Greg Bedard of BostonSportsJournal.com joined the Felger and Mazz program on Tuesday, as he does every week to discuss the Patriots and the NFL games from the past week. While on, Greg Bedard did his weekly “10 Questions” segment on the program following wild card weekend of the 2023 NFL season…..
But before 10 questions, here are some notes from around the NFL….
The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills will meet in the playoffs for the third time in four seasons during the upcoming divisional round of the playoffs. The Chiefs have won the previous two playoff meetings between the two clubs. This game will be the first of the three to be hosted by the Bills.
With Wild Card weekend wins by the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Texans, the four remaining teams in the AFC playoffs were the division winners during the 2023 season. The only division winner to lose their matchup in Wild Card weekend was the Dallas Cowboys, who went 12-5 to win the NFC East. With losses by the Cowboys and the wild card Philadelphia Eagles, the NFC East is the only division that will not be represented in the NFL’s Divisional weekend of the playoffs.
Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys led all quarterbacks in passing yards during Wild Card weekend. Prescott threw for 403 passing yards in the Cowboys 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones led all rushers in yards during Wild Card weekend with 118 rushing yards in his teams win, while Los Angeles Rams rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua led all pass catchers in yards with 181 in his teams loss to the Detroit Lions.
The Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions will be the home teams during the NFL’s Divisional round of the playoffs this upcoming week.
CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 11: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers coaches his team against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
10. Where does Mike Tomlin land if he leaves the Steelers?
Bedard: Washington. He’s from the area. I think he fits in nicely there.
Mazz: Seattle. I don’t know, he just seems to me to feel like that feels like a Seattle kind of coach.
Jim Murray: And I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s Dallas. I mean Belichick would obviously tighten the screws there. But he could do the same thing. And he’s younger and more relatable.
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 09: Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans watches his team warm up before their game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on October 09, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
9. Who should be the next coach of the Steelers?
Bedard: Mike Vrabel.
Mazz: Mike Vrabel.
Jim Murray: The team who drafted him, Mike Vrabel.
Sep 10, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) warm up prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Acrisure Stadium. Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
8. What should the Steelers do at the QB position?
Bedard: Anybody. Those guys stink. Go get Mazz’ guy in Chicago. I don’t care who they get. Just not any of those guys.
Mazz: Baker Mayfield.
Jim Murray: Kirk Cousins.
Jan 15, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) reacts after a victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in a 2024 NFC wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
7. How are Buccaneers better with Baker Mayfield than Tom Brady?
Bedard: It’s a great question. I looked at all the stats. I can only come up with two things. Number one, the Super Bowl hangover was a big part of that. And, outside of Brady, those guys didn’t know how to deal with success. But also, the schedule. That Bucs last year played the eighth-toughest schedule. This year they played the 24th.
Mazz: The Quarterback cared. That would be my explanation. Brady had checked out at some point.
Jim Murray: And that was out because of the divorce. You know Baker Mayfield doesn’t have to trudge through the season miserable because of a divorce. Brady was miserable last year and it permeated the team. Chris Godwin said something last night like we’re a happier team this time around. The team was miserable last year.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 18: Team owner of the New England Patriots Robert Kraft looks on prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 18, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
6. How do you explain to dumb Patriots fans that the salary cap doesn’t exist?
Bedard: Well, the scoreboard first and foremost. Now, things are about being creative with your cap and how you construct contracts. And I don’t mean per-game active roster bonuses.
Mazz: Talent wins. The cap is crap!
Jim Murray: The cap is fake. And if you want to spend money in the NFL, you can. You just have to be willing to do it.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 09: Owner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys looks on before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 09, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
5. Who was the biggest ‘toolbag’ from Super Wild Card Weekend?
Bedard: Jerry [Jones]. Every year he gets his hopes up. He thinks this is going to be the year. Then when the Cowboys fall flat on their face, he looks like he’s going to cry in his postgame press conference. It’s just it’s hilarious to me.
Mazz: Mike McCarthy. Seriously, you freaking tool. You got completely pantsed.
Jim Murray: I will go with Mike Tirico, who took a few minutes to be a complete whore. He made the pigs at the network and people who run the NFL happy by gloating about the streaming numbers. Peacock, Peacock, Peacock! Right in your face. All those numbers. That was repulsive.
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel walks along the sideline during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Oct. 16, 2022.
Vikings V Dolphins 304. How do the Dolphins get better in the future?
Bedard: I would stay the course. Success in the NFL doesn’t happen overnight. They keep taking steps. They have to get tougher. They need to get better up front on the offensive line. And I know they have the whole Tua thing, his contract. But uh there are ways around that. And I think they just need to continue just to get better.
Mazz: Big physical tight end. They need a tight end in that offense. They got to control the middle of the field. It’s a perimeter passing game. So I’m good with the offensive line too. But their offense has to get more physical and they get to get better in the middle of the field.
Jim Murray: Send Hawaiian Mac Jones packing, and go trade for Justin Fields or send Baker Mayfield.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – AUGUST 24: Head coach Nick Sirianni looks on before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on August 24, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
3. Who’s to blame for Eagles collapse?
Bedard: Losing both coordinators for them in this past offseason. They just thought they were the smartest people in the room. And they could just replace those guys.
Mazz: Hurts! The biggest difference in that team is the play of Jalen Hurts from year one to year two. The other one I’d throw on there is Matt Patricia.
Jim Murray: Well, who put Patricia in that position? The dork head coach, Nick Sirianni. He’s lost all control of that locker room. And it seems like the team hates the quarterback too. But that’s ultimately the coach’s problem.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 07: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs off the field after the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
2. Rank the 8 remaining QBs in the playoffs…
Bedard: (Best to Worst) Mahomes, Allen, Lamar Jackson, Purdy, Love, Stroud, Goff, Mayfield.
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts to a referee decision during the second quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
1. Rank the 8 remaining coaches in the playoffs…
Bedard: (Best to Worst) Shanahan, Reid, Harbaugh, laFleur. DeMeco Ryans, Campbell, Bowles, McDermott.
