0:00:06 > 0:00:12And it will be time for these two teams to settle
0:00:12 > 0:00:21it.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25Elway, he's going to fire it, they have lost the ball at the near
0:00:25 > 0:00:25side.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Looking downfield, going deep.
0:00:29 > 0:00:30A one-man wrecking crew!
0:00:30 > 0:00:34How did he do that?
0:00:34 > 0:00:35Unstoppable!
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Unstoppable!
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Hello, welcome to the NFL Show, and we have got our tree up.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46The boys have been very excited about
0:00:46 > 0:00:48decorating because it gives us all a chance
0:00:48 > 0:00:49to use a festive prop for
0:00:49 > 0:00:50a tenuous sports analogy.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52So, gentlemen, who will be top of the
0:00:52 > 0:00:54tree at Christmas?
0:00:54 > 0:00:55Who is your number one seed?
0:00:55 > 0:00:57My boys, my favourite team.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59What, really?
0:00:59 > 0:01:05Up here.
0:01:05 > 0:01:15Jason?
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Yes, I'm going to go with the NFC.
0:01:18 > 0:01:19Dallas will keep it rolling.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Do you want a box?
0:01:21 > 0:01:22Anybody?
0:01:22 > 0:01:23Come on.
0:01:23 > 0:01:24Cleveland are up there.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28It is the season of goodwill!
0:01:28 > 0:01:30VOICEOVER It is the season of giving.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32At present, London has three games.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36The present is one more, four games in London in 2017.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40More sleekness, Ravens and Jaguars.
0:01:40 > 0:01:47More sparkle, Saints and Dolphins.
0:01:47 > 0:01:54More visitors from the North Pole, Vikings and Rams.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56More Tinseltown, Rams and Cardinals.
0:01:56 > 0:02:01More of this at Wembley and Twickenham, a gift,
0:02:01 > 0:02:06season's greetings from the NFL.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Well, there are just three weeks left in this yeur's regular-season
0:02:08 > 0:02:11and that means that teams only have three chances to make the playoffs.
0:02:11 > 0:02:16There are so many permutations as to what may happen that I requested
0:02:16 > 0:02:21that Professor Stephen Hawking and Carol Vorderman be on the sofa
0:02:21 > 0:02:23this week but the producers said, no, we can't do
0:02:23 > 0:02:24that because they are unavailable.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27So instead I am lumbered with these, our ex-pros,
0:02:27 > 0:02:28Osi Umenyiora and Jason Bell.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30On tonight's show we will be bringing you
0:02:30 > 0:02:34highlights of Thursday's game between the LA Rams and the Seattle
0:02:34 > 0:02:39Seahawks, we will be talking the bleakness of midwinter with bad
0:02:39 > 0:02:44blood and battered bodies, we'll be looking ahead to this weekend's
0:02:44 > 0:02:47fixtures and also looking back at what last week's results mean to
0:02:47 > 0:02:48everybody's playoff hopes.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52And to get us under way, let's look at a
0:02:52 > 0:02:54game that took place on Monday night.
0:02:54 > 0:02:55Tom Brady, the winningest
0:02:55 > 0:02:56quarterback in NFL history, and his team,
0:02:56 > 0:03:01the New England Patriots, the
0:03:01 > 0:03:03successfullest team in recent Super Bowl history, took
0:03:03 > 0:03:08on the Baltimore Ravens, who are the defensiest,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11who have the best defense, come on, I've got to stop it at some point,
0:03:11 > 0:03:13they've got the best defense in the competition.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Anyhow, the Patriots are sitting comfortably on top of
0:03:15 > 0:03:21their division with some room for error.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23However, the Ravens are in a slugfest with the Pittsburgh
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Steelers for top spot of their division and coming second could
0:03:26 > 0:03:27easily mean sitting out the playoffs in January.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33The Ravens start from their own 1-yard line.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Trouble and it will be a safety.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40Malcolm Brown stopped the run By Kenneth Dixon.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Brady on 3rd down and 20.
0:03:43 > 0:03:53Tom steps up, zings one over the head of
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Elliman.
0:03:56 > 0:03:57Jimmy Smith in coverage and Brady very upset.
0:03:57 > 0:03:5935 straight field goals.
0:03:59 > 0:04:00And it's blocked!
0:04:00 > 0:04:02By Shea McClellan.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06McClellan goes over the top of Morgan Cox.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Gets a clean block.
0:04:08 > 0:04:16What a play by McClellan.
0:04:16 > 0:04:26Third and goal New England.
0:04:27 > 0:04:28LeGarrette Blount head down, charging into the
0:04:28 > 0:04:30end zone for a New England touchdown.
