PTI

Draft Episode Gridiron Chaos: Wildcard Shockwaves, Eagles Collapse, and Hoosier's Football

25 min
Jan 12, 20265 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

PTI hosts Mike Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser discuss NFL Wild Card playoff upsets, including the 49ers' stunning victory over the Eagles and Josh Allen's impressive road playoff win with the Bills. They also cover Indiana football's remarkable turnaround under Kurt Cignetti and the Cubs' signing of Alex Bregman to strengthen their infield.

Insights
  • San Francisco's 49ers demonstrated superior coaching and team resilience by winning without key players like George Kittle, while Philadelphia's Eagles struggled with dropped passes and second-half offensive collapse despite being defending Super Bowl champions.
  • Josh Allen's individual performance and toughness carried the Bills to victory on the road against a hot Jacksonville team, proving that elite quarterback play can overcome roster limitations in playoff situations.
  • Indiana's football program has undergone a historic transformation under Kurt Cignetti, posting a plus-470 point differential over 15 games and dominating elite opponents, suggesting sustained excellence rather than a one-year anomaly.
  • The Cubs' acquisition of Alex Bregman signals a commitment to contention and fulfills a promise made to manager Craig Counsell, creating one of baseball's best offensive infields alongside Swanson, Hoerner, and Bush.
  • Playoff success increasingly depends on clutch fourth-quarter execution and team belief systems, as demonstrated by both the 49ers' trick plays and the Bears' repeated comeback victories.
Trends
Elite quarterback play becoming more critical in playoff success, with Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford carrying teams through difficult matchupsCoaching stability and organizational culture directly correlating with playoff performance and team resilienceDefensive depth and injury management emerging as differentiators in postseason competitionFourth-quarter execution and clutch performance separating contenders from pretenders in playoff footballCollege football portal transfers creating unprecedented quarterback carousel affecting program stabilityMLB free agency patterns showing teams making bold offensive acquisitions to signal championship intentComeback narratives and team belief systems becoming measurable competitive advantages in high-pressure situations
Topics
NFL Wild Card Playoff Results and AnalysisSan Francisco 49ers vs Philadelphia Eagles Game BreakdownJosh Allen Road Playoff PerformanceJacksonville Jaguars Offensive StrugglesNew England Patriots Defense EffectivenessChicago Bears Fourth-Quarter Comeback CultureLos Angeles Rams MVP-Level PerformanceMatthew Stafford Clutch ExecutionIndiana Football Historic TurnaroundKurt Cignetti Coaching SuccessChicago Cubs Alex Bregman AcquisitionMLB Free Agency TrendsCollege Football Portal Quarterback TransfersNFL Coaching Stability ImpactPlayoff Team Resilience and Culture
Companies
ESPN
Mentioned as broadcaster of NFL playoff games and college football coverage throughout the episode
Fox
Referenced as broadcast partner for NFL games and sports programming
Apple TV
Mentioned as platform where Don Mattingly appears on broadcasts
People
Matthew Stafford
Los Angeles Rams quarterback praised for MVP-level performance and clutch fourth-quarter execution in playoff win
Josh Allen
Buffalo Bills quarterback highlighted for individual toughness and carrying team to road playoff victory against Jack...
Kurt Cignetti
Indiana football head coach credited with historic turnaround, posting 26-2 record and 15-0 season with plus-470 poin...
Christian McCaffrey
San Francisco 49ers running back with 114 yards and two receiving touchdowns, extending playoff streak of 100+ yards ...
Caleb Williams
Chicago Bears quarterback who transformed from poor performance to Joe Montana-level execution in fourth-quarter come...
Alex Bregman
Third baseman signed by Chicago Cubs to strengthen infield alongside Swanson, Hoerner, and Bush
Craig Counsell
Chicago Cubs manager who received organizational commitment through Bregman acquisition to build championship contender
Sean McVeigh
Los Angeles Rams head coach who was hired nine years ago at age 30, winning Super Bowl and four NFC West titles
Jalen Hurts
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback whose performance was not blamed for team's playoff loss despite receiving corps stru...
