Week 18 recap: Detroit Lions stomp Minnesota Vikings; New England Patriots fire Jerod Mayo

[@michaelhendrickx6113]

Watching KOC play call this game was like watching a compulsive gambler keep chasing a return.

[@hansleypluviose8135]

Lmao this is good

[@Maintenance_Mark]

They jumped on 4th and two because the Lions went for it against the Packers. Even though deep down the Vikings knew the Lions couldn't possibly snap that ball. They still had to be ready for it and the Lions knew that so they played them perfectly. Masterful coaching, masterful chess, absolutely brilliant from the coaches of the Lions.

[@joeydirt69]

@@Maintenance_Mark everybody likes to call Dan Campbell a dumb meathead, but he’s a genuinely smart coach. the detractors don’t watch enough Lions football to know that, they just hear stuff like he goes for it every 4th down (not true) and make their assumptions based on that. either way, i’ll take a coach who goes for it every time over a coach that only tries to convert a 4th down 10 times in a season because he doesn’t trust his players (KOC)

[@MNspikegrow]

Lets get this over with i guess

[@CameronSlaysTBE]

Pain. All we know is pain.

[@ebrac17]

KOC got bullied into playing Dan Campbell Lions football. That isn’t who this team is. Hope he learns from this.

[@lynnogard5420]

1005 correct

[@janeknisely4383]

I have heard this observation in other podcasts; you may be right.

[@ebrac17]

@@janeknisely4383 it’s what it felt like watching and after each failed attempt confidence dropped so quickly.

[@paulmayer8654]

Because he knew that the Vikings weren’t good enough to beat Detroit playing Viking brand football. Losing by 22 at least gave them a chance to win instead of playing standard Viking football and losing by 1 possession.

[@joeydirt69]

@@ebrac17 you may be right, but also, even if he had kicked the FG on those two goal line stands where they got stopped on 4th, the final would have been 31-15. he got outcoached on every front, the players looked like they were seeing ghosts towards the end of the game, playing undisciplined football like allowing themselves to get baited into a free 1st down. that’s a poorly coached team, all their confidence was drained from them by the 4th quarter.

[@RibRiles-x3t]

Boone is good shit! Super involved in youth sports. I help coach my daughter peppers youth fastpitch team from Mankato and we had the opportunity to play his team this last travel ball season. Guy was a class act, gave all of our girls some treats and Gatorade for making the trip up to play after the game.

[@ogfvgaming5394]

I love when people say "hard to beat a team 3 times"....fun fact, teams are 6-13 when playing a playoff game against a team that beat them twice in the regular season

[@ridemotoeveryday]

Exactly, and it’s easier when the team is on a different level. And looking ahead talking about playing the Lions a third time, Vikes looked like crap and the Rams are looking better. 14 regular season win’s guarantees zero playoff wins.

[@susanmoon5021]

I don't know, Lions and VIkings are probably more evenly matched than most teams that qualify for that statistic. 3x is dangerous agst relatively evenly matched teams - other team knows how you will play them.

[@Simonsayssomething]

You guys are my favorite Vikings commentators because you are also hilarious and the insights from a couple guys that actually played is priceless. Really a fun listen.

[@PennyRoyxl]

We're in for a hard road. That road is our atonement - Rams, then Lions; the two teams that beat us this year. The road is hard, and this is the motivation. Let the talkers talk, it's time to fight. No more seeing ghosts, or we lose. We also need to make the changes that need doing; O-line needs work, J.J. is still the future, and a KOC large dollop of introspection on play-call tells, and move forward. We came into this season knowing all of this. The reason it hurts is because the Vikes have been able to be successful when everyone said they shouldn't be. Keep this in mind, Skoldiers....the future is bright with the right moves, and motivations. ❤

[@lynnogard5420]

Well said. Some positive energy here!

[@intrepidfool]

It is a short road. Rams then off season.

[@someguysname7121]

@@intrepidfool 🤣

[@Score1more]

Weren’t they just hoisting Sam in the air last week. Maybe save that for the Super Bowl

[@InchonDM]

I had a bad feeling when I saw that.

[@thorkagemob1297]

​@@InchonDMi did too and I didn't want to believe my bad feeling

[@timpeters9965]

Its a script. They had to do it than cause they knew they weren't winning another game.