0:04:30 > 0:04:31Brady and a touchdown.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35Malcolm Mitchell!
0:04:35 > 0:04:37New England crowded the line and rushed only
0:04:37 > 0:04:39three.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Flacco, deep ball and a double coverage and it is
0:04:42 > 0:04:44intercepted off Mike Wallace, and into the arms
0:04:44 > 0:04:46of Devin McCourty, who
0:04:46 > 0:04:55has a lot of running room as he brings it back.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00McCourty across midfield, still on his feet,
0:05:00 > 0:05:03inside the 40 and bang down at the 37-yard line.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07Big 3rd down and goal from the two.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Still nobody near Brady.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Now he's hit and the ball is intercepted and run out
0:05:12 > 0:05:16of the end zone by Eric Weddle. McClellan started as if he was going
0:05:16 > 0:05:17to try it again and backed away.
0:05:17 > 0:05:24And Tucker back to where he usually is
0:05:24 > 0:05:27between the uprights.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Brady to the end zone in traffic and the battle for
0:05:30 > 0:05:31the ball, won by Bennett.
0:05:31 > 0:05:41Touchdown, New England.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46It is kicked low, end over end.
0:05:46 > 0:05:47Jones!
0:05:47 > 0:05:48That might have hit his foot!
0:05:48 > 0:05:56He's had one catastrophe after another.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58The Ravens are running, whose ball is it?
0:05:58 > 0:05:59Baltimore's ball.
0:05:59 > 0:06:00Flacco.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Into the end zone, caught this time by Waller for a
0:06:03 > 0:06:10Baltimore touchdown.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Matthew Slater back with the kick-off now for New
0:06:13 > 0:06:14England.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17And the ball is out and the Ravens have it, another mistake by
0:06:17 > 0:06:26New England from Slater.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28There is an open man in the flat, it's
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Kenneth Dixon with a Baltimore touchdown.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33The fourth quarter.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Flacco in trouble.
0:06:35 > 0:06:45Flacco is sacked, at the 20-yard line.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Tom Brady, man running open, Chris Hogan is off to
0:06:51 > 0:06:54the races!
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Touchdown, New England.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59No flags.
0:06:59 > 0:07:0537-yard field goal.
0:07:05 > 0:07:11And it's just inside the left upright, another one that started
0:07:11 > 0:07:13hooking at the beginning and sliced back just enough.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15They nearly squandered a 20 point lead in the
0:07:15 > 0:07:19second half, and it would have been just the second time in the history
0:07:19 > 0:07:21of the franchise if they'd done that.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23They will take another step towards what will be
0:07:23 > 0:07:24inevitably, their eighth consecutive AFC East
0:07:24 > 0:07:24inevitably, their eighth consecutive AFC East
0:07:24 > 0:07:33title.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35And don't forget you can catch more highlights of Week 14
0:07:35 > 0:07:38on our highlights show, NFL this week and that is on the iPlayer
0:07:38 > 0:07:39now.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41I suppose when looking at the Patriots there
0:07:41 > 0:07:43are two ways to look at it.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45One, they made some errors yet still seem
0:07:45 > 0:07:46calm and delivered in the
0:07:46 > 0:07:49end, or the errors were ridiculous and could cost them if they do that
0:07:49 > 0:07:51again as they go down the home stretch.
0:07:51 > 0:07:56Which way do you look at it?
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Well, these are errors that are uncharacteristic of the New
0:07:58 > 0:07:59England Patriots.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01They never make mistakes like this.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03This is the Bill Belichick team that prides itself on
0:08:03 > 0:08:04winning games error- free.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07So to see them making mistakes like this and
0:08:07 > 0:08:10still overcoming that and being able to win doesn't bode well for
0:08:10 > 0:08:11the rest of the NFL.
0:08:11 > 0:08:19That slippery slope starts with the Brady
0:08:19 > 0:08:21interception before we even get on to the special teams making
0:08:21 > 0:08:23a right Horlicks of it.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Yet, the thing that they do well, the thing that makes
0:08:25 > 0:08:28them so dangerous, they can be in situations where things don't
0:08:28 > 0:08:30work out well but as a team, they figure it
0:08:30 > 0:08:31out and rally.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33What did you make of the special teams errors?
0:08:33 > 0:08:34I'm a special teams guy!
0:08:34 > 0:08:36That's why I'm asking!
0:08:36 > 0:08:37That's why I'm not asking him!
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Smashing quarterbacks I go to him, special
0:08:39 > 0:08:40teams, I come to you!
