The Baltimore Ravens have their hands full with the New England Patriots here this week and the Green Bay Packers awaiting on the frozen tundra next Saturday night after Santa arrives. But, will the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Grinch once again? Luke Jones and Nestor discuss all eyes on the NFL holiday slate as the rematch awaits on January 4th at The Confluence.
Nestor Aparicio and Luke Jones discussed the Baltimore Ravens’ playoff prospects, emphasizing the importance of their upcoming games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots. They noted the Ravens’ recent win against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Steelers’ victory over the Miami Dolphins. The conversation highlighted the Ravens’ defensive improvements, the potential impact of losing linebacker Teddy Buchanan, and the importance of running the ball effectively in cold weather. They also touched on the Jaguars’ surprising 10-4 record and the unpredictability of the AFC playoff landscape.
- [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Attend and host the Costas event in Dundalk with Gina Shock on Thursday as part of the Maryland crab cake tour (appear on the show and participate in event activities)
- [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Attend the Gertrude’s event with Dan Rodricks on Friday (appear on the show)
- [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Appear at the Planet Fitness event in Timonium on Monday wearing the 2026 hat and participate in the planned activities
- [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Bring and distribute Maryland Lottery scratch-offs (candy cane cash and Raven scratch-offs) to the upcoming events (Costas, Gertrude’s) as giveaways
- [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Obtain a GBMC shirt for use during the holidays
- [ ] Be out in Owings Mills this week to cover/attend the scheduled activity there
- [ ] Get into the press box early on Sunday to watch the 4:00 PM games
Maryland Crab Cake Tour and Upcoming Events
- Nestor Aparicio discusses the Maryland crab cake tour, mentioning various events in Timonium, Dundalk, and Gertrude’s.
- Nestor mentions his son will be joining him for the festivities and jokes about being punished for not visiting Dundalk since Timonium opened.
- Nestor promotes the Maryland lottery and mentions winning a trip to Cincinnati, where the Ravens won 24-0.
- Nestor talks about the upcoming games, including the Steelers vs. Dolphins and the Ravens vs. Patriots, and his interactions with Coach Tomlin.
NFL Playoff Scenarios and Team Performance
- Nestor and Luke Jones discuss the NFL playoff scenarios, focusing on the Ravens and Steelers.
- Luke mentions the Patriots’ 11-3 record and their easy schedule, questioning their true strength.
- Nestor highlights the importance of the Ravens’ upcoming games against the Steelers and Patriots.
- They discuss the potential impact of the Steelers’ win against the Dolphins and the Lions’ game against the Steelers.
Ravens’ Road Games and Cold Weather Performance
- Nestor talks about the Ravens’ upcoming road games against the Steelers, Lions, and Patriots.
- They discuss the Ravens’ performance in cold weather, mentioning Lamar Jackson and other quarterbacks’ records in cold conditions.
- Nestor and Luke analyze the Ravens’ chances against the Patriots, considering the Patriots’ running game and the pressure on Drake Maye.
- They discuss the importance of the Ravens’ running game in cold weather and the potential impact of losing Teddy Buchanan.
Ravens’ Defense and Complementary Players
- Nestor and Luke discuss the Ravens’ defense, particularly the impact of losing Teddy Buchanan and the potential role of Darius Washington.
- They mention the importance of complementary players like Draymond Jones and Patrick Queen in elevating the defense.
- Nestor highlights the Ravens’ struggles with the pass rush and the potential impact of Davis Robinson.
- They discuss the importance of staying out of third and long situations and the role of the defense in the Ravens’ success.
AFC Playoff Scenarios and Wild Card Teams
- Nestor and Luke analyze the AFC playoff scenarios, considering the Ravens, Steelers, and other teams like the Jaguars and Broncos.
- They discuss the potential impact of the Jaguars’ performance and Trevor Lawrence’s development.
- Nestor mentions the importance of the Ravens’ home game against the Patriots and the potential impact of the Steelers’ game against the Lions.
- They discuss the potential matchups in the playoffs and the importance of winning home games.
Ravens’ Offensive and Defensive Performance
- Nestor and Luke discuss the Ravens’ offensive and defensive performance, highlighting the importance of the running game and the pass rush.
- They mention the Ravens’ success against the Bengals and the potential impact of the defense in the playoffs.