[@moetown_2088]

They can’t show the man some love

[@BassForever]

You know who else didn't do shit? The Vikings last night.

[@jilaynephillips7665]

Jefferson was being covered by Robertson - they played against each other in college and HS.

[@mohicanairways]

im 100% in agreement with Boone! KOC spent too much time with media and doing press conferences all week. The lions made half time adjustments, with short game. Took pressure off of Goff and that was the game changer!

[@Gondawannaland]

Sewell is the MVP of the League.

[@malikshabazz3839]

Great commentary 👏🏾

[@johndeangelo5295]

Great coaches adjust game plans. KOC does not. It's like he's scared to run the ball in on the 2 yard line. Pathetic.

[@maya_coqsalonga]

Actually researching it Darn old had guys open on those plays and he didn't pull the trigger. He had guys wide open as designed. Sam didn't make the throws.

[@Ashenblade]

KOC sees adjusting a gameplan for an opponent as admitting he might not be the football genius the media tells him he is

[@AAdogman999]

Lmao he is scared to run it because our iOL is ass at short yardage run blocking. Like bottom of the league bad

[@hueyang5943]

I didn't see Addison catch a single pass last night.

[@baddadjoke2197]

Darnold didn't even see Addison last night. That dude was open by 1-2 steps in the red zone running crossers all day.

[@Adri_Unsung]

He had one catch for 0 yards lmao

[@mgaschenbeck]

Take a shot every time Boone says "At the same time".

[@gammin_grandpa2546]

Build your line around your QB then you get the shiny toys. Not before

[@nedcassley5169]

Or when Doogie says "I get it".

[@mgaschenbeck]

@nedcassley5169 I think we'd die of alcohol poisoning 😂

[@TripleGProductions]

Dude I wanna live..

[@Young_Star]

Everything Goff did to beat the Vikings pressure, Sam was capable of doing. KOC just didn't give route options to do so or he didn't take them. Detroit's defense was basically doing exactly what ours was doing, except their DBs rarely had to cover anything underneath. Pair that with Sam being off target all game. After the first failed drive they just kept going for long routes.

[@lynnogard5420]

@@Young_Star well said. Great comment.

[@paulmayer8654]

Goff knows things pre-snap that Darnold doesn’t

[@susanmoon5021]

KOC could have done better. But I don't think that was primary problem. Some players can raise their game in playoffs; others stumble. Kurt Warner talked about it as having ability to "slow your pulse". Same doesn't have that. Warner said, "When the biggest moments happen, some people feel that. Other guys embrace that. It's almost like they get even more focused, more locked in in those moments. b/c you understood it was bigger, and that didn't overwhelm you in those moments." It's about focus as well, Warner said. "In those moments, I didn't hear anything, I didn't feel anything. I was so engrossed in that moment, that play". You can see it in players' eyes. During the Lions game, I never sensed that with Darnold had settled into a deeper focus; he always seemed overwhelmed. I know Lions brought a ridiculous amount of pressure. But Sam also got rattled. I think JJ McCarthy would be different. Other characteristic of QBs like Mahomes and Brady who kill it in playoffs, is quick release and quick good decisions, which JJ also has and Sam has more trouble with.

[@wade-be7sz]

Lions practice squad defense getting the job done.....gives a bears fan hope

[@Holidaykills]

No ones talking about it,but darnold was warming up throwing on the sidelines all game. I think his pinky finally broke,all his passing absolutely sucked.

[@Djturnt]

It’s not a practice squad defense the entire back end and linebackers are all starters

[@Djturnt]

Only missing 2 starters on the d line

[@someguysname7121]

@@Djturnt The defense was missing 5 out of 11 starters: 3 starting lineman: A. Hutchinson, M. Davenport, A. McNeill 2 starters in the secondary: C. Davis, D. Barnes

[@someguysname7121]

Honorable mention: E. Rakestraw Jr., J. Cominsky, and M. Rodriguez

[@JohnMoore-tw6yd]

A week earlier they're hoisting him around the locker room this week they dropped him and got flagged for grounding love your show

[@ridemotoeveryday]

We saw last night what we all already know but some of us forgot due to the record. The Lions are a better team. This team lacks in the trenches and needs a dude at QB. KOC needs to seriously develop a short pass game, very insane at this point we haven’t seen a short pass game.

