneaky one Peacock only. So I have Peacock because I watch a lot of soccer. So it's no big deal for me.
01:05:52:07 - 01:06:24:17
Brandon Krisztal
Peacock only exclusive Saturday night game. Ravens at Packers. Packers two and a half point favorites. Despite losing the last two weeks to the Broncos and then the crazy loss to the bears last Saturday night. Do the Packers bounce back after two straight losses? The Ravens have to win this game to stay alive in the playoffs, because they are going to play the Steelers that final week, and they certainly need help with the you know, the Steelers game this week is there in Cleveland taking on our guy Shelby and the Browns.
01:06:24:19 - 01:06:36:07
Brandon Krisztal
But let's let's look at this game first. Do the Packers bounce back. Do the Ravens Lamar seems uninterested at times to me. It's trying to get is he trying to get John Harbaugh fired.
01:06:36:09 - 01:06:58:14
Chris Harris Jr
I don't know. It's it's kind of interesting what's going on over there. But, I would think the Packers would win this game. The Ravens just haven't had it all season. Packers need this game to feel good going into the playoffs. I think it's done over there in the AFC North. Too much talking going on. Lamar Jackson doesn't work hard.
01:06:58:14 - 01:07:07:28
Chris Harris Jr
Things like that. I saying there was a big article on him. Harbaugh he's on he would you say he's on a hot list?
01:07:08:00 - 01:07:29:07
Brandon Krisztal
But I think that his seat is hot in a world where players almost always win. So unless Steve Bisciotti is saying, okay, we've done the most we can with Lamar and we're not going to we're not going to ever get over that hump. Because on top of Lamar being unhappy, Derrick Henry could also leave this year. And you want to talk about a nice compliment to RJ Harvey.
01:07:29:10 - 01:07:51:28
Brandon Krisztal
Find some money. Get Derrick Henry here. In Denver. Right. But Harbaugh signed an extension a year ago. And so I'll tell you this conversation super quick, but I'm at the league meetings and we're talking. I'm I'm with, Kaitlyn Kaylor, who's a great reporter for ESPN, and we're talking to Jed York. And I tell him, hey, you know, one of my favorite storylines this year was people in San Fran saying, oh, it's time to move on from Kyle Shanahan.
01:07:52:05 - 01:08:08:02
Brandon Krisztal
You know, because I've known Kyle forever since he was in college playing at Texas with some friends. Obviously being here now 20 years. And I was like, you can get a different coach, but you're not going to get a better coach. He goes, that's exactly the conversation I had with Steve Bisciotti, because they just gave Harbaugh a new deal, and I was in year 18 or whatever.
01:08:08:04 - 01:08:31:23
Brandon Krisztal
And Bisciotti and York are talking and they're like, yeah, we can get a different coach in John Harbaugh, but we're not going to get a better coach. I'm not saying that fresh ideas don't help. And maybe we may see it in Pittsburgh how it plays out. But I think Harbaugh see, this is hotter than likely should be because if they believe that he and Lamar I mean, there's the report saying Lamar is falling asleep in meetings and all this stuff, and it's a bad look on Lamar.
01:08:31:25 - 01:08:38:29
Brandon Krisztal
But when players want to be, you know, assholes, they can be.
01:08:39:01 - 01:09:02:12
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah. I don't know who's reporting the quarterback sleeping in meetings. That usually the quarterbacks have a lot of power too. Right. So whoever leaked that out, that'd be definitely aware with that. But, it's just time. Their time has played its course on the, you know, they've had new OS's, they've had, new D coordinators.
01:09:02:14 - 01:09:13:09
Chris Harris Jr
They lost a lot of coaches too, you know, from other teams. You know, a lot of the times Lamar Jackson hadn't had weapons. If you're just going to be real, you know what he does now?
01:09:13:09 - 01:09:31:08
Brandon Krisztal
I mean, when you say that they flowers, I mean, hop's a million years old, but Zay flowers, the at times the most dominant running back in football, a solid O-line and Andrews and likely are as good as the tight end duo. So I get that over his his career.
01:09:31:08 - 01:09:50:09
Chris Harris Jr
Eight years. Not the not the number one receiver that you need in the playoffs. You know, Derrick Henry, he's been solid. But you know, they, they they always shied away from giving him the ball. So it's like he doesn't even get his touches. I mean the last 12 game they had, I think he had like less than 15 touches.
01:09:50:09 - 01:10:08:18
Chris Harris Jr
Like he didn't get the ball like that. So, it's just the way they use those guys. You know, they play, of course. Right. They've had chances to get over the hump. This has been a perfect year with Mahomes out. Now they kind of opened up the door for Josh Allen to be able to kind of bust through that AFC.
01:10:08:18 - 01:10:20:06
Chris Harris Jr
With no Joe Burrow out to it's pretty much wide open. You know. And if I'm Josh Allen I'm looking at it you know is I this is my opportunity to take over the AFC.