- Nestor highlights the importance of the Ravens’ performance in big games and the potential impact of the Steelers’ win against the Dolphins.
- They discuss the potential matchups in the playoffs and the importance of winning home games.
NFL Playoff Drama and Team Dynamics
- Nestor and Luke discuss the drama surrounding the NFL playoffs, considering the potential impact of the Steelers’ and Ravens’ performances.
- They mention the importance of the Ravens’ performance in big games and the potential impact of the Steelers’ win against the Dolphins.
- Nestor highlights the importance of the Ravens’ home game against the Patriots and the potential impact of the Steelers’ game against the Lions.
- They discuss the potential matchups in the playoffs and the importance of winning home games.
Ravens’ Playoff Hopes and Team Strength
- Nestor and Luke discuss the Ravens’ playoff hopes and the potential impact of the Steelers’ and Ravens’ performances.
- They mention the importance of the Ravens’ performance in big games and the potential impact of the Steelers’ win against the Dolphins.
- Nestor highlights the importance of the Ravens’ home game against the Patriots and the potential impact of the Steelers’ game against the Lions.
- They discuss the potential matchups in the playoffs and the importance of winning home games.
NFL Playoff Scenarios and Team Performance
- Nestor and Luke discuss the NFL playoff scenarios, considering the Ravens, Steelers, and other teams like the Jaguars and Broncos.
- They mention the importance of the Ravens’ performance in big games and the potential impact of the Steelers’ win against the Dolphins.
- Nestor highlights the importance of the Ravens’ home game against the Patriots and the potential impact of the Steelers’ game against the Lions.
- They discuss the potential matchups in the playoffs and the importance of winning home games.
Ravens’ Playoff Hopes and Team Strength
- Nestor and Luke discuss the Ravens’ playoff hopes and the potential impact of the Steelers’ and Ravens’ performances.
- They mention the importance of the Ravens’ performance in big games and the potential impact of the Steelers’ win against the Dolphins.
- Nestor highlights the importance of the Ravens’ home game against the Patriots and the potential impact of the Steelers’ game against the Lions.
- They discuss the potential matchups in the playoffs and the importance of winning home games.
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
Ravens, Steelers, Patriots, NFL playoffs, Lamar Jackson, Drake Maye, Teddy Buchanan, defensive performance, pass rush, cold weather, AFC East, divisional games, quarterback performance, playoff scenarios, Baltimore positive.
SPEAKERS
Luke Jones, Nestor Aparicio
Nestor Aparicio 00:01
Welcome home. We are W, N, S T am 1570 Towson, Baltimore. We are Baltimore, positive. We’re taking the Maryland crab cake tour on the road this week. I even shaved up. I’m feeling good. I know I’m going to eat a lot this week, and then I’m going to be a plan of fitness on Monday in Timonium, wearing a little funny hat that says 2026. Glad we’ve all lived this long to be down at Costas with my dear friend Gina shock on Thursday, and then on Friday, we will be at gertrude’s with Dan Rodricks. John Allen’s coming on Thursday. I think my son’s stopping by on Thursday for the festivities. Gonna be old home week if you’re a dundalkian, it’s the first time I’ve done this show in Dundalk since cost this Timonium open. So they’re giving me a hard way. I don’t think they’re going to let me have crabs in Dundalk. I think I’m punished. It’s like two minutes in the sin bin, like a five minute major misconduct for not coming to Dundalk since they open Timonium. So I’ll be there on Thursday. John maroon’s coming by. My My goodness, it’s this is going to be a big week. It’s all brought to you by the Maryland lottery. I have Raven scratch offs. A handful of these left like literally and at least the winners of the big trip went to Cincinnati. Maybe they had some of that noxious Chile that they serve out there, but they did serve up a 24 to nothing win on a Chilean chili day in Cincinnati, which led its way to Monday night. And yeah, it’s one thing to see Scott Van Pelt doing gambling tips before the game. Everybody’s freezing their ass off. Ryan Clark’s got like a Steeler logo, where my cop and state logo is. Game starts dolphins look like they might have had more fun making snow angels the night before out of college and practice or whatever. And their uniforms are beautiful. They I love those whites that they wear, like Steelers that black on black with the fat gold dude just wear what Jack Lambert wore, and Franco Harris, it’s good enough for me. But you want to bury them. Everybody wants to bury them. I want to bury them. I text coach Tomlin. Nice things he and I are on are cool. Somebody sent me a note the other night that they love his role in my life. Story video out on YouTube that he plays the villain at the end of the film, which is the way I like it. But they’re setting up to play the villain in Pittsburgh two weeks from now, right? I mean, they’re not going away, and Aaron Rodgers isn’t going away. And, like, I don’t know how this Detroit thing’s going to go for them this week. I don’t know how the New England thing’s going to go around here this week and the Teddy Buchanan news, but Luke, you’re going to be out in Owings Mills this week, and it’s a real thing. And they’re chasing the Steelers. And, you know, they have tough games ahead, and the Micah Parsons piece and just all of it. I mean, it’s it’s fascinating. And the more I talk about the NFL years we lead up to Christmas, the more interesting it becomes, in a lot of ways, for all of these teams. Because I don’t know what a favorite really looks like right now in this tournament, in any way, on either side, AFC, NFC, and where experience is going to win out, or where Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson are going to break through, or Drake may or whatever, but fascinating, just the way Roger draws it up as a $25 billion a year industry, right?