0:08:40 > 0:08:42One thing about special teams errors, it's the
0:08:42 > 0:08:44quickest way to lose a game because of the yardage that
0:08:44 > 0:08:46happens in those places, it's so significant.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48And they are a team that always has a
0:08:48 > 0:08:50special team leadership role kind of guy.
0:08:50 > 0:08:51In Slater.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54And they have always been that way so they usually don't
0:08:54 > 0:08:56do things like that and that's something they've got to get control
0:08:56 > 0:08:57of.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00I will say this about special teams mistakes, like, as a defense,
0:09:00 > 0:09:03say you've just come off the field and the special teams makes a
0:09:03 > 0:09:06mistake, there is nothing more deflating than that.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08It takes the air completely out of the defensemen.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10So big up to the special teams guys.
0:09:10 > 0:09:11Thanks, man.
0:09:11 > 0:09:12We work together well!
0:09:12 > 0:09:13Yes we do.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Did you deliberately do deflating and taking the air out of
0:09:16 > 0:09:18things when we are talking about the Patriots!
0:09:18 > 0:09:19That's kind of one of those things...
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Since Deflategate it's just like a Freudian slip!
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Isn't that what they call it?
0:09:23 > 0:09:24Yes, that's what they call it.
0:09:24 > 0:09:25You know what you're doing.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Let's take a look at some of the other significant
0:09:28 > 0:09:29results from Week 14.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31Some interesting ones.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34The Thursday night game between Kansas City and Oakland
0:09:34 > 0:09:36really affected things in the AFC with Kansas City Chiefs now going
0:09:36 > 0:09:38above the Oakland Raiders in that division.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Pittsburgh Steelers, who are in this battle with the Ravens,
0:09:41 > 0:09:42they beat Buffalo, defeat for Denver, Washington managing
0:09:42 > 0:09:47to hold off Philadelphia, Miami getting back
0:09:47 > 0:09:49on the winning track as well, Houston winning
0:09:49 > 0:09:50a big divisional match
0:09:50 > 0:09:52against the Indianapolis Colts, Detroit given a real fight by the
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Chicago Bears but they came through it, despite Matthew Stafford's
0:09:55 > 0:09:56injury.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Saints, Atlanta Falcons thrashed
0:09:58 > 0:10:00the LA Rams, which means that the Rams fired their head
0:10:00 > 0:10:09coach, Jeff Fisher, Seattle lost on the road
0:10:09 > 0:10:12again in a very snowy location against Green Bay and the game that
0:10:12 > 0:10:14I think these two will want to talk about in
0:10:14 > 0:10:17a moment, the New York Giants defense performing against the
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Dallas Cowboys, meaning that the Dallas Cowboys's winning streak
0:10:19 > 0:10:20comes to an end.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22We will talk about some of those games and in relation
0:10:22 > 0:10:24to the playoff picture, don't forget when it
0:10:24 > 0:10:26comes to the playoffs, all
0:10:26 > 0:10:28four divisional winners go through and the two wild Cards
0:10:28 > 0:10:30are the two teams with the best records
0:10:30 > 0:10:35elsewhere, they don't have to be in second place in their division.
0:10:35 > 0:10:41So at the moment in the NFC Dallas and
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Detroit are the top two divisional winners,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Seattle and Atlanta win the
0:10:46 > 0:10:49other two divisions and Tampa Bay and the New York Giants have the
0:10:49 > 0:10:51best record among all the other teams.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54When you see it like that with the New York Giants as fifth
0:10:54 > 0:10:57seeds as it stands, it shows what an important win that was.
0:10:57 > 0:10:58It was huge.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Because if they do get in the playoffs,
0:11:00 > 0:11:01who will they face again?
0:11:01 > 0:11:02The Dallas Cowboys.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04And that's where the magic happens.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06Crucial, crucial victory for the New York Giants.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08They have distanced themselves from pretty much the rest
0:11:08 > 0:11:10of the people in the hunt for that wild card
0:11:10 > 0:11:12position, I'm so excited for the New York Giants.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Important that they have distanced themselves from a
0:11:14 > 0:11:16divisional rival as well? In Washington?
0:11:16 > 0:11:19You can see on the graphic, Washington the next best
0:11:19 > 0:11:20team in the hunt.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22You always want to distance yourself from your
0:11:22 > 0:11:25divisional rivals, you don't want to play them again.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Particularly when the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins
0:11:28 > 0:11:29meet in Week 17.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33So if they can have a two game gap they will be happy
0:11:33 > 0:11:34with that?
0:11:34 > 0:11:35You know who is excited about Washington?