[@intrepidfool]

Darnold can be great if he stays relaxed and plays on schedule. When he is stressed, he doesn’t see the field well. Instead of knowing where to go at the top of his drop and slinging it, he was only starting to read the field. He patted the ball, look around confused, and did that ridiculous spin out instead of stepping up into the pocket far too often. His ball placement and accuracy were way off as a result. We’ve seen this from Sam his whole career, including in portions of games this season. This was the the first time this year it was the entire game and KOC coudn’t get him settled. I think the pressure of the moment was too big for Darnold. Hoping he can find his inner Zen for next week. And, also this is why you don’t overpay non-elite QBs. Really hard to win with a Dak/Kirk level QB on a big contract. Tag and trade Darnold and roll with McCarthy. Even if his peak performance ends up being less than Darnold’s best, the guy has ice in his veins and the moment is never too big. He will be a much better big moment / playoff QB than Darnold. And on a rookie deal so you can afford an IOL stud and another starting DB.

[@joeydirt69]

they had Sam Darnold in $50m/year talks 😂😂😂 buddy shriveled up when his team needed him most. PLEASE throw the bag at him i’ll never forget

[@boxcarent.3147]

Darnold had a horrific catastrophic game...

[@JonathanDough-zb4fz]

Their whole offense did. It wasn’t just darnold. Their game plan was terrible. Offense was tragic altogether

[@b_m3998]

@@JonathanDough-zb4fzthat gameplan wins the game if Darnold doesn’t overthrow everyone by 5 yards. He regularly missed wideopen receivers

[@clownmode3626]

@@JonathanDough-zb4fzbruh what you mean?? Wide open receivers and Darnold holding the ball 3 clicks too much. Kid would get off of wide open reads to throw the ball to Eminem in the stands

[@someguysname7121]

@@JonathanDough-zb4fz I though A. Jones was having a decent game. 10 carries for 45 yds, 5/6 receptions for 30. Not fantastic, but not horrible. There was definitely some questionable play calling...

[@Ineed2fabb]

QB couldn't throw with that piss poor offensive line laying down to that 19 IR lions defense darnold was under so much pressure and his receivers couldn't catch a beach ball 😢

[@aaronhoudek]

Why not go heavy in the first half with an extra offensive lineman and punch it in? Also after Akers’ 58 yard run and he’s gassed, bring in Chandler??

[@baddadjoke2197]

13:53 How bad was Week 18? Jeremiah made it fifteen minutes before the group collectively decided they'd rather give play-by-play analysis of Mackey's inability to use a pressure cooker. Time to prepare for LA on Monday night.

[@dabousman]

Darnold was playing on Heisman last night

[@walking_on_MARZ]

Well done men!

[@gammin_grandpa2546]

Well you all had your celebration last week so you'll always have that right?

[@WesVikis]

I've been watching yall all season. How can you guys act so surprised that a Dan Campbell team did Dan Campbell shit? Really I'm more surprised at the Vikings Homer takes here, like Dan Campbell doesn't want to see Minnesota again 😂 he is 5-1 against KOC head to head

[@winnguyen443]

Are these clowns all ex Vikings? I used to think they were pretty good. Now, not so much. Way way too biased. O lineman are generally smart as a rule.

[@lynnogard5420]

@@winnguyen443way way too biased!!

[@meanmutton]

@@winnguyen443 Yeah, both Alex and Jeremiah played for the Vikings. Don't be too upset that guys root for their team.

[@olumideadebayo6110]

Boone was ready to say fuck the plan & give Darnold multiple years!!! I remember the discourse from his end over the past few weeks. “Sorry JJ, plans change.” Like why can’t we wait on post season success before you start crowning guys. Darnold was terrible weeks 7-11. Thank you Sirles for being level headed. His performance last night just showed you why you don’t hand out long term contracts to one season regular season wonders.

[@Evans970]

We got to adjust the game plan quick. In my opinion I thought Sam should have took off running down the middle cause when the lion’s defense was coming in from outside. Wat are ur thoughts?

[@remmer3380]

Gink brings in that int and we're having a very different conversation today. THAT was the tipping point in the game. The Vikings made a ton of mistakes all over the field. but in that moment, I knew it was over. He brings that in-that's 6 the other way and I do think the Vikings win.