A.J. Brown
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver criticized for dropping passes in playoff loss to San Francisco
Don Mattingly
Former baseball player now appearing on Dodgers broadcast and Fox/Apple TV sports programming
Brooks Koepka
Five-time major golf champion reinstated to PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf, paying $5 million charitable contribution
Quotes
"I give the 49ers a lot of credit here and I give them special credit for that trick play at the beginning of the fourth quarter"
Mike Wilbon
"Josh Allen it all praise to Josh Allen. So he's the most impressive to me"
Tony Kornheiser
"The plus minus and 15 games for Indiana this year is plus 470. Let me repeat that 470 that's not possible"
Tony Kornheiser
"This feels sort of like a promise that was made in this regard when you say to Craig Council you leave Milwaukee and you come to the cubs and we will make sure that we put a team out there"
Mike Wilbon
"They must have Helicious belief in each other and their coach seems that was point seems that way because they go in near it half time and they have nothing"
Tony Kornheiser
Full Transcript
From 30 for 30 podcasts Brian Pada senior defensive lineman from Miami gunned down The key to this case it's blind I before he died he was on a phone arguing what's about this might be a hit you want to truth They just want a conviction in place your rest We had a killer monster murder at the U listen now Part of the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbond Tony. They tell me it's national hot Tea day Tony four knives or hot tea. That's what the ladies used to call me back and call All right a long time ago Don't you when I had hair hot tea like now? You know that you can be hot without hair. I can't be maybe you can be I Give it given it the full shot the full Monty. I'm not We're gonna be T.I. boys and girls in today's episode Wilbond's fairs be the packers the bills hop the jaguars and the Patriots Stuff the charges, but we begin today with the biggest surprise the weekends NFL wild card playoff games San Francisco beating defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia in Philadelphia where the Eagles had won five straight home playoff games The 49ers lost tight end George Kiddeltune a kill East hair in the second quarter still won 23 to 19 49ers scored 13 points in the third quarter and stopped the Eagles on a fourth and 11 on the last real play of the game Wilbond what is the focus 49ers winner Eagles? Those I think that's good that in a fourth quarter right not the third quarter and fourth point I It I don't know where to start this because I want to I can't help myself But to take a shot of the Eagles. Okay this way tired of them I got I grew tired of them two or three weeks ago, you know that just drama Just every week starting at like week four drama and agent bra Get out just get out of our lives and let a team go out there who has one injured player after another Not just injured player like role player really good players stars with like Fred Warner's been out It seems like the entire year. I know it hasn't been then they lose Kiddelt yesterday No, the 49ers are to be admired by the way I think the shantahan is coach of the year regular season I know yesterday doesn't count but for how he kept that team going in the proper direction without drama All season long. So I guess I've come to praise yeah, the Niners more than I've come to just heap criticism on the Eagles I have this completely wrong. I thought the Eagles were going to win Comfortably I thought they were going to do to the 49ers what the Seahawks had done to them. Oh, let's wait before just grind them out That's what I thought will happen The 49ers scored first as incidentally every winning team in the NFL the scored first and then won the game But I thought that their defense would not hold up and for a while I think I was right Third-elf he was up 13 to 10 by the end of the first half. They had too long sustained drives They held the ball 19 minutes out of the 30 minutes, right, which is a long time But in the second half they got nothing like you They get nothing every week and a second. That's right. They are averaging 9.5 points in the second half and this time they only got six look I give the 49ers a lot of credit here And I give them special credit for that trick play at the beginning of the fourth quarter where the wide receiver Help me out here to Juan Jennings. Well used to Juan Jennings. Okay, so he is early Does the option pass to Christian McCaffrey who makes a great catch on a pass that is a little bit too long and a little bit too far Right, right and and they they end up if he had a glove it would have been really maize Yes, it was just a reference and then again I'm looking at what the Eagles are going to do and maybe you are referring to this as well AJ Brown Drops passes What is this mouth