Luke Jones 03:17
Yeah. I mean, I was just thinking that. I mean, that’s kind of what you want, right? I mean, as much as you think about dynasties, even in the modern era, I mean how long New England dominated, how Kansas City dominated, until this year, right? So you have this AFC that has good teams. I don’t want to sit here and say that none of these teams are good, because I don’t think that’s the case. But how good is there a great team? Is there a team that’s ready to break through, right? I mean, the bills feel like they might be on the come a little bit as far as where they were kind of midway through the season, and how they played over the last month or so, and obviously erasing a 21 nothing deficit against New England and Foxboro was pretty impressive. But then you flip it around and say, okay, the Patriots, they’re 11 and three. They played the easiest schedule in the NFL, if you look at it in terms of DVO way, ESPN power index, I mean, like just about any metric you can find, will tell you that they’ve benefited from a really easy schedule. Now, that doesn’t mean they’re not good, but it makes it a little less clear in terms of how good they are, right? I mean, are they 11 and three, and hey, you’ve just beaten every team that’s been put in front of you, or is it your 11 and three because you faced a pretty forgiving schedule, and really your only win that is impressive on paper is beating the bills earlier this year. So it’s great opportunity for them coming into Baltimore Sunday night. And if you’re the ravens, obviously you need to win. You’re still a game behind Pittsburgh. The Steelers are, of course, are going to Detroit. That’s not going to be an easy task, as the lions are fighting. Their playoff lives at this point in time. So yeah, parody the idea of a bunch of good teams, but not really knowing who the great teams are. I mean, that’s it’s exactly what we talk about in the National Football League, or as far as what the league really wants at the end of the day.
Nestor Aparicio 05:16
So the fascinating part for me is this, yeah, we sat around all day Monday, waiting for the Steelers to play. And I didn’t even shovel out. I know some folks may have shoveled out on Monday. I I chose not to, because I’m doing crab cake tours this week and I’m trying to catch up on all sorts of work around here. Um, they’re gonna play earlier, right? They’re gonna play four, 430 on Saturday, they play the lions. So now it’s sort of like they got to get ready earlier, the ravens are home. They now go on the road twice. And when I say they were no longer talking about the Bengals, right? It’s just, it’s just the Steelers and the Ravens, just the way God created it, just the way David nart modell would have wanted it, Mister Rooney, right? Like this is three weeks road games with peril. Raven’s got to go to Green Bay. Pittsburgh’s got to go to Detroit. Pittsburgh got to go Cleveland. Raven’s got to play New England. New England’s pretty good. They just lost, and Lamar is looking healthier, and they just shut out a team on a five degree day. So you can’t say Lamar can’t play in the cold or whatever. Certainly not going to say that about Josh Allen. Certainly not going to say that about Aaron Rodgers, whose record in the cold weather. If I’d have known on that, I’d have bet my ass on the Steelers on Monday night. But what a great bet that was Aaron Rodgers against the Hawaiian kid who’s oh and five ever when it gets a little COO, COO, COO, Juju outside. And you know, like, again, knowing what you know about quarterbacks and cold and how chilly the Bengals look on the sidelines on Sunday and how Miami look. This is the time of year where, like some of these teams, mail in the lions and Steelers is not a mail in at 430 and certainly the ravens and the Patriots on Sunday night playing for all these six huge games and big differences in records, but ravens are still field goal favorite at home, you look up seven and 711, and three, doesn’t mean anything, And the lions are big favorites at home, almost touchdown favorite home against Steelers. Everybody expects the Steelers to get wiped out before the Ravens even play on Sunday night. Yeah.