[@TheRoamingbison]

DFQ - does the offensive line rely on any vocal communication during a play when they need to pass off blocks? It felt like the LIons took advantage of the crowd noise to confuse the Vikings interior line with twists and stunts.

[@ewplayer3]

I pray this was just a “get it out of your system” moment last night, but I’m not going to hold my breath.

[@charlesfaure1189]

Can't run a team in fear of being fired. if you are, you need to get fired. Do the job. Love the show. Best show out there.

[@joeydirt69]

the Lions have beat the Vikings 5 times in a row now 6 out of the last 7. turns out it’s not that hard to beat a team three times

[@LionsOnTheHunt313]

Ol' Darny boy was seeing 👻 again last night. You just hate to see it🥲

[@KKC70]

The Lions aren't going to win the Super Bowl, because they're the Lions. And good luck next year when both of the coordinators will be gone, and you'll be left with the dumbest coach in the NFL

[@PaulVandercook]

@@KKC70 You’ve got the nerve to try and say same old lions after this game😂 Yes…. Good…. Let the hate flow through you, your tears are delicious 😂🦁🦁🦁 Gibbs and a depleted defense turned your team in to Lion food… Y’all got curb stomped… own it like a man

[@someguysname7121]

@@KKC70 hahaha, keep the tears coming!

[@janeknisely4383]

@@KKC70 Wanna bet?

[@JacobLAChristenson]

Finally a committee that speaks the truth. KOC didnt adjust and deserves a big part of the blame. Your in the redzone 4 times and you threw the ball KOC got out coached period.

[@caseymoore8461]

KOC rolls out a new offense for the big game; Vikings go deep on the wrong highway and never turn around so Darnold can get beat-up like Favre. The Vikings have no identity other than chokers. KOC choked against the Giants in the playoffs. Unfortunately Campbell and Sean McVay own the Vikings. The only team I didn't want the Vikings to face in the playoffs was the Rams. Why? Rams and Lions know how to blow out their competition. KOC is highly overrated. The HC doesn't know how to run the f-ing ball.

[@BrettHowe2]

Mackey over cooked the white chicken chili as bad as darnold over cooked his passes

[@Hunter-wl1dc]

Shedeur hopefully falls to the 2nd round. Between his annoying, arrogant, and clingy dad, along with him being quite similar, there is wayyyy too much baggage and drama. Much more than he's worth and any team should have to deal with. He'll be a mediocre nfl qb at best.

[@timpeters9965]

KOC cannot beat Shawn McV. He dominates him. Shawn makes it look way more than easy.

[@terryfuller7568]

You guys are always great,this time they won't play Detroit till the NFC championship,but I think Minnesota may have a home game before this is done.

[@someguysname7121]

If Minnesota beats L.A. and GB and Washington both lose, Minnesota will play Detroit in the Divisional round

[@janeknisely4383]

@@someguysname7121 Good luck.

[@someguysname7121]

@@janeknisely4383 I wasn't hoping for that situation, just pointing it out

[@hans5972]

I still wonder if Campbell wasn't gonna run an actual play on the 4th down that MN jumped offsides. Nobody is as responsible for and leans into this go-for-it paradigm shift more than him. He seems like that guy.

[@meanmutton]

That definitely looked like they weren't going to run a play. That seemed like it was the old "get them to jump" play right from go but after they went for it against the Pack a couple weeks ago, Minnesota HAD to respect that they might.

[@Badger06]

Question for the show.. do you guys use pre-workout before the gym? If so what brand?.

[@RyanSandorRichards]

I thought this was a team agnostic podcast… us, we…?

[@intrepidfool]

Mackey has a Vikings’ podcast and both the OL spent time with Minnesota. They have other favorite teams too but it is easy to fall into “we” when you were part of an organization.

[@InchonDM]

@@intrepidfool Yeah, you'll hear Boone talk about the 49ers in the same way a lot because he spent a TON of years with them as an all-Pro. Realistically, after all, these guys have way more room to say "we" about NFL teams than any of us fans do. But even including Mackey, the "designated homer" of the group, all three of them have been entirely willing to criticize the Vikings in spades when required and heap equivalent praise on their opponents.

[@LprogressivesANDliberals]

Lost to lions then by the rams.. bad vibes indeed 🟡🟣

[@ajlarson953]

Dan Campbell doesn't call any plays... all the coordinators

[@Sabrewulf007]

Is there any chance you can get away a player who didn't make it to the playoffs?