01:10:20:08 - 01:10:38:23
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. It will not be there will not be a better opportunity. You got to think in the in the next five years for Josh Allen than it will be this year. Young quarterbacks that are really unproven in the playoffs C.J. Stroud right hasn't won a playoff game I don't think maybe they won one last year. I won that one one last in loss to the Chiefs.
01:10:38:25 - 01:10:57:06
Brandon Krisztal
Drake Maye hasn't played in the playoffs. Bo Nix oh and one in the playoffs. Justin Herbert hadn't won in the playoffs. So it's it's going to be there I guess Aaron Rodgers he's certainly won in the playoffs. But no one's scared of the Steelers. If it's if it's bills Steelers in week one. Harbaugh said this week though he he said that he's transparent with everybody.
01:10:57:06 - 01:11:14:26
Brandon Krisztal
Had a great conversation with Lamar. Just a couple days ago and said that their relationship is A+. I love them always have, always will. But some they talked about a few things football I always feel and stuff like that. So we'll see if Harbaugh is doing that as a PR campaign to try to save his job or just to get his quarterback back engaged or whatever it may be.
01:11:14:29 - 01:11:33:05
Brandon Krisztal
But we know and we've seen the story over and over and over, whether it's going back to John Elway and Dan Reeves, going back to, Father Michael Jordan and, and Chris Collins, where are we going on this list forever? And I'll say nine times out of ten, 99 times out of 100, the player wins the star player.
01:11:33:05 - 01:11:43:16
Brandon Krisztal
When wins the the dispute with the head coach. Other than when Kobe got Phil to retire for you, your boy, he's like, man, I don't.
01:11:43:16 - 01:11:44:22
Chris Harris Jr
Want to because.
01:11:44:24 - 01:12:00:07
Brandon Krisztal
He's like, I don't need to deal with this jerk. I'm going to take a year off. Oh, y'all made some good moves. Jerry West got us Paul Gasol okay I'll go back. Jags. Colts cold still fighting for their playoff lives. Philip Rivers and company. The Jags playing as good a football as anybody Trevor Lawrence is is rolling.
01:12:00:07 - 01:12:08:10
Brandon Krisztal
And I'm sure they're they're favored in this one. Oh by the way did we did a Packers Ravens pick. Do we both did. We're both on the Packers.
01:12:08:13 - 01:12:10:04
Chris Harris Jr
I'm going to the Packers.
01:12:10:07 - 01:12:11:09
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah.
01:12:11:11 - 01:12:25:29
Chris Harris Jr
The Packers get it done. You know, it's it's going to be a it's always a tough game when you play the Ravens. But I just don't believe in them this year. I think that the, the media stuff that's coming out and look good, I'm gonna go with the Packers.
01:12:26:02 - 01:12:48:04
Brandon Krisztal
Colts six and a half point favorites in Indy against old man, old man Rivers. I don't know if they cover because the Colts D has been I think, it was kind of a fun game against the Niners or D wasn't good. Brock Purdy cost me one fantasy championship opportunity because he was so awesome. Jonathan Taylor, obviously he's the focal point.
01:12:48:07 - 01:12:52:13
Brandon Krisztal
So any world where the Colts win I'm going Jags.
01:12:52:16 - 01:13:10:07
Chris Harris Jr
I'm on Jags. They are playing good. You know coming off a win in Denver. Philip Rivers is not going to be running. He's gonna be running for his life for the Jags Dylan Allen. Those boys coming off the end. I'm gonna go with Trevor Lawrence and, boys, he's playing good head coach. Always done a great job, man.
01:13:10:07 - 01:13:30:05
Chris Harris Jr
He got the boys were playing with a little swag. Trevor Lawrence had never ran like this, so that's. That's what I'm saying. Different from Trevor. He's running the ball way more. He's more aggressive. You know, he's trying to, you know, use his body in his frame finally, and making plays. So I like where he's at right now.
01:13:30:05 - 01:13:35:01
Chris Harris Jr
He's trying to prove something. When I watch Jags and I watch Trevor Lawrence, it looks like he's hungry.
01:13:35:04 - 01:13:55:28
Brandon Krisztal
It's funny, the nature of this show. And see you're lucky in that you talk to to Ryan and and Shelby on Tuesday. So you got to talk about the Jags and Broncos. We just kind of glossed right over what the Jags did. And I asked Sean Payton this was it an anomaly. Some of the you know you talk about the drops talk about their efficiency in the red zone.
01:13:56:01 - 01:14:15:01
Brandon Krisztal
The what's funny about the Jags. And they came in and they they couldn't have improved this much. But they were 25th on offense on third down and 26 on defense or vice versa. And they were awesome. On third down against the Broncos. On both sides of the ball. So does that feel like that was an anomaly for the Broncos because someone said oh, is there a blueprint?