right doesn't perform Devante Smith drops a pass the Eagles dropped four Third down passes. I don't think you can blame Kaylen Hertz. I don't blame Jaylen Hertz AJ Brown get out are already you know who was it with Mike Singletarius talking about somebody else you can't win with him You can't you can't no more with him not this year. I give you a small no last year. More note on Christian McCaffrey Yeah, okay He had 114 yards from scrimmage and scored two receiving touchdowns He has now gone his last five playoff games with over a hundred yards from scrimmage and all eight of his playoff games all eight He has scored at least one touchdown It's the it's the longest streak of anybody to start their career in the NFL in history You think Carol lineup feels bad trading them now because they should Exactly knew how to use them apparently Let's move to Sunday's two other games Josh Allen earned his first role playoff win by Powering his bills passed the White Hot Jaguars 2724 and the Patriots stifled Justin Herbert in the chargers allowed just 270 yards of offense in a 16-3 win tone Which win did you find more impressive? I think it's the bills they were facing a hotter team Jackson Bill I think had won eight in a row and the bills were on the road and can we be honest here yesterday the bills had Nothing other than Josh Allen. They had nothing else. I mean he will them to win and then he executed that he put his body on the line Every single place was out there He went to the blue tent twice Once Christy thought he might have had a concussion and once because he had an he came back out he leads them down the field I've got last drive who makes ten yards on a quarterback sneak I mean he was well, you have a guy carrying you six of them so tough He was so tough and as you said he had been o and four in road playoff games And you know the last time the bills won a road playoff game. I was there. It was it was against Miami and And damn arena in the 1992 season. That's a long time ago. So let me shift to the other thing for a second. You know, I mean New England was very impressive. They were very solid. They had very good defense But they were playing at home and as I told you the other day I don't think the chargers are as good as the new England Patriots would win that game So you know is Justin Herbert all that do you know what he is in the playoffs? He's now o and three with two touchdown passes and four interceptions one bad game of those three He threw four picks last year in a game Tony. I lost a 27 nothing I need at one point That means somebody defensively needs to be on the hook. Okay, okay, but Justin Herbert I thought I didn't think that was there for I thought the Patriots did they were who we thought they be Let's go back to Josh Allen and something Josh Allen was a beast. Yeah, he was not going to let his team lose The Jaguars did not play poorly at all. No, they didn't play quite well enough Chance to win put that game away and then it's the chance to win to get the 10th pass at the end That's right, but Josh Allen man. Yeah, I mean for people who want to say look I don't think Josh Allen's team is Good enough to get them past Denver in my high circle You didn't think they were going to be Jackson. Oh, I thought Jackson. If it went that's right. I did that's right But Josh Allen it all praise to Josh Allen. So he's the most impressive to me Yeah, the Patriots were who we thought they were would be I thought they would be I also thought they played a team that is not Okay, Jim Harbour has been there two years got to the playoffs both years lots of applause for that Yeah, you know what they've gone out by two years. You know the total combined score 48-15 They have only had one offensive touchdown in 22 possessions over those two years But they got some work to do yeah in building that thing. Yeah, be full But I don't want to blame Justin. I'm not throwing Justin Herbert out Right, I mean there's some teams that so if I were to say to you that in the playoffs He's sort of like Lamar Jackson you would say no. He's sort of like it That's what I'm and he doesn't have the two MVP's He doesn't have the two of me. He's right. Will Bonn. We have waited until now to get to the Bears game and the Rams game from Saturday The Rams beat Carolina in Carolina on a last minute touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to tight end Colby Parkinson And your bears spotted the Packers of 21 to three lead in the first half and miraculously As usual came back to win in which of Saturday's winners do you have more belief in the Rams or in the Bears? Well, the Rams have the MVP you and others have declared that I will have you staffed I vote for them They got the offensive player of the year in Pukin, Nukuah, okay They got this tight end who's a beast who caught that game winning touchdown pass right at the pylon on Saturday He's the Rams have