[@zzzaxs]

I think this game destroys their self confidence

[@vikwillwin]

Vikings always shit the bed in any big game It's just who WE are !!!!!!

[@griffinstreed3141]

Did KOC lose his chance to win COTY with the loss to the lions?

[@waitaminute7257]

That ridiculous celebration they had last week after the Packers game was silly. They were acting like they had won the super bowl.

[@maya_coqsalonga]

What happened to Darnold?

[@robcanisto8635]

turned back into a pumpkin

[@KKC70]

Let's move KOC to "Culture Coordinator", and get a head coach that knows how to make in game adjustments. Don't pretend this is the first time he's been horribly out coached

[@forlornHope]

Cheers 🥃

[@Tom-V]

W Lions.

[@paulfedor9828]

DARNOLD LOOKED LIKE CASE KEENUM......would look like 2017 if you play Eagles

[@omlette9214]

I haven’t listened yet, but hopefully the whole episode isn’t about you guys glazing Sam Darnold and the Vikings again.

[@lynnogard5420]

I second that. Gets old fast!

[@robcanisto8635]

I'm proud to go on record saying that I always knew Darnold and the Vikes were fraudulent lol

[@snarkophagus]

tough night for the purple men but hey at least the pressure is off now

[@caseymoore8461]

The Vikings are 1 and done against the Rams!! Aaron Jones dominated in the playoffs last year and yet KOC wants to be pretty passing the ball. 40 plus passes is a recipe for disaster. Jefferson and Addison were dominated against scrubs!! Z. Smith haunts the Vikings and dominates the RT, not a big surprise. He gets his revenge. Pathetic. 12 Lion players down and the Vikings can't take advantage. Yikes!

[@Ashenblade]

Tell you what, Boone. If hearing 'they're gonna lose in the first round' makes the team mad to hear, maybe they should stop losing in the first round

[@someguysname7121]

Bears just snapped an 11-game losing streak with the packers

[@arodri313]

One Pride!

[@IanSinclair77]

Ohhhh buddyy

[@SeekJesus27]

Sam’s internal clock must have been turned up to about 10 seconds per drop back then since he held it 5 seconds every play. Lol

[@HDDREAMIN]

BTW..... Vrabes will be patriots! What are we even talking about..

[@kevinray5636]

I have said that KOC is showing his inexperience when he can’t adjust to pressure. I get blasted when I do. The Truth is he’s not adjusting play calling when Sam is pressured. He insist’s on the big play when it’s not happening.

[@Eidenhoek]

The Vikings are a *14 win team*. They are _very, very_ good. Have to remind myself of that.

[@rollerr]

The rams are going to cook them and it's not going to be close

[@danielbreid8439]

I’m really frustrated hearing about how great Detroit coverage was when Detroit coverage standard is grab a hold because they won’t throw a flag on every fucking play!

[@michaeljohnson8353]

Unfortunately, for Vikings fans NFL isn’t going to allow the Vikes to advance next week imo. I turned the game off after they kicked the ball out of bounds at the end of the half. I knew it was a Vikings big loss lol

[@CrudPig12]

Do the Vikings still have to trade JJ Boone? Still have to give Darnold the bag? No way can we let him walk?

[@charlesrichard831]

Booner 💯 what are we doing KOC you put this entire game on Darnold’s shoulders really and alienate your kicker right from the go com’on man! Kick the chip shot field goals build momentum keep it close and lean on the defense that’s carried you all season it’s a team not Sam Darnold hero ball that’s not him and it’s not the Vikings read the room

[@fearfulclone5486]

If the Patroits lose that game does Mayo get fired? That was probably the final straw but it does make you wonder.

[@GSXK4]

All the Vikings fans, jump on the Lions BANDWAGON and come on in for The Big Win.

[@keahilumho8914]

2025 InstaPot has MVP lead hahaha

[@michaeljohnson8353]

KOC is overrated as a play caller. You can’t be a great offense if you can’t run the ball in the red zone. KOC doesn’t even try so what’s the point of having three capable running backs.