Luke Jones 07:30
And as I said, I mean Detroit, I mean they need to win. They’re they’re on the outside looking in going into week 16 now, so that that’s a huge one, but at the same time, as you pointed out, that one’s played, obviously, before the Ravens kick off. And if Pittsburgh does pull off an upset on the road, then then the pressure really starts to get real in terms of you might need to win out, because then you’re looking at it in terms of, all right, if they win in Detroit, yes, they’re on the road, and yes, it’s the AFC north. And yes, we’ve seen the Browns beat the Steelers, right in recent years, right? I mean, the Browns are beating the Ravens in recent years, not this year, but we’ve seen that. But you know, you’re in a position then that if you, if you lose Sunday night, then you’re two games back with two to play, and then you’re it, then you are needing help in week 17, just to make week 18 matter. So that’s that’s a big one. There’s no doubt. But I mean, the Ravens know that they’ve got to win football games here. I mean, you mentioned, I mean, one reason I was kind of unmoved about some of the sentiments that you heard as far as Miami pulling off the upset. And I get it, they have a good running game. A Chan is a heck of a running back. We know Pittsburgh story stopping the run. They didn’t have TJ watt. But at the same time, you alluded to it. And for me, it wasn’t even just about the cold. Two has just been bad period this year, like he’s, he’s really, I mean, his trajectory is not going in the right direction as it pertains to being a NFL starting quarterback. So you kind of saw that play out the way it did that game ended up looking closer from a final score standpoint because of a couple garbage touchdowns, but Pittsburgh totally took it to him in the third quarter. So how does Pittsburgh respond there? I mean, they go to Detroit and you have a Lions team, as I mentioned, is desperate, but they’ve also lost a whole lot of players on that defensive side of the football, including Brian branch a couple weeks ago, who, to me, was a devastating loss. Yeah, they’re
Nestor Aparicio 09:32
ravens of the NFC, right? Or you might say the chiefs of the NFC, but they haven’t won
Luke Jones 09:36
anything, yeah? I mean, they didn’t get off to, I mean, the Ravens obviously got off to just, I mean, such a nightmare start record wise, but
Nestor Aparicio 09:44
expectations of, oh sure, sure, good. You thought these teams could be with the quarterback and the coach and the pedigree and kind of coming on and had their faces up pressed to the glass, because they haven’t made it, you know, to the big game. And speaking of big game, I haven’t. Mark Leibovich on this week also had Dan Shaughnessy on talking about Mike Vrabel this week, and he was at the game this week, he said, you know, Vrabel was sort of like non plus that they lost to the bills in the way that they did, and blew a three touchdown lead and sort of growing pains of a team that had the latitude to lose that game, but now needs to respond. And to your point, haven’t won a big game Baltimore. We’re underdogs. We got four more wins than them. We’re still chasing the one seed. You know, if nothing else, could put the Ravens out, put them on their back, if somehow the Steelers win the early game. You know, it’s going to be interesting to see how all of these teams respond in regard to the Ravens prosperity of pitching a shot out, winning on a cold day, feeling themselves again. They had a five game winning streak. They were one and five. They lost two games in Division these national TV games that are coming up here in six days of each other next week for them, and they find themselves in a position to potentially be ascending here at the only time of the year that matters, quite frankly. I mean, you’re not ascending when you’re the chiefs and your quarterback’s got an ACL and you’re done right like so you start to see the Joe burrows and the Patrick mahomes is leave the tournament before they even get to the tournament, and Lamar still chasing Aaron Rodgers, and they’re both not getting in the tournament, right? So one of those two guys is not getting in as we see it. It’s fascinating, man, that’s all. I mean, there’s, there’s twists and turns for every Micah Parsons, for every branch, for every Teddy Buchanan, and how the ravens are going to have to adjust to that, because it’s so it’s, it’s a loss of a starter. It’s a loss of a 55 to 65 play. Guy, right? Yeah.