0:11:35 > 0:11:37Everyone else in that conference, because nobody wants
0:11:37 > 0:11:39to see the Washington Redskins in the playoff,
0:11:39 > 0:11:46that offense is dynamic and they can beat anybody.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49We have said on the show a fair bit over the
0:11:49 > 0:11:51season that teams can turn things around quickly in the NFL.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Tampa Bay are on a decent winning streak, five
0:11:54 > 0:11:59games, Green Bay, all of a sudden, on a winning streak of three games,
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Detroit, five-game winning streak although we have praised them.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Green Bay and Tampa have turned things
0:12:03 > 0:12:04around in the last month.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06It's all about being a second-half team,
0:12:06 > 0:12:07second half of the season.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Figuring out who you are, getting on a roll
0:12:09 > 0:12:14and sustaining that.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16It also shows the importance of a franchise
0:12:16 > 0:12:19quarterback.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21Green Bay have Aaron Rodgers and Tampa Bay they have
0:12:21 > 0:12:22the young Jameis Winston.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26Two excellent quarterbacks.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28You can never count out a team that has those kind of
0:12:28 > 0:12:30guys at the quarterback position.
0:12:30 > 0:12:31Is Matthew Stafford a franchise quarterback?
0:12:31 > 0:12:34For sure.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38We're talking MVP Canada.
0:12:38 > 0:12:39He's having that kind of year.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Took him eight years to figure it out but he's finally put
0:12:42 > 0:12:43everything together this year!
0:12:43 > 0:12:46When you look at the records with Detroit
0:12:46 > 0:12:55a number two seed in the NFC obviously there are games still to
0:12:55 > 0:12:57go and Detroit have to go to the Giants, to Dallas,
0:12:57 > 0:12:59and then they have Green Bay in week 17.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01So they have a difficult final three games,
0:13:01 > 0:13:02Detroit.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05But because Seattle are poor on the road at the moment,
0:13:05 > 0:13:06Detroit have now gone above Seattle.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09And that's amazing, Seattle, so effective at home and cannot pull
0:13:09 > 0:13:10anything off on the road.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12That's not good, going into the playoffs.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14The thing for Seattle, to give everyone
0:13:14 > 0:13:17the fixtures here, Seattle have LA and Arizona at home, where they are
0:13:17 > 0:13:19so strong, their final game on the road is at
0:13:19 > 0:13:20San Francisco, where on
0:13:20 > 0:13:23current evidence they could put me in there and they might not suffer
0:13:23 > 0:13:30so they've got a fairly easy run.
0:13:30 > 0:13:31But I am concerned about the Seattle Seahawks,
0:13:31 > 0:13:33not only did they lose to
0:13:33 > 0:13:35the Green Bay Packers, they got obliterated.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37And a good football team will never get beaten that bad.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39They will lose but not by that many points
0:13:39 > 0:13:41so there's no telling what
0:13:41 > 0:13:43you will get out of the Seattle Seahawks.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Let's take a look at the AFC and the playoff picture, two weeks
0:13:46 > 0:13:49ago, Oakland were top two, and because of that defeat to Kansas
0:13:49 > 0:13:51City, Kansas City now one of the top two seeds
0:13:51 > 0:13:54and Oakland would have to
0:13:54 > 0:13:57make do with a wild card which would take them to Houston.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Which even in this situation, if you are a wild
0:13:59 > 0:14:03card in the AFC, as long as you get the winners in the Houston division
0:14:03 > 0:14:04you will be very happy.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07And if you are Oakland, you want to play on the
0:14:07 > 0:14:09road because that is where you are good!
0:14:09 > 0:14:10So, yeah.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12Anybody in that conference, you want to take.
0:14:12 > 0:14:13This is where there has been some talk
0:14:13 > 0:14:16about re-seeding in the NFL because there is no way a team
0:14:16 > 0:14:18like Houston or Indianapolis should have a higher
0:14:18 > 0:14:21seed than a team like the Oakland Raiders or Denver simply because
0:14:21 > 0:14:24they are the winners.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26Denver in a little bit of trouble, would you say?
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Both form wise and, you know, the same record as Miami.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32So depending on how that run in goes, Miami have got the Jets
0:14:32 > 0:14:33and Buffalo and New England.
0:14:33 > 0:14:34So three divisional games.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36But they might fancy their chances in two of those.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Yes, it's surprising, Denver might not be in their at the end.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41A Super Bowl team not making it.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43They have something called the Super Bowl hangover.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46And this is what happens to a lot of teams, they'll go
0:14:46 > 0:14:48through Super Bowl one year, they'll win and the next year
0:14:48 > 0:14:50they won't even make the play-offs.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52It happens in the NFL all the time.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54So explain what happens the following season to you,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56mentally, after you have won the Super Bowl?