[@alexhale2596]

SO DEMORALIZING

[@chadharris7988]

Huge Vikings fan here and it is what it is but wtf was that where Goff just threw it at his O lineman. How was that not a safety? Almost on the ground, illegal touching by the offensive line. Shoulda been a safety. And another thing, wtf was with the end of the game? Less than a minute left in the game and D bag goes for it on 4th down. Kneel the ball. Karma is a bitch and it’s coming for Dan.

[@paulmayer8654]

It’s only illegal touching if the lineman intentionally attempts to make a catch. A ball hitting the back of a lineman is obviously not an attempt at a catch. And the ball was 3’ from Gibbs who was an eligible receiver…which is clearly an eligible receiver in the vicinity.

[@paulmayer8654]

Also the Lions went for it on 4th down because there was too much time on the clock just to kneel down. Getting another 1st down was the only way to actually run out the clock. Would you rather they kicked a FG there instead to run up the score? 🙄

[@Durrtlett9797]

J...J...Mccarthy season

[@caesaraugustus784]

JJ McCarthy no matter what.

[@clintonreisig]

Sam Darnold will bounce back

[@pauly09mailcom]

Why do we need to see Boone in a 9er Jersey? Can't we find one picture of him on the bench or drinking water in Vikings Purple?

[@lynnogard5420]

No shit

[@shakeyspizza01]

This crew is too much... keep up the pressure cooker

[@HDDREAMIN]

Question? You still letting JJ walk to sign Darnold? can we put that to bed? Come one

[@gammin_grandpa2546]

I hope JJ walks, I don't want that guy in the division.

[@Maintenance_Mark]

He had one bad game though. Aside from that he has played brilliant all year long. Everybody has one bad game. Pat has bad games Jared Goff has bad games Lamar Jackson has bad games it's just going to happen and your team is going to lose sometimes. The Lions hit Sam darnold very hard early on in the game which just rattled him. Don't forget the Lions defense has been playing together for over a month now they're finally figuring things out and getting in a groove. It was inevitable that eventually the Lions coaching staff would whip this defense into shape just like they did with the original defense before all the injuries.

[@stxmisanthrope]

If we keeping a buck the book on JJ is you get physical with him he shrinks some.

[@Mooseontheradio]

Where is oline film breakdown. Because that left side looked awful.

[@Noonesbusiness]

I want a revenge game against Buffalo so fucking bad. Go Lions!

[@MNspikegrow]

FTL

[@KKC70]

Lucky to be in the game the first time, it will be worse next time.

[@lanah2979]

This is getting to be a dang good show !! The increased professionalism will increase market share potential.

[@lifeasafanpodcast9529]

If they do trenches it should be sirles and boone this week

[@ZedThirtyOne_Z31_]

Yes KOC WTF? Again.

[@mikepivero3133]

Completely out coached out played and out to lunch 😡

[@nedcassley5169]

I predict they beat the Rams and then crush us entirely in the next game.

[@caseymoore8461]

Jim Harbaugh certainly would have found a way to get in the endzone. Running the ball would be a start towards winning big games, but KOC wants to be so flashy with his overrated failed passing game. Maybe if the Vikings would sign a few OL players who can actually block might help. I mean it has only been a wide open sore for 15 plus years. Until the Vikings get a coach who toughens up his players for the big stage while also blowing out their opponents the Vikings will continually be perennial heartbreaking losers. I have watched this team for over 55 years and they continue to be a bunch of pussies. Do the refs not know what a safety is? Why can't KOC commit to the run???? Kwesi needs to stay on point with McCarthy and lots of salary cap room. Sign and trade Darnold for draft picks. I am thrilled to see that the Patriots fired a worthless DEI hire...

[@LionsFanSyndicate]

👀

[@michaeljohnson8353]

As a lifelong Vikings fan why would the Lions not want to play the Vikings for a 3rd time? KOC can’t beat Campbell 😂. How many ppg do they average against the lions? Let’s stop acting like the lions have a good defense or a good defensive coordinator. They have a great GM and offensive coordinator. They also have great personnel. Once Ben Johnson leaves it’s over.

[@Longbeachchuck]

Justin Jefferson will demand a trade

[@rashadwalker8218]

Demand a trade for what?!? He's on a winner , had a great season and got a QB that gets him the ball. Detroit is just better right now.

[@Longbeachchuck]

@rashadwalker8218 Minnesota is a fraud..he wants to go to a big market..