PMT DB
PMT DB
Mike Florio on NFL Catch Rules, Jerry Richardson, and the Jags Threat
Week 15 delivered the game of the year between the Patriots and Steelers, and it ended in the most predictable way possible: a controversial rule benefiting New England and Big Ben throwing a back-breaking interception. Big Cat and PFT break down the Jesse James non-catch that had everyone losing their minds. While the world debated what a catch is, Big Cat noted that the Patriots' strategy of just spamming their best player worked perfectly.
Big CatRob Gronkowski is a cheat code and no one can guard him
Basically, you just keep throwing it to Gronk because Gronk's a cheat coach. No one can guard Gronk.
The fallout for Pittsburgh was massive. Not only did they lose the inside track for home-field advantage, but Antonio Brown went down, and Big Ben looked like he was already eyeing his favorite postseason accessory. PFT provided a moving tribute to the return of Roethlisberger’s walking boot, imagining it whispering sweet nothings to Ben’s toes while he blames Todd Haley for the fake spike gone wrong.
The Rise of Saxonville and the Death of Seattle
While the legacy powers struggled, the Jacksonville Jaguars spent their Sunday absolutely dismantling the Texans. It’s time to stop treating the Jags like a bit. Blake Bortles is playing actual, competent football, and the defense is terrifying.
Big CatThe Jaguars are a for-real team and people shouldn't sleep on them
I'm pumped because I think the Jags, like, people sleep on the Jags, and I know we laugh at them because their franchise has been pretty much a comedy of errors. But they're a for-real team.
PFT CommenterThe Jaguars defense is the best in the NFL
That defense is probably the best defense in the NFL. Like, no joke. It's them, it's the Vikings, and then there's a pretty big drop-off after that.
On the flip side, the Seahawks getting stomped 42-7 at home by the Rams feels like the end of an era. The LOB is banged up, but more importantly, the fear factor of playing in Seattle seems to have evaporated. Big Cat thinks the aura is officially dead.
Big CatThe Seahawks' mystique and intimidation factor is officially gone
The mystique is gone from [the Seahawks]. It's just one of those things where the mystique now comes off and you don't feel as intimidated when Jared Goff goes in there and has his way and they run the ball all over him. When a team comes in and does that, it definitely feels like a little bit of the whole mystique and the aura like you can't win in Seattle is gone.
Meanwhile, in Kansas City, Andy Reid is doing exactly what Andy Reid does: winning just enough to make his eventual January collapse even more painful.
PFT CommenterAndy Reid is on track for his annual first-round playoff loss
We're still right on track for that first-round playoff loss from Andy Reid. Really looking forward to it.
Mike Florio on the NFL’s Messiest Week
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio joined the show to help make sense of the chaos, starting with the Jesse James play. Florio admits the catch rule is garbage but explains that the league is terrified that fixing it would only make it more confusing. The conversation shifted to the bombshell news of Jerry Richardson selling the Carolina Panthers amidst workplace misconduct allegations. Florio thinks the price tag will be the ultimate barometer for the health of the league.
Mike FlorioIf the Panthers sell for less than $1.4 billion, the NFL has cause for concern
I think the Bills were the last team that sold and they went for 1-4. So if you get south of 1-4, I think there's cause for concern. But if it's less than a billion, then it's like, holy shit.
The coaching carousel is also spinning out of control. Florio floated a truly cursed scenario for the state of Ohio where the Bengals keep Marvin Lewis in the building but bring in a familiar face to lead the team on the field.
Mike FlorioThe Bengals might move Marvin Lewis to the front office and hire Hue Jackson as head coach
Marvin stays in Cincinnati, graduates to the front office where he's essentially the GM because they don't have one as it is. And then, some way, somehow, they bring back Hue Jackson to be the coach of the team, and it's Marvin and Hue working together in Cincinnati.
Mike FlorioAny head coach who goes 0-16 should be permanently disqualified from coaching again
I personally think if you go 0-16 as an NFL head coach, you should be permanently disqualified from ever being a head coach again for any team.
Despite the drama in Cincinnati and Charlotte, Florio is actually high on the Jaguars. He thinks their style of play is built perfectly for a cold-weather upset in the playoffs, which should have Patriots fans checking their closets for monsters.
Mike FlorioThe Jaguars have the ingredients to win in New England or Pittsburgh in January
I think this is a team that could win in New England in the divisional round, it could win in Pittsburgh in the divisional round, and it could keep the AFC championship game from happening... It's a Florida team that has all the ingredients to play in the elements in January.
Who’s Back and Hermatology
Before letting Mike go, the guys touched on the Lack of consistency in NFL discipline. Florio predicted that Thomas Davis would escape a suspension for his hit on Davante Adams simply because the game wasn't in a primetime slot, highlighting the league's "dartboard" approach to player safety.
Mike FlorioThomas Davis will not be suspended for his hit on Davante Adams because it wasn't in primetime
Same hit that Juju Smith-Schuster put on Vontaze Burfict. But because that game today didn't happen in primetime, they're not going to suspend Thomas Davis. That's my prediction.
Hank returned from West Virginia as a champion after his win at Rough N' Rowdy, which Big Cat claims solidified the podcast's alpha status. In Who's Back, Hank is already looking ahead to a post-LeBron world in the East.
HankThe Celtics will win five championships after LeBron James leaves for the Lakers
[Gordon Hayward] is going to beat LeBron, then LeBron's going to leave, go to L.A., and Celtics are going to win, like, five championships.
PFT followed that up with a bold prediction for the NBA Finals, assuming the Rockets can actually slay the Golden State dragon.
PFT CommenterThe Rockets and Celtics will meet in the NBA Finals
Rocket Celtics calling it right now. [Warriors?] No. [The Rockets beat them] in seven.
The show wrapped up with the debut of "Hermatology," a segment dedicated to the absurdity of Herm Edwards taking over at Arizona State. Herm has been on the job for two weeks and has already lost both his coordinators, proving that his "leadership" might just be a collection of motivational posters and First Take clips. PFT isn't expecting a miracle season in Tempe.
PFT CommenterHerm Edwards could go 4-7 at Arizona State just like every other coach
I bet you $1 that Herm Edwards could get the exact same record as all of our other coaches and go 4-7.
If the Jaguars actually win a playoff game in Foxborough, we are all legally required to buy a Blake Bortles Wikipedia Club shirt.