everything I'm told the Rams have everything and yet they can barely survive Carolina after losing the Carolina one That's right. So if I have a hope going into Sunday's game in soldier field. It's that The Rams either there's something up with their concentration level and they've lost three games They shouldn't have lost they got beat at Carolina But but they're the more impressive team. Are you just saying that? They're the more impressive team because you want the Bears to win so badly that you don't want to put them on a spotlight I don't have any problems saying how badly I want the Bears to win Los Angeles has been more impressive, which is why they're favorite in Vegas Which is why everybody's picking them do we have an MVP on our team for the season? Los Angeles we do has Los Angeles won seven different games while trailing in the last minute who has done that? We have I think there's Kago Bears have done that is that not the most impressive thing of the whole season only It's the damn distinct I've ever seen it is it's every week every week every week It's a it's something where you just it's as if they set it up and say okay We got to go further this week We got to go deeper into the game with a bigger margin of deficit and we're gonna win it that way and you just go Oh my god How do they keep doing I would say that all things being equal? I am more impressed with the Rams if you remember a few weeks back we were asked to pick Super Bowl teams I picked the Rams and you pick Seattle. Yeah, all things being equal I would say that but I will also tell you in the fourth quarter on Saturday I thought they're gonna lose in Carolina like they lost six weeks Wow I thought they were going ahead and then Matthew Stafford who yes I think is the MVP this year acted like the MVP here is his last drive Six of seven seventy one yards the pass was incomplete was dropped and he closed it out with 38 seconds to go and prior to the drive He had said to the Vantay Adams quote let's go snatch these guys parts and he did another guy So all so all things being equal. Here's what I don't think is equal What I don't think is equal is that the Bears pull off miracles every single week. Yeah again seven times this year They have one while trailing in the last minute They're gonna play in Chicago against a Southern California team the advanced weather says they're a little bit. Oh, it's down to seven. Okay, right here's a Southern California team below. So that's what I'm saying to you that all things are not equal You Tony you you're right about that all things are not equal. Let me say this in praise about my team They must have Helicious belief in each other and their coach seems that was point seems that way because they go in near it half time And they have nothing I turned the J. You like millions of others turned it off with to visit the game is over listen I was close to despair not all the way there yet But they come out and defensively they put together enough of an effort they gave a one long touchdown drive and And they somehow Tony they cobbled together these possessions where Caleb Williams goes from being For three quarters to Joe Montana in the form could not have Unbelievable you could not have thought a 21 to 3 that you were gonna win that game against the Packers In a stadium they're familiar with against a team they're familiar. No, it couldn't let's take a break coming up What is the word for what Indiana did to Oregon on Friday? And where does the signing of Alex Breggman put the cubbies and leave the saw it's a miracle season for the bear so far It's a miracle is magic you had them old five at the beginning of the completely magical Yeah, I'm gonna go freeze to honor them on Sunday. You should go free take your shirt off Well, I might be inside this week. Yeah, well, I might be the chair Every March are brackets the only thing you can think about do you have symptoms such as constant bracket obsession or Moderate to severe bracket related distractions you may be living with bracket brain Thankfully, there's ESPN Tournament Challenge the number one proven way to treat bracket brain right at the source So this March download the ESPN Tournament Challenge app fill out your men's bracket and get you and your brain in the game ESPN Tournament Challenge play the number one bracket game presented by all state 911 where is the emergency? It's the middle of the night in a small town on the Jersey Shore Someone reports an abandoned car on a bridge a search gets underway for the missing driver 19 year old Sarah Stern is it a missing person is it a suicide at this point nobody knows old friendships Buried cash and a sinister plot that was once pitched as a movie plays out in real life I'm juju Chang from 2020 and ABC audio listen now to bridge of lies wherever you get your podcasts Let's find out what's popping with the pizza nail time. What's