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Yeah because, you know, I've done this twice, so I can tell you!
0:14:59 > 0:15:01Go ahead!
0:15:01 > 0:15:02OK, first of all, you play deeper.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Like a lot of teams, their season ends in January,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07whereas the Super Bowl champion season ends in February.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10So you'll have had like a month of extra football that nobody else has.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13So you're a little bit more banged up, you get a little
0:15:13 > 0:15:15bit less time to rest.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17And then you go in on that high, feeling, oh, we've won,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19we beat everybody, we defeated them.
0:15:19 > 0:15:25And in our case, even though we won the Super Bowl,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28I don't think that necessarily we were that talented a football team,
0:15:28 > 0:15:29we were just clearly better than everybody.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32We couldn't afford to take those relaxations, and we did,
0:15:32 > 0:15:33and it ended up costing us.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Come on, you're on my side now.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Read that because this is what we are doing next.
0:15:37 > 0:15:38Go on.
0:15:38 > 0:15:39Two-time champ.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41That's how week 14 looked from up here.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Let's see how it sounded on the field.
0:15:43 > 0:15:44Good man.
0:15:44 > 0:15:45Can't see it well.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47We've got on our fancy clothes but guess what,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49that don't mean nothing, man.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51We've got to win this game today, by any means!
0:15:51 > 0:15:52Are you ready?
0:15:52 > 0:15:53Na, uh-uh.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55Come on, come on, come on.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Come on!
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Best of luck, man.
0:16:01 > 0:16:02I appreciate it.
0:16:02 > 0:16:03I love you.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04How is the family?
0:16:04 > 0:16:05Are they good?
0:16:05 > 0:16:08We've got another one on the way, did you know that?
0:16:08 > 0:16:09No, I didn't, congrats.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Another boy?
0:16:11 > 0:16:13You are doing well.
0:16:13 > 0:16:14Great job, hanging in there.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17They can't say we're not a good team any more.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19That's five in a row!
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Undefeated in the division.
0:16:21 > 0:16:31And we've got to get after it next week.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Now, that's how you do it in December!
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Tough, gritty, hard-nosed football, in the elements.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Hey, I might get a little emotional.
0:16:42 > 0:16:47I'm really proud.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52I'm really proud as the coach of this football team,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54I'm really proud of you guys.
0:16:54 > 0:16:55It's cold, it's wet,
0:16:55 > 0:16:57there's wounded men everywhere fighting like their lives
0:16:57 > 0:16:58depended on it.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01It may seem like an episode of Game of Thrones, but in fact it's
0:17:01 > 0:17:02the NFL in December.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04For example, let's talk about the quarterbacks.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Ryan Tannehill of the Dolphins suffering a potentially
0:17:06 > 0:17:07season-ending ACL injury.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Aaron Rodgers of the Packers hobbled to victory with
0:17:09 > 0:17:10a hamstring and calf injury.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12We've got a mangled finger each for Derek Carr
0:17:12 > 0:17:14of the Oakland Raiders and Matthew Stafford
0:17:14 > 0:17:15of the Detroit Lions.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17You're 13 games in, it's cold, you're carrying injuries.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20At this stage of the season, is it horrible to play?
0:17:20 > 0:17:26Absolutely.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28And I say that because everybody that's playing football gets
0:17:28 > 0:17:30injured at this point.
0:17:30 > 0:17:31Not just the quarterbacks, not just the big name guys.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Every single person that's playing football is operating
0:17:33 > 0:17:35at about 70-80% right now.
0:17:35 > 0:17:36I agree.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39It's the main thing that the real veterans of the league no how
0:17:39 > 0:17:42to take care of themselves, because this is when it gets
0:17:42 > 0:17:44interesting and you've got to take care of your body.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47You are more susceptible to injuries at this stage?
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Yes, that's why you've got to learn kind of how you are over the years
0:17:50 > 0:17:52and take care of things that nag you.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55And also, we've spoken before, actually, about how different teams
0:17:55 > 0:17:57might have players who they bring in for the cold weather
0:17:57 > 0:18:00and the wet weather, who are more adept at playing
0:18:00 > 0:18:01in those conditions than others.
0:18:01 > 0:18:02Quarterbacks never get that opportunity though, of course.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Yeah, you've got to ride with your one quarterback the whole season!
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Let's take a look at a couple of the quarterback injuries.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10And it is the Matthew Stafford one.
0:18:10 > 0:18:11And the Derek Carr one.
