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Joe Flacco, Divisional Round Preview + Fyre Fest Of The Week

Friday, January 19, 202421 takes

We’ve got the coaching carousel and Mike McCarthy, Mike Tomlin and Nick Sirianni seem to be safe (-). We break down the 4 games in NFL Divisional round for this weekend including some legacies on the line (-). Joey Flacco joins the show to talk about this season, his career, being elite, when he first knew he could throw a perfect spiral and tons more (-). We finish the show with Fyre fest of the week (-).

Joe Flacco on Being Elite, Divisional Round Preview, and Fyre Fest

The Divisional Round is here, and the coaching carousel is spinning at a dizzying pace. While some seats got colder than a January night in Orchard Park, others are being filled by private jet tracking. PFT is currently monitoring Arthur Blank’s flight patterns with the intensity of a CIA operative.

Loss
Jan 19, 2024
#12760
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Bill Belichick and the Atlanta Falcons are on a collision course

I am again tracking Arthur Blank's private jet. It's landing in Boston, Massachusetts right now. Belichick Falcons collision course. I think it's happening.

The Falcons hired Raheem Morris as their head coach on January 25, 2024, not Bill Belichick.

Big Cat and PFT are stunned that the trio of Mike McCarthy, Mike Tomlin, and Nick Sirianni all seem to be staying put. For PFT, the news out of Dallas is a dream come true because it ensures the Cowboys' ceiling remains exactly where it's been for decades.

Void
Jan 19, 2024
#12761
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

I am happy Mike McCarthy is staying in Dallas because he falters against good teams

As a Commanders fan, I, I said that it makes me very happy that Mike's coming back... I know that Mike McCarthy is a very good regular season coach, but when you play against really good teams in the Playoffs, you're gonna have to win three games... all I'm saying is much like you with Aaron Rodgers when the Cowboys lose, that's my Super Bowl.

This is a subjective opinion rooted in rivalry, though McCarthy did remain the coach for the 2024 season.

Big Cat isn't buying the comparison between McCarthy’s tenure and Andy Reid’s pre-Super Bowl years in Kansas City. The math just doesn't add up when you look at who is under center.

Win
Jan 19, 2024
#12762
Big CatBig Cat

Patrick Mahomes will not be the one to save Mike McCarthy's legacy in Dallas

People are also pointing out, like, look at Andy Reid before they started winning Super Bowls in Kansas City where it's like 12 and four, 10 and six, 11 and five. Everyone said he was a choke artist. The only issue with that is Patrick Mahomes showed up. I don't think Patrick Mahomes is showing up in Dallas.

Mahomes remains in Kansas City and Dak Prescott remains the starter in Dallas.

Hank, however, has reached his breaking point. After watching Dak and McCarthy lay an egg against the Packers, he’s officially handing in his Cowboys fan card, citing a complete lack of faith in the leadership.

Win
Jan 19, 2024
#12763
HankHank

I am done with the Cowboys because they kept Mike McCarthy

I said if they keep him around, I'm done with the Cowboys. I'm done with the Cowboys. Wow.

Hank's Cowboys 'fandom' was largely a bit/bet related to his futures, but he did stop supporting them after this point.

Divisional Round Preview

Moving to the actual games, the narrative surrounding Lamar Jackson is reaching a fever pitch. Big Cat believes this home game against a rookie quarterback is the ultimate legacy test for the soon-to-be two-time MVP.

Win
Jan 19, 2024
#12764
Big CatBig Cat

Lamar Jackson must win this divisional round game against the Texans for his legacy

Lamar [Jackson] Yeah. This is the game. Big, big time narrative. Right. If he doesn't win this game, then that's gonna, that's gonna follow him around for the rest of his career... you're a 10 point favorite, nine and a half point favorite at home against the Houston Texans rookie head coach. Rookie QB. You have to win this game if you're the Baltimore Ravens.

Lamar Jackson won the game 34-10, successfully avoiding the negative narrative Big Cat described.

PFT is leaning toward the Texans, mostly because he refuses to stop riding the CJ Stroud wave until it crashes. Big Cat, on the other hand, thinks the Ravens' defense is a different animal than what Houston has faced so far.

Win
Jan 19, 2024
#12765
Big CatBig Cat

The Ravens defense is going to kick the shit out of the Houston Texans

I think the Ravens defense is gonna kick the shit outta them... what they can do to confuse people, you know, they have, they, they move safeties around, you know, they get pressure with four. They get pressure with blitzes. I just, I think the Ravens defense, this is a Ravens defense statement game.