01:14:15:02 - 01:14:35:04
Brandon Krisztal
And I was like, well, you got to have a player like Lawrence and their skill guys, I think even without Travis on, are pretty underrated. I like the tight end. Etienne's playing great football and then you know, Thomas is obviously had to step back. But he and Myers pretty good set of wideouts compared to who the Ravens have and certainly who the bills have in the playoffs.
01:14:35:06 - 01:14:51:09
Chris Harris Jr
Yeah, I mean, you're right. I mean the Jaguars are the team. They're built together. Right. The head coach is a great coach for them. The young guy that can that's played in the NFL that had experience and knows what what it takes to win. So that's what I like about the Jags. They play the Broncos. Great.
01:14:51:11 - 01:15:08:06
Chris Harris Jr
I wouldn't say it's a blueprint because the Broncos and just been wow wow. And people die down all season. They've been media middle of the pack third down. So the Jags have just came up and executed their game. And I don't see rivers being able to go and beat the Jags.
01:15:08:13 - 01:15:15:11
Brandon Krisztal
It's not like we talk about hot seats I don't think he's there. But it'd be interesting. Steichen if they go from being eight and 2 to 8 and nine.
01:15:15:13 - 01:15:17:11
Chris Harris Jr
That's like is good. He's good.
01:15:17:13 - 01:15:36:01
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah I think you're right. All right. Let's get get through these real quick. Seahawks. Panthers. They might, you know Seattle. Yeah. You like Seattle? I think I do, too. As good as Mike McDonald is, Dave Kanellis spent a lot of time in Seattle, too. Yeah, I'm with you. I go Seahawks on that. Maybe the Panthers surprise.
01:15:36:01 - 01:15:36:27
Brandon Krisztal
The Seahawks seven got.
01:15:36:27 - 01:15:37:26
Chris Harris Jr
A.
01:15:37:28 - 01:16:02:08
Brandon Krisztal
Seven and a half point favorites. Seahawks gotta win to keep pace. In their division. And for a shot at number one Panthers need to obviously got gathering. Well, okay, let's jump to the next one. Eagles bills. That's a fun one. Two. You talk about cross conference big games late in the year. Eagles bills that game is well Eagles.
01:16:02:11 - 01:16:18:15
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah the Eagles have been playing better. So it's hard to go against them. That is an afternoon game where the excuse me bills are one and a half point favorites. They're in in Orchard Park. I'll go bills at home Josh Allen team destiny. If the bills chose us.
01:16:18:16 - 01:16:20:18
Chris Harris Jr
Oh yeah I'm gonna go with the bills then to.
01:16:20:25 - 01:16:37:27
Brandon Krisztal
All right, so we're both on bills, but neither of us would be surprised if the Eagles win. And I think what do we have? One more. Two more. Bears, Niners two, 11 and 14. I'm not sure we would have seen this with the injuries to the Niners defensive stars and to the bears. When you talk about their.
01:16:37:29 - 01:16:38:05
Chris Harris Jr
Kind of.
01:16:38:05 - 01:16:44:07
Brandon Krisztal
Upstart Sunday Night Football, three point favorites. The Niners are three point favorites in the Bay.
01:16:44:09 - 01:17:06:05
Chris Harris Jr
I'm going with the Niners. And then their hot parties hot. He's passing it to everybody. All the receivers. You know O-line is blocking solid. I'm right I'm on the Shanahan thing. Yeah. I'm on the I'm on his train right now regardless who he has out there. As long as he got ten wheels party Kittle, and Mac, he can make things happen right.
01:17:06:06 - 01:17:12:03
Chris Harris Jr
Got his core guys, and then he can fill in around him. So, I'm going with the 40 niners.
01:17:12:05 - 01:17:28:01
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah. We'll see if Kittle can end up going, but there's a chance he plays after getting hurt on Monday Night Football. I'm with the Niners to our final game. Be the, the final game. We have two more. Do we have the Pats or we think the Pats roll? I guess that's going to do it.
01:17:28:01 - 01:17:29:14
Brandon Krisztal
I wonder if I like that.
01:17:29:16 - 01:17:31:01
Chris Harris Jr
Probably for someone. Yeah.
01:17:31:04 - 01:17:48:28
Brandon Krisztal
They do play the Jets and then the Dolphins. So, if the if the, if the, if the Jets games in New York Pats are 13 point favorites. If the Patriots, Chargers, Bills and Jags all lose, the Broncos are number one seed.
01:17:49:00 - 01:17:50:25
Chris Harris Jr
So we need all those teams to lose.
01:17:51:02 - 01:18:05:14
Brandon Krisztal
Yeah, we need all those teams to lose. And they don't even do anything. They want it. On being on the couch. All right, Chris, I'll let you get out of here. I know you got to run. I got to run. Celebrate. Thanks to David. Great job. Thank you for listening. We won't talk to our great listeners and viewers before New Year.
01:18:05:14 - 01:18:13:01
Brandon Krisztal
So happy New Year to, everybody. I hope you had a great Christmas. And we will see you next year on Football Fridays.