first? You're gonna read the first one. I'm scared. I'm gonna You read come off the moorings What's the word for Indiana's win over Oregon? My word is unbelievable my word for everything that has happened since they've gotten Kurt Signetti is Unbelievable they went over a hundred years Lost after loss after loss after loss Kurt Signetti is now 26 and two and 15 and oh this year they rolled you want to talk about roll tide they rolled Alabama 38-3 they were the only by team in two years to win then they rolled Oregon 56 to 22 okay, they're combined scores against Oregon Ohio State and Alabama this year. I believe that's four games total is 107 to 36 right the Indiana defense cost the Oregon quarterback Dante more about a hundred million dollars first play pick six and then two bad fumbles after that It's it's meanwhile Fernando Mendoza that guy now has in the two games. He's played in the playoffs He has more touchdowns eight then he has in completions five I'm gonna give you a number now that is impossible to believe the plus minus and 15 games for Indiana this year is plus 470 let me repeat that 470 that's not possible right you know why because it's unbelievable there other words and they are in that line fictional and cinematic you you you this is a movie script you don't have this We're Indiana not the other football program in the state Notre Dame Indiana they are pounding people totally the only thing I wonder I'm going back to 1983 season. I think it was January 1st or second of 84 When we had Nebraska, which was all powerful right and they played the you In the you won that game on Nebraska miss two pointer and the Irving fray and dropped it Nebraska had a history of one-in-national championships. Yes, it's not it's the these people cannot ever let their Photo off the gas because they've never won anything you but I'm just talking about the one So you're predicting Miami. No, I'm not predicting. I'm just saying when it's when it's too good to be true. Maybe it is It has in and so far has pummeled people plus 470 I'll give you another one. Maybe it's Ali Liston I mean you you know where you just go these people have no chance right except they have a chance So you're in the big ten you pay attention to the day. I do I watch Indiana every snap. I'm how terrible of it in your whole life There's only now officially one school that has more losses. I believe it's the purple I don't want to say it out. I believe it's the purple I but you know unlike other regions of the country where people hate their rivals and they won't you know I'm rooting for Indiana. You should I am that's a big time school What does Alex Breggman signing say about the cubs and where does it leave the socks? Who is the socks with plenty of money to spend on somebody else? I don't know whether they want Belinger or Tucker. They did the Red Sox go out and spend and they do what they want to spend So I'm wasting no time on that the cubs going to get Breggman. I was angry I'm one of those cup fans who said if you people don't do something in this off season That's major right you let Kyle Tucker walk it I wouldn't have paid Kyle Tucker 300 million or whatever is gonna be either So I don't blame the cubs for that But then when got Breggman who they flirted with last year and now we have an infield of Breggman Swanson Horner and Michael Bush which is probably the best offensive infield in baseball and may just be the best infield That's a big deal for the cubs which made the playoffs lost a five-game Series to Milwaukee last year in the playoffs. This is a big deal So I mean, I was thinking that the Red Sox could always go back to Raphael Devers at third But you know why they can because he was poison and they traded him away. Maybe they didn't go back and get him So when that great there, I don't think he I think that's a bridge too far Okay, so they went from two third basement and no third basement They are the I think the only team in the major leagues that has not signed a free agent so far The a's have done it the marlins have done it the pirates have done it. Yeah, yeah They have money they have money and they can do every sort I'm gonna yield All the things on the cubs to you except to say this that from an outsider's point of view This feels sort of like a promise that was made in this regard when you say to Craig council You leave Milwaukee and you come to the cubs and we will make sure that we put a team out there and you take us home It feels to me like Greg Min is part of that because Greg is the real deal. Yes, Greg Min has rings And this is an important thing. He's an all-star. He's got rings. He's supposedly great in the clubhouse That to me feels like a very big addition It's a huge addition. Yeah, I would have been okay if we wound up a boba shed as well Who's four years younger, but I'm not gonna turn to my nose at Breggman who apparently is a massive