0:18:11 > 0:18:12Both have suffered dislocated fingers.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14This was Matthew Stafford against the Bears.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16The worst thing about the dislocation is the camera seemed
0:18:16 > 0:18:19to go right in and see the treatment on the finger.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21He then wore a glove, that was the middle finger
0:18:21 > 0:18:23on his throwing hand.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26When Derek Carr suffered his dislocated finger, for the Raiders,
0:18:26 > 0:18:30that was on his little finger on his throwing arm with this
0:18:30 > 0:18:34sort of fumbled snap against the Carolina Panthers.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37I can't look at it!
0:18:37 > 0:18:41When he went and got it sorted, obviously he has a glove on as well.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44So what I want to know is, for the quarterbacks,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47which finger affects them the most?
0:18:47 > 0:18:50How do they throw the ball, really?
0:18:50 > 0:18:53So I'm going to start off and say it's your pinky finger.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55This is why Derek Carr is struggling.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Because you see how you hold the ball here.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59My middle finger is not in the laces.
0:18:59 > 0:19:06Right.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09So you really are getting that last grip out of your pinky finger.
0:19:09 > 0:19:10That really affect your throwing motion.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13And as you see, the middle finger, these two fingers
0:19:13 > 0:19:14are connected to the bone.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17So you've kind of got a little more power and these are two floaters,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20they're called, they're not really connected to the bone.
0:19:20 > 0:19:21So when you hurt that, you really need that
0:19:21 > 0:19:22grip to throw correctly.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24So the middle finger is more for what?
0:19:24 > 0:19:25It's kind of just there.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28I mean, you need your thumb and your index finger,
0:19:28 > 0:19:30that's where the power is coming from.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33But the last two are giving you the grip you need.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36So that will give you the control or the spin, and that's why he might
0:19:36 > 0:19:38struggle with the dislocation of the little finger.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Yes, because when you throw, and you release the ball,
0:19:41 > 0:19:42you're throwing down.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44And those are the last two to leave.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47But you see like, when the injury happened, you see how they didn't
0:19:47 > 0:19:51roll on the floor and act like the end of the earth is coming.
0:19:51 > 0:19:52You know how the soccer players...
0:19:52 > 0:19:53Never mind, never mind!
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Never mind, go ahead, I'm sorry!
0:19:55 > 0:19:56I'm sorry.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58They may do that, you may have a point!
0:19:58 > 0:20:02The LA Rams are not making the playoffs, that's official.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Head coach Jeff Fisher has been sacked and Jarad Goff,
0:20:04 > 0:20:07the highest-rated quarterback to come out of college last year,
0:20:07 > 0:20:11has yet to win a game and he looked like a lost little billy goat last
0:20:11 > 0:20:13week against the Atlanta Falcons.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16For the Seahawks, a home game against the ramshackle Rams must
0:20:16 > 0:20:18have looked like the perfect play off confidence booster.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23But then again, it's always a good idea to be wary of anything that has
0:20:23 > 0:20:29horns and nothing to lose.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34From the 41 yard line, good play action going.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Deep downfield and open and dropping it at the 13 yard
0:20:37 > 0:20:40line is Michael Thomas.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Three first downs on his journey and a third down and one.
0:20:43 > 0:20:44Goff.
0:20:44 > 0:20:49Nice protection.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51An open man, can't hit him.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55Brian Quick wide open in the end zone.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57On a first and goal now.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00And Wilson, rolling against the grain, throws.
0:21:00 > 0:21:08Caught, and into the end zone goes Luke Wilson for the touchdown.
0:21:08 > 0:21:15And Hekker's going to fake it and it's incomplete.
0:21:15 > 0:21:21And Hauschka sends that one right down the middle.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24And the Rams are able to get on the board.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27From the 14 yard line.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Look out!
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Loses the ball and is able to recover it at the 8
0:21:32 > 0:21:34yard line, Cliff Avril.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Graham comes into the slot.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Play action again.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41They go to Graham.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Breaking tackles!
0:21:43 > 0:21:46To the 14 yard line.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Uh-oh!
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Fade, and wide open!
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Doug Baldwin for the touchdown.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56He beats Troy Hill.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Oh, boy, what a move!
0:21:58 > 0:22:003rd and 11th.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Line does its job.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Going deep down field, getting free.
0:22:05 > 0:22:05Lockett.
0:22:05 > 0:22:12Touchdown!
0:22:12 > 0:22:14Oh, man!
0:22:14 > 0:22:21He gets slaughtered!
0:22:21 > 0:22:27Jason Goff away, flag gets thrown and Goff gets slain down the bounds
0:22:27 > 0:22:36of the three by Richard Sherman.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Holding.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41So Goff will get checked for a possible concussion.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44There's a medical observer up in the press box and of course this
0:22:44 > 0:22:47was something that was put in in recent times, about being able
0:22:47 > 0:22:50to call down and say, get this guy out of the game,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53we've got to check him out.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55I agree with the call.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Uh-oh, here we go!
