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Sam Robinson
4:02
Hey everyone, lot going on. Divisional round being overshadowed (right or wrong) by high-profile HC situations. Let's get going!
Steel Curtain
4:08
How surprised are you that Tomlin stepped down? Do you think the Steelers will try a different type of HC to fit the modern game with their next hire?
Sam Robinson
4:08
Steel Curtain, honestly, I wasn't too surprised. Enough TV rumors followed the point about his 2027 contract option to think this was about to end. I was surprised by the timing. Tomlin having this ready hours after the Texans defeat certainly points to him having made up his mind on this a while ago.

Normally, teams do go the other way when changing coaches. But the Steelers are different. They have famously had 3 HCs since 1969, each stepping down rather than being fired. It is hard to predict which way they'll go. The ages of Tomlin and Bill Cowher, however, do point to the team going young.

Brian Flores' year in Pittsburgh is notable here, and I think the early Chris Shula ties are important. He is 39 and would bring a strong defensive acumen. Jesse Minter is a couple years older than Shula, but he would fit the mold of an up-and-coming coach like Cowher and Tomlin (both 34 when hired).
CJMCG
4:14
If the Giants end up with both Harbaugh and Monken, do they have a shot at their division next season?
Sam Robinson
4:14
CJMCG, these splashy hires would/will be game-changers. The Giants have been stuck on mostly second-tier hires post-Coughlin; Harbaugh is far from that. It is, however, hard to predict an immediate breakthrough due to the HC's background.

Harbaugh did turn the Ravens around immediately, but that team had a ready-made defense (feat. Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs) to complement Joe Flacco. The Giants have great pass rush ingredients, but many moving parts exist to predict they will pass the Eagles after a 4-13 season.

Monken had Lamar Jackson to work with previously. While he will help Dart, there is still a huge gap between those QBs' talent levels right now. Malik Nabers' injury status also clouds the picture, as does the O-line. Leadership-wise,  they are in a much better position. That will matter, but maybe not enough for a division title in Year 1.
Mariner Steve
4:19
How could the Steelers get Mike Vrabel to return to Pittsburgh to coach the Steelers
Sam Robinson
4:19
Mariner Steve, Vrabel seems to have picked his reunion spot. Considering the Patriots went from 4-13 to 14-3, it would be quite the amusing phone call were the Steelers to ask about a trade. Would remind of John Lynch's famous call to the Pats about Tom Brady in 2017.
SKOL-Clap
4:27
Who makes the most sense as a Vikings QB target this offseason? Would it be worth pulling the plug on McCarthy and starting over at this point?
Sam Robinson
4:27
SKOL-Clap, a few candidates come to mind.

Daniel Jones is a name to mention due to the Vikes out-offering the Colts for him in 2025. But with the Colts nearly pot-committed thanks to the Gardner trade, he is probably out of Minnesota's price range.

We next have to mention Kirk Cousins. This version of Cousins will not command nearly what he has, and the Falcons' recent restructure points him to free agency. At 38, Cousins doesn't excite. But he knows O'Connell's system and didn't want to leave MIN in 2024.

Trading mid-round picks for Mac Jones makes sense after his form in Shanahan's system. He won't be easy to acquire based on Purdy's 2025 injury. That would be a true competition, rather than a Cousins bridge. If Aaron Rodgers still wants to play, that is worth a discussion this time (after he eyed MIN last year). Some in the org. wanted Rodgers in 2025.

This will be a delicate situation, as it would still seem too soon to add a true starter and demote a top-10 pick.
Kevin C
4:37
Which direction do the Steelers go now that Tomlin has stepped down? Should they go offense, trade for say a Mac Jones, trade off ageing defense players? Go through a complete rebuild with a focus on a modern offensive? Or stick with a defensive minded coach and double down on the core at hand?
Sam Robinson
4:37
Kevin C, it would seem logical to go through with a rebuild. The team has been stuck in its upper-middle-class status basically since the Killer B's broke up. With Heyward turning 37 and Watt exiting an age-31 season, an argument exists to trade away some assets (unlikely either of those two) with an aim toward acquiring a long-term QB at long last. That just doesn't feel like the Steelers, though.

I don't see an attainable veteran QB who can elevate the current Steelers nucleus much higher than Rodgers did. Tomlin surely saw this as well given how quickly he resigned. Like Sean Payton in 2022, Tomlin was coaching a team with a low ceiling.

The Steelers need to identify a young WR for the short- and long-term future. They were once the best at this, and I'm betting they'll get this one right after two off years. A path needs to be made to acquire a long-term QB. Even if they plan to remain on-brand and hire a defensive coach to stay the course in 2026, this must be the endgame by the 2027 offseason
Cool Dr. Money
4:44
Who's winning this weekend?
Sam Robinson
4:44
Cool Dr. Money, I lean toward a Seahawks-Rams rematch in the NFC. The Seahawks muzzled the 49ers without Trent Williams two weeks ago in Santa Clara. While Williams is back, can Kyle Shanahan really solve a dominant Seattle defense on the road without George Kittle? Betting that run ends, though this has been a sublime coaching job.

How Stafford looks in the cold weather will be fascinating, but I will take a Rams team that is much healthier than the Packers to topple the Bears.

AFC is tougher. I've gone back and forth on Denver-Buffalo. I am leaning toward the Broncos' roster strength and health over the Bills, but I'm not sure their comeback routine works here. Allen getting hot early changes the game script; a shootout does not work for Denver.

I like Houston; its defense is giving 2015 Broncos vibes. Rare. Betting even without Nico Collins, the Texans can keep the score low enough to win. Stroud obviously has to be better than he was Monday, though.
Unlemike156
4:57
Sam: Jordan Love has this bad habit of dropping or nodding his head right before he gets hit. Hey it's great for fooling dumb officials who make the call like on Booker's hit. If you watch that hit Booker's head is aiming right at Loves chest at then he nods right into him. Both the fine and the call were horrible or am I imagining it? Bookers head never moves but Love's does. I've watched it a bunch of times and am sure I'm right. Do you think they need to look at that rule in the next rules meeting? Thanks
Sam Robinson
4:57
Unclemike156, the NFL's justifiable lean toward protecting QBs is highly unlikely to change. Even if Love did dip his head, any helmet-to-helmet blow in the pocket will be flagged. We have certainly seen far less flagged and fined in this era. I don't see any movement toward changing rules to make QBs more vulnerable given their value
Roger
5:10
Now that Dante Moore is staying in school, who's the starter for the Jets next season? I was banking on him going there. Thanks.
Sam Robinson
5:10
Hey Roger, that one kind of surprised me. Travis Hunter scored a fully guaranteed $46.65MM deal as 2025's No. 2 overall pick. Moore's NIL valuation is a fraction of that. We have seen QB value be volatile, so Moore is making a big bet on himself -- and maybe against the Jets, though other factors go into this decision -- because he would have factored into the No. 2 slot. This is a big gamble.

Is this the Kyler team? I hesitate on this because of how bad Justin Fields looked in Tanner Engstrand's system, but the Jets need help now and could land a Pro Bowler in a lower-end trade.

Moore's decision makes me wonder if the Jets will emulate their 2017 plan, when they waited for the '18 QB class (and Darnold) by rolling with Josh McCown as a bridge. But Aaron Glenn surely would not be onboard with a full-year stopgap due to his job status. If that is in play, though, a host of QB2 options are in play.

It would be unwise for a Jets team with four first-round picks from 2026-27 to reach for a QB this year
Sam Robinson
5:11
We will call it there today. Have a good weekend, everyone. Enjoy this strong slate of divisional matchups!
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