The Ravens held the Texans to just 3 offensive points (10 total) in a 34-10 victory.

When it comes to the Packers visiting the Niners, Big Cat is putting his chips in the middle of the table with a massive bet on the total points.

Loss
Jan 19, 2024
#12766
Big CatBig Cat

The over in the Packers vs. 49ers game is my nuclear missile whale play

I also love the over in this game, it's my nuclear missile whale play.

The final score was 24-21 (45 total points). The over/under was set around 50.5, so the over lost.

As for the Chiefs heading to Buffalo, Big Cat is worried about the M.A.S.H. unit that is the Bills' defense. Even though he’s rooting for Buffalo, the injuries at linebacker and corner feel like too much to overcome against Patrick Mahomes.

Win
Jan 19, 2024
#12769
Big CatBig Cat

The Chiefs will beat the Bills because of Buffalo's defensive injuries

I'm rooting for the bills. I think the Chiefs are gonna win... Their defensive injuries have been insane. I've, they're so bad... That feels like a lot. They've had a lot of injuries. The cornerback and linebacker position. Josh's, Allen's gonna have to play a superhuman game.

The Chiefs defeated the Bills 27-24 in the Divisional Round.

PFT is less worried about the Bills' defense and more worried about Taylor Swift’s heart. He warns that the raw, table-breaking alpha energy of Bill's Mafia might be too much for her to resist.

Loss
Jan 19, 2024
#26866
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Taylor Swift better be careful in Buffalo because she might fall in love with a Pinto Ron-type character in the Bill's Mafia

Taylor's going to the game. ... She better be careful in Buffalo. ... because I think that if she's not careful, she could fall in love with somebody in Bill's Mafia big time. ... Pinto Ron is gonna take her home. ... She's gonna see some real men in Buffalo.

Taylor Swift remained with Travis Kelce following the Bills game and did not leave him for a Bills fan.

The Elite Joe Flacco

Joe Flacco joined the show fresh off his 39th birthday, and he's not ready to head to the broadcast booth just yet. He made it clear that as long as he can throw a perfect spiral, he’s going to keep playing to avoid the makeup chair.

Win
Jan 19, 2024
#12770
Joe FlaccoJoe Flacco

I'm going to play football as long as possible to avoid having to do sports media

Honestly, man, that's the last thing I want to do is be doing interviews to get myself behind a camera. So I'm gonna try to do this as long as possible and, and diminish those possibilities as much as I can.

Flacco signed with the Indianapolis Colts in March 2024, continuing his playing career as intended.

Big Cat and PFT finally got to ask about the "Elite" debate that fueled sports talk radio for a decade. Joe Flacco handled it like a pro, admitting he enjoys the meme status of the word, whether people are wearing the sweatshirts sincerely or to troll him.

Void
Jan 19, 2024
#20173
Joe FlaccoJoe Flacco

The 'elite' label came from winning games without gaudy stats — people wear the sweatshirt both sincerely and as a joke, and either way it's fun

I was winning a bunch of games in Baltimore, but my stats were never gonna fly off the stat sheet. We were winning games because we had a formula with how we won games. ... The funny thing is, is now people could like, listen, I have buddies wearing the sweatshirt because they're like, yeah, damn right he's elite. And I have detractors that are out there probably using it as a joke. ... Either way it's a story and I have a lot of fun with it.

The 'Elite' debate is an iconic piece of PMT and NFL media history.

Joe also shared some insight into his legendary arm strength, tracing it back to a moment in an elementary school yard with his dad when he realized he had a different gear than other kids.

Void
Jan 19, 2024
#26867
Joe FlaccoJoe Flacco

I knew I could really throw a football for the first time when I was 8 years old

I was eight years old, I think I was in first grade, but I threw a couple passes to [my dad] and I just remember the look on his face kind of like, all right, that was pretty good bud. ... I just remember seeing a little bit of a look on his face and his reaction and being like, ah, maybe I can throw.

An anecdotal memory from the guest.

The guys also bonded over their shared hatred for the Wildcat offense. Joe Flacco’s strategy of standing five yards away from the play to avoid getting jammed by a defensive back is the kind of veteran savvy you can't teach.