Luke Jones 11:56
I mean, it’s definitely not ideal. I mean, I, let me be clear. I mean, I don’t think Teddy losing Teddy Buchanan is devastating to the defense. I mean, we’re not talking about that kind of a player, but how much did we talk about Trenton Simpson early this season and last season in terms of his struggles? I mean, he was someone who was benched this time of year last year. So, you know, there’s that element. There’s the element of, I think roquan Smith has played much better with Teddy Buchanan being next to him rather than Trenton Simpson next to him last year, and knowing what that looked like. And while roquan would never say this publicly, he’s never going to throw a teammate under the bus or anything like that, and I can’t even sit here and say that. I’ve privately talked to him about it, but you do wonder how much confidence he has in Trenton Simpson next to him, that he knows his assignment, that he knows he’s going to be in the right place, and that kind of an element, and what kind of impact that can have on roquan. Where is he doing things to try to compensate for the guy next to him? And you know very well, that’s not how team defense works in the NFL. I mean, you have force multipliers, but if you’re trying to do someone else’s assignment, that probably means your assignment is going to be compromised, and that’s just not a good thing. So how much of it’s going to be Trenton Simpson, but I’ll also throw out this. This variable are Darius Washington’s back, and he’s versatile, and he can move around. No, he’s not going to line up at Will linebacker. But you know who could in certain instances, Kyle Hamilton. Kyle Hamilton and maybe our Darius Washington plays a little bit of nickel or dime or whatever. Not, not so much dime, because dime. Hamilton’s kind of playing that dime linebacker spot anyway when they’re in dime. So it’ll be interesting to see if they maneuver some things a little bit in that regard, my back
Nestor Aparicio 13:42
are so complimentary, right? And with the line sort of struggling, like, look at o way sacks with the Chargers. I know that’s shown up on your timeline, sure, you know, after they gave him away. And systems, like I saw Zach sealer get in and make a sack the other night. I’ve seen, you know, just seeing these guys, good player that aren’t here, but came through here and became players in other places, or went other places. Patrick Queen being another one that, and CJ Mosley and Bart Scott, and go back to Ed Hartwell, right? These complimentary players around a Ray Lewis, around the roquan Smith that this thing got elevated in a big, big way. When roquan Smith came in and played with Patrick queen, it de evolved the minute Trenton Simpson came in and tried to play that role in Clinton. It got stabilized, shall we say, with Buchanan, but never back to where it was with Queen two years ago. And now you’re taking that part out at a pretty key time of the year, to your point, bringing back another pass rusher that got in and created problems, Draymond Jones, trash talking, you know, at the end of the game, trash talking burrow. I thought that was kind of weird. So. Film from
Luke Jones 15:00
the little old school, right? I mean, it kind of reminded you how the Ravens acted 20 years ago. Not, not as much now, you know, with Draymond Jones, but yeah, I mean,
Nestor Aparicio 15:09
and our Darius wash, I mean, just the fact that some rare is a Calvary. They are circling the wagons to some degree, but losing a linebacker and losing those snaps less than ideal in week 16. Man, yeah.
Luke Jones 15:22
And I would even say even more so when you have the Patriots coming in who are going to want to run the football, right? I mean, they not that, not that I necessarily expect or that they need to run for 200 yards, right? I mean, I’m not talking like insane talk, because this is a good run defense you know, that the ravens, you know, have had since the earliest weeks of the season, but I think they need to be able to run the ball some on the Ravens. If they don’t, then that’s putting a lot on Drake may on the road. Sunday night, hostile environment, all the pressure, right? Still trying to maintain their lead in the AFC East, knowing buffalo closed the
Nestor Aparicio 15:57
gap and everything we’re talking about shortening the game lengthening drives, even if they’re field goal drives, you know, holding the ball cold ass night like all of that, to keep Lamar off the field. Sure. Yeah, there’s defense on the field. If your running game works on a cold night. 10 o’clock, it gets colder. 1030 it gets cold, you know, you start moving downhill, especially if you’re losing by a touchdown or, you know, more, no doubt.
Luke Jones 16:25
And obviously, the ravens are going to want to do the same thing if they have the lead in the third quarter, as we saw them lean into Cincinnati. You know, they didn’t run a ton of plays, but they ran the ball quite well in the second half. So, you know, with the broke off some chunk runs.