Influence on on the field and in the clubhouse and of course most teams need that particularly the cubs They don't want anything very excited. Well, they won a few years ago. They hadn't won anything in a hundred years That's ten years. That's ten years. It's not a hundred years close enough email Let's take one last break still to come Lane Kiffin your boy Report It's quarter bad for LSU Who has the answer that I between the Texans and the Steelers the bears have everybody's heart Cubs had to do something and they did they did at the same time they did at the same time hey little bit throwing fourth and nine The cubs are getting pregnant Happy time people happy 44th birthday don trail willis the left-handed starter whose delivery was a Coffin of arms and legs was working of the year in 2003 when he was 14 and six with the 3 3 O E R a for the marlins Who beat the Yankees in the world series in his third season the detrain was 22 and 10 with a 263 E R a the most wins in the national league But after winning 46 games as first three seasons Willis won only 26's next six seasons and was more of a shooting star than a lasting one After two all-star appearances in his five seasons with the marlins Willis went to Detroit Arizona and Cincinnati finished up 72 and 69 with a 4 170 R a for his career You can see and hear him now on the Dodgers broadcast and on Fox and Apple TV He's great. Yes, but on television He's just completely fun to listen to I know you wish these squeeze out a few more wins or rings or whatever But another career he's graded this one too happy anniversary Sean McVeigh on this day nine years ago The ram surprisingly named the 30-year-old offensive coordinator of the Washington football team is their new head coach McVeigh was the youngest head coach in modern NFL history Less than a month later McVeigh signed 37-year-old Mat LaFour as his offensive coordinator McVeigh has won four NFC West titles and a Super Bowl In his first 100 games McVeigh had a notable 61 and 39 record McVeigh's NFL roots go back to his grandfather John who was a head coach in college and the pros Ultimately becoming the general manager of the 49ers you could see McVeigh on Saturday afternoon pumping his fist into the air Matt Stafford through the winning touchdown pass in Carolina with just 38 seconds to go The floor is not going to become suddenly available, is he? I don't know could be that's a bad law. It seems unlikely It's a bad loss You know we've both described it as impossible game to win. Yeah. Yeah Happy trails to golfing limbo from Brooks Keppga the five-time major champion has been reinstated to the PGA tour As part of a new returning member program just weeks after leaving the live tour Keppga will pay a five million dollar charitable contribution and miss out on an estimated 50 to 85 million dollars in potential bonuses From the player equity program and FedEx bonus pool Keppga kept a received a reported 125 million dollars Signing bonus for defecting to the live tour in 2022 and now we will see whether big names like Bryson DeChambo and John Rommel follow Golf namely the PGA tour needs a steady diet of Keppga DeChambo, Romm and others They need them Scotty Shepler as great as he is on the golf course is not a guy that the tour feels it can sell He's not that sort of international ambassador and so they need Scotty Shepler as an ensemble with these other guys Let's see. Yeah, what happened? I don't think they need them. I think they'd like them I don't think they need them. Let's go to the big finish LSU is expected to land State quarterback Sam Levin's got a big deal. You know, I'd like to have him But I don't know how big deal all these quarterbacks is a million quarterbacks Speaking of which Dylan Rayola is joining Oregon. What's that mean? It probably means that thante more is going pro when it's a bad game to leave on the game that he just got all miss quarterback Trinidad because plans to file suit against the NCA and state court in an attempt to get a Sixth year of eligibility your thoughts. I like watching them. I wish the kid well easy to rule for But again quarterbacks is another one coming to a portal every six or seven minutes. How many years in column come on six How many years Vanderbilt's men and women's basketball programs are combined 33 and oh, I know you're impressed I'm very impressed. I'm also like the end of the bill. It's a really good act of I've always been on the last one wild card game tonight Texans and Steelers who you got Texans is the Steelers you're at home It's not that cold enough Aaron Rogers wants to show people he can still do this 42 I'm gonna still take the Texans another guy you don't like we're out of time. We'll try to do better the next time I'm Tony Cornhart a cheesehead. I'm Mike Wilbond same time tomorrow and look ahead and now to get yourself for Texans Steelers Your Scott Van Pelt and a countdown crew