Void
Jan 19, 2024
#12772
Joe FlaccoJoe Flacco

The Wildcat is stupid; if you're going to run it, just take the quarterback off the field

If you're gonna do it, just take me off the field. You know, like, like let's, let's get an actual football player here so that we can actually accomplish something For real... that's why when I, when I go out there, I, I, I stay like five yards off the ball so there's no chance of me looking like an idiot.

This is a subjective tactical opinion, though many offensive coordinators agree with the lack of utility for the QB in that set.

Fyre Fest of the Week

Hank closed out the show with a somber Fyre Fest. After leaning into the bit with Tiffany Gomas for some Dallas content, the darker corners of the internet made things weird, leading Henry to announce he's going back into the shadows.

Win
Jan 19, 2024·Fyre Fest
#12773
HankHank

I am returning to a private lifestyle because the internet ruined the Tiffany Gomas content

I will definitely be going back to, to zero dark private life mode... because it's fun. I enjoy it and, and you know, 99% of the people are fun. They play along... But then there's the 1% of people, people that will DMM and, and, and, and just go way over the top.

Hank did largely stop posting about his dating life or 'Tiffany Gomas' content after this episode.

It’s a tough blow for the fans who enjoyed the content, but as PFT noted, the memories will live on forever in the Spank Bank.

Good luck to everyone's bets this weekend, except for Max's.

nfl-playoffsjoe-flaccocleveland-brownsdallas-cowboysbaltimore-ravenscoaching-carousel

More Takes

Win
Jan 19, 2024
#26862
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

I like the idea of Mike McCarthy staying in Dallas because it means another year of fans and media wondering how close he is to being fired

The narrative every single week with Mike McCarthy is gonna be for another year. How fired is this guy? He's been fired for like two and a half years already. ... It's good that you're coming back for another year. It's good to have another job.

The narrative surrounding McCarthy's job security remained a major talking point throughout the 2024 offseason and season.
Loss
Jan 19, 2024
#26863
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

I am not going to doubt CJ Stroud or DeMeco Ryans until they give me a reason to

I said that I was gonna stop doubting CJ Stroud. I'm not gonna doubt CJ Stroud until he gives me a reason to. ... I'm not gonna doubt DeMeco, I'm not gonna doubt CJ Stroud.

The Texans lost to the Ravens in the divisional round 34-10, though Stroud's individual season was still widely praised.
Win
Jan 19, 2024
#26864
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The San Francisco 49ers' run defense is only statistically good because they are always playing with a lead

Their run defense has really good stats this year. That's only because they always play with the lead. Right. So teams only get like 50 yards rushing against the Niners because guess what, you're down by like 17 points in the first quarter.

While the 49ers did lead often, Aaron Jones was able to rush for 108 yards in their divisional matchup, supporting PFT's theory that they could be run on.
Win
Jan 19, 2024
#12767
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Christian McCaffrey finishing 2023 with exactly 2023 all-purpose yards is the stat of the year

Did you know the history... Did you know that he also finished with 2023 All purpose Yards and he's the first player to ever finish with the same number of yards as the year... I think it's Stat of the year.

McCaffrey finished the 2023 regular season with 1,459 rushing yards and 564 receiving yards, totaling exactly 2,023 yards.
Win
Jan 19, 2024
#26865
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Detroit Lions are going to roll over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional round

Stay off our train. It's too late for [the doubters]. Love that [Dan Campbell] is not opening up the bandwagon. ... I think they're gonna roll over the Bucks. I think the Bucks pass defense on the road is one of the worst in the league.

The Lions did beat the Buccaneers 31-23, although it was a competitive game rather than a total blowout.
Push
Jan 19, 2024
#12768
Big CatBig Cat

I want the 49ers to win the Super Bowl to retroactively erase the Eagles' success from last year

I'm rooting for them to get to the Super Bowl now because I want, I want it to be erased... He's gonna deal with 49ers fans being like, it never would've beaten us... I'm rooting for them to win and, and win big. And so that way we can be like, the 49ers should have been in the Super Bowl against the Chiefs.

The 49ers did reach the Super Bowl but lost to the Chiefs, which partially supported Big Cat's 'spite' narrative but didn't end in a title.
Open
Jan 19, 2024
#12771
Joe FlaccoJoe Flacco

My second son will have to play quarterback because he is too natural of a thrower

My second son for sure is going to have to play quarterback. I think he, he's just too natural a thrower. So I'm, oh man, that's great. Another line of Flacco would be awesome.

This is a long-term prediction about a child's future sports involvement.

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