Nestor Aparicio 16:39
But Derrick Henry’s here, right? Yeah, Henry’s here for the next seven weeks. Sure, sure. Not for one and five, not for week eight, whatever. That’s where this becomes nut cut time for all of the the Marlin Humphries and Ronnie Stanley’s and roquan Smith’s and Mark Andrews and Lamar to say, hey, you know, yeah, we stink. Stank. Stunk. But if we get the nine and eight and go to Pittsburgh and win two weeks from now, you know, we’re in the tournament, and none of these playoff games are going to be pretty because none of these teams are good enough. None of these teams are going to be winning games 48 to 14 in January, because I don’t see explosive offenses, I don’t see crunchy defenses, I don’t see really tested teams. Now that the chiefs are out of this thing, maybe you could say that about the Eagles or whatever, but they could say the bills and the Ravens, because they’ve lost a bunch of these games, yeah, but it’s an interesting tournament. I mean, no matter who gets in it, whether it’s Aaron Rodgers or Lamar Jackson, because it’s not going to be both. But who the quarterbacks are, who the coaches are, how it sort of lines up, which styles make, which fights, who gets the bills at the wrong time? Who gets the Ravens at the wrong time?
Luke Jones 17:52
Yeah, sure. I mean it. And as we’ve kind of alluded to, especially since the Steelers won on Monday night. Now there’s not really the scenario where the Ravens can back into the playoffs, right? This idea that the Steelers were going to lose to Miami, lose to Detroit and and then obviously, the head to head match up a couple weeks after that, like, the idea that the Ravens could go like, two and two and make it into the make it into the tournament, and over their last they couldn’t get knocked out by going to Pittsburgh the last week. That’s never, that hasn’t been in my mind for I mean, but the idea, I’ve been saying you the whole time, don’t make any plans that day. They’re gonna flex you out. Sure, that night, sure. But, but the idea, you know, there was at least a, you know, before this week, there was at least the thought, you know, if Pittsburgh completely falls on their face, I mean, maybe the Ravens could be in a position where they wouldn’t have to do quite as heavy lifting. That’s not happening, right? I mean, we saw and we saw that Monday night. I’m not saying I expected that, let me just be clear. But any
Nestor Aparicio 18:50
of these teams is going to be particularly impressive now or next week or in January, and the Ravens, ditto. Ravens were as impressive as they’ve been all year, they pitched the shutout. They won 24 nothing. They did it on a cold day. They did it on the road. They did against but the day avenged the terrible defeat on Thanksgiving. And they’re starting to wear the suit a little bit
Luke Jones 19:11
well, you hope, you hope, or, or it’s a one game aberrations.
Nestor Aparicio 19:16
We’re gonna find out exactly.
Luke Jones 19:19
It’s either that’s, that’s kind of the game where you say, all right, where’s that been all year? And it either goes away again or maybe it is the start of something. Right? As I said to you in the post game, I need to see more than that to really start truly believing again. It took me a long time to get to the point where I was jumping off the wagon, so to speak, after the Pittsburgh loss. But do it against New England, right? I mean, this team has one win all year against the team with a record over 500 is the bears, right? Ironically, a game Lamar didn’t play, right? So, but we know what their schedule has been in terms of getting back into. We know what happened on Thanksgiving and the following Sunday after that. So now this is your opportunity to make amends. And to your point, a few minutes ago, you’re not going to be backing into this thing. You’re either going to make it and then suddenly it’s looking, hey, like this is you won three of your last four to get in, or some or you want out to get in.
Nestor Aparicio 20:20
Whoever has that home game in, you know, Pittsburgh or Baltimore, the weekend of the 10th or 11th, they’ll smell good when they get there. I mean, even if you’re like, Well, you know, Pittsburgh’s not all that beat the Ravens gonna go down, right? Yeah.
Luke Jones 20:34
I mean, and who knows what’s what’ll happen, I think both those teams, privately, would probably be thinking, I don’t know if I want the bills to come into town wild card weekend, but at the same time, if that, if that’s the case, that means the bills didn’t win their division, and they’re on the road right so you don’t have to go to Buffalo at any point. So nobody fears
Nestor Aparicio 20:53
the bills right now, and the Ravens, because they have quarterbacks that have won MVPs that are dusting off and finding whatever it is that the bills lacked in the early part of the season or the middle part of the season, and certainly the ravens, it’s an easy crutch for hardball, for all of them to say we were banged up, we were hurt, we didn’t have our players in October. So Okay, fair enough.