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Wide open!
0:23:00 > 0:23:04And it's Jon Ryan and the Red Sea parted and he almost lost the ball!
0:23:04 > 0:23:07And he does lose it and he goes down and he might be hurt as well.
0:23:07 > 0:23:099, 4 and 1.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13The Rams will go to 4 and 10.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17John Fassel gets a couple more games as the interim head coach.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21Pete Carroll has picked up another NFC West title.
0:23:21 > 0:23:31And the Seahawks win it by a score of 24-3.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36There's some things coming together here and we have a lot
0:23:36 > 0:23:38of improvement yet to make here.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40And fortunately we have a couple more games before play-off time
0:23:40 > 0:23:44and we can see if we can continue to just clean things up.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Yeah, it's a big deal to be NFC West champs.
0:23:46 > 0:23:47It's not easy to do.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50It's something that, you know, there's a lot of physical teams,
0:23:50 > 0:23:52a lot of tough, tough talent out there obviously, every time
0:23:52 > 0:23:54you get to the play-offs.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56There's people that have never been to the play-offs and I've got
0:23:56 > 0:23:58to be grateful for that.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01It's something that really matters and something that we cherish.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04To be able to win enough and to be able to do what we're doing.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07So it's a great, great thing and we're just
0:24:07 > 0:24:10going to continue to get better.
0:24:10 > 0:24:20Let's look at some of the other fixtures in week 14 coming our way.
0:24:22 > 0:24:23We mentioned the Packers and the Steelers.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24Both on a decent run.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26They have the Bears and the Bengals respectively.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29The Raiders after the defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs have
0:24:29 > 0:24:31another divisional game against the San Diego Chargers.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33The Chiefs themselves have the Tennessee Titans.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Not a divisional game, but the Titans beat the Broncos also
0:24:35 > 0:24:37in the Chiefs' division last week.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40So they'll be looking for a double over AFC West teams.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42And then the bottom three, and they're the ones
0:24:42 > 0:24:44we're going to focus on.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Starting with the Lions at the Giants.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49And I suppose the question is again, can the Giants' defence do
0:24:49 > 0:24:51to Detroit what they did to Dallas?
0:24:51 > 0:24:53I think they can.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55I thought you might do!
0:24:55 > 0:24:58I think Detroit is really one to mention.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01They are throwing team and I think the Giants can get after them
0:25:01 > 0:25:03and they can cover them in the back end.
0:25:03 > 0:25:09Maybe they might not be able to get the pressure
0:25:09 > 0:25:11that they are accustomed to without Jason Pierre-Paul.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14But they have a replacement who is playing well in Romeo Okwara.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17They have the defensive backs that are going to be able
0:25:17 > 0:25:24to neutralise the Detroit Lions offensive wide receiver.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Who are pretty good football players.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29So I think the Giants can actually win this football game.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31How much could the weather be a factor for the
0:25:31 > 0:25:32Patriots at the Broncos?
0:25:32 > 0:25:34So with New England going to Denver?
0:25:34 > 0:25:36I mean, the Patriots are used to bad weather.
0:25:36 > 0:25:37It doesn't matter.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39You could put them guys in anything.
0:25:39 > 0:25:40They can play through it.
0:25:40 > 0:25:41That's their advantage.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43It is, but playing in Denver's really difficult
0:25:43 > 0:25:44because of the altitude.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46And it's really difficult to breathe there.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48So that might play to the Denver Broncos' advantage,
0:25:48 > 0:25:51but as far as the weather and the rain and snow, not at all.
0:25:51 > 0:25:52OK.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55And this also used to be, every time we had this
0:25:55 > 0:25:57the last couple of years, it always used to be
0:25:57 > 0:25:58about Manning and Brady.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Obviously it's not that at all.
0:26:00 > 0:26:01Would you bat the Patriots here?
0:26:01 > 0:26:03I would.
0:26:03 > 0:26:04The Pats are on a roll.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07They are doing what they need to do.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10And I just feel like they figure it out this time of year.
0:26:10 > 0:26:11They always do.
0:26:11 > 0:26:12What's Denver's problem at the moment?
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Well, they're not able to stop the run, which is a big issue.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18Something they've been able to do for the past couple of years.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20They can rush the passer, they have DeMarcus Ware,
0:26:20 > 0:26:21they have Von Miller.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24And their quarterback is just not consistent enough for them
0:26:24 > 0:26:25to be able to win games.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28And then the other one I want to pick up on,
0:26:28 > 0:26:29Buccaneers at the Cowboys.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31I like what the Bucs are doing right now.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33I mean, that defence is playing lights out right now
0:26:33 > 0:26:35in the second half of the season.
0:26:35 > 0:26:36They're creating more turnovers than anybody.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39They could win this game.
0:26:39 > 0:26:40Restricted Drew Brees last weekend, and not many, even though the Saints
0:26:40 > 0:26:43have been a bit up and down this season, not many
0:26:43 > 0:26:44teams have done that.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47No, and I will tell you this, and I said it here first.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50If Dak Prescott plays the way he played against the Dallas Cowboys,
0:26:50 > 0:26:52we're going to see Tony Romo as the starting quarterback
0:26:52 > 0:26:55for the Dallas Cowboys for the next game.
0:26:55 > 0:26:55Mark my words.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57He might be onto something!
0:26:57 > 0:26:59I don't want him to be onto something!
0:26:59 > 0:27:02It kind of does my head in after a while when he's right!
0:27:02 > 0:27:04And I get a text from him on a Sunday evening
0:27:04 > 0:27:06or a Monday morning, look, I was right again.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Let's take a look, shall we, at some of the other
0:27:09 > 0:27:11plays during the week, both good and bad.
0:27:11 > 0:27:12Here are the highs and lows.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Players obviously have to take account of the weather in December,
0:27:15 > 0:27:17but it didn't really phase Odell Beckham Junior.
0:27:17 > 0:27:18What is that!
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Or Big Ben and Antonio Brown.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22Man, that's painful, in the snow.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24They're loving it, though.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Oh!
0:27:26 > 0:27:29A lot easier in sunny Florida.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31This is Stefon Diggs in Jacksonville.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Lighting them up!
0:27:34 > 0:27:36Now, watch this catch from the Jets.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39I think the 49ers guy thinks he's got this.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41He's all the way to the end zone, look at him!
0:27:41 > 0:27:49He's calling his mum, his cousins!
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Another bad celebration there, some really strange
0:27:51 > 0:27:52celebrations this week.
0:27:52 > 0:27:53Vic Beazley then into Emmanuel Sanders.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56Davante Adams, adding insult to injury.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Oh, he ran over his boy!
0:27:59 > 0:28:01Quarterbacks can never do it, can they, really?
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Matthew Stafford there.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08Mike Jay!
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Jonathan Stewart managed to stay in play and avoid the tackle
0:28:11 > 0:28:14by balancing on his opponent's foot.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Oh, man, how did he know he wasn't down?
0:28:16 > 0:28:23He got instincts, man!
0:28:23 > 0:28:25And this shows rapid feet from Tyreek Hill,
0:28:25 > 0:28:27an amazing pump return for Kansas City Chiefs
0:28:27 > 0:28:28against the Oakland Raiders.
0:28:28 > 0:28:29He's got high school track speed!
0:28:29 > 0:28:31When you just blow everybody out!
0:28:31 > 0:28:33And we'll watch Nelson now for the Cardinals.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35He goes even faster.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39Gosh, some of these guys are just ridiculous.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42That's probably the most impressive play of the week.
0:28:42 > 0:28:49That isn't!
0:28:49 > 0:28:51And that from Ryan Tannehill definitely isn't.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53They're saying that's the worst throw ever in the NFL!
0:28:53 > 0:28:54That's bad.
0:28:54 > 0:28:55In NFL history.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57He can't blame that on his fingers!
0:28:57 > 0:28:59No, he can't! You can join us again this Tuesday
0:28:59 > 0:29:02at 11:15 for NFL This Week, where we bring you all the best
0:29:02 > 0:29:04of the action from week 15.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08But from Osi - the know-it-all - Jason and myself, it's good night.
0:29:08 > 0:29:13Hot summer day, you know?
0:29:13 > 0:29:17Still white stuff on the ground.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20It is not frozen across the land, there are different shades of heat
0:29:20 > 0:29:21and light and style, from state to state,
0:29:21 > 0:29:25from team to team.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28But where winter comes and when winter comes,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31steam fills the air.
0:29:31 > 0:29:36When winter comes, senses are anything but numbed.
0:29:36 > 0:29:40In the cold air is heat and there are shocks.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43When winter comes.
0:29:43 > 0:29:44I quit my job for this!
0:29:44 > 0:29:47Only in the NFL.
0:29:47 > 0:29:54Damn, I'm handsome!
0:29:54 > 0:29:56It's Christmas, man.
0:29:56 > 0:30:00Sorry, sorry.