Luke Jones 21:14
Yeah, that’s fine, absolutely. And look, I I’d rather have a quarterback like Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen than not, right? I mean, okay, maybe Drake may becomes that guy next month, right? Maybe Drake May, oh, he’s certainly been in the MVP conversation, but we don’t know yet, right? I mean, it’s, it’s still,
Nestor Aparicio 21:31
who do you like possibility night? Who do you want in a big game? Playoff stakes, Raven stadium, all lubed up and rocking with the empty seats at the top, because it’s always that way. Ended up cold as hell. You want to walk off the bus with Drake may this week, you want to walk off the bus with Lamar Jackson. I don’t you know. You tell me, I 99 out of 100 would have said Lamar Jackson 12 weeks
Luke Jones 21:54
ago, right? No, 100 out of 112 weeks ago. Now it’s still, I think still more so, way more so. Lamar Jackson, because there’s more of a track record of multi years
Nestor Aparicio 22:05
Drake may hasn’t beaten my body. You began Drake nation starting with that, right? Sure, the other night when he had three touchdown lead.
Luke Jones 22:12
But at the same time, I really like Drake. May I also, I’ll throw Bo Nix into that discussion that you know he he’s someone that statistically hasn’t been as impressive, but if you watch the Broncos games, he tends to play better late in the game than earlier in the game, and that’s that’s something you like as well. But again, who knows, right? And that’s what makes this thing fascinating. I mean, from from a cinematic standpoint, from a theatrical standpoint there, I think there is disappointment that Patrick mahomes and the chiefs are out entirely the idea that there was no one that killed them, so to speak, in January, right? But that said, I mean, certainly, if you’re the bills, you’re the ravens, especially, but any other team for that matters
Nestor Aparicio 22:57
are playing the Broncos at 430 like they go out there and beat the Broncos. They, you know, they got 10 wins. That would count to 11. You know, that would move them forward. I know you love the Texans, and they’re still going to be a scuffling that three weeks. All of these games are interesting. And I think as we sit here and sit on the ravens and say, what are they as a 500 team, what are the Steelers? And what does it mean beating the dolphins or the Bengals in week 15? It’ll mean a hell of a lot beating the Patriots at home this week. It’ll mean a hell of a lot if the Steelers can go on the road and win in Detroit. So you start to look at all, it’ll mean a whole lot if the Jaguars win in Denver, and it probably won’t mean much if they lose in Denver, because they’re the three point dog, but for all of these quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence, who’s thought to be ahead of school with May and with with Knicks at this point, should be, should be, isn’t yet, isn’t perceived as such because it’s got a Jaguar logo on the helmet. How can you take it seriously? But I don’t know. This is the time of the year where all that gets settled, because Jaguars win a game or two more. Somebody’s got to go down there and play them. And that might be the bills that it ain’t going to be the Ravens right away. But, you know, that’s another thought of that wouldn’t be so bad. Well, let’s see. We’re the ravens, and we get to play Houston at home, or New England at home, because they stumble, because we win, and then we win and we go to Jacksonville, all of a sudden, you get sugar plums. About going to the Super Bowl, if you’re a Ravens
Luke Jones 24:31
fan, I think, I mean, you can, yeah, you can. I mean, I’m they’ve got to get there though. You know you
Nestor Aparicio 24:36
don’t have to go Kansas City, you know, where you probably don’t have to go
Luke Jones 24:40
buffalo Well, I mean, I’ll pause on that, because that’s not necessarily true, because if the ravens are doing that, that means there’s probably a decent chance that they’ve beaten New England. If New England loses, if buffalo keeps winning, then you like, Buffalo can still win that division. So you. But, but I get your general point. And it’s like we said a few minutes
Nestor Aparicio 25:03
ago, that’s your point. We’re helping buffalo get a home game. We don’t want to have to go see them,
Luke Jones 25:07
and that’s the point. And now maybe you in that scenario, you avoid them in the first round, which I think there’s something to be said, especially for a team that’s been three and five at home this year. I mean, the Ravens have been bad at home this year, so maybe they’re better off playing on the road, but
Nestor Aparicio 25:23
brother, too, right? He’s in this, right? No,
Luke Jones 25:26
it’s funny, though. But because you mentioned the Jaguars, I do think they’re interesting in the sense that, think about it, early in the year, there was so much talk about the Colts, right, the start that they got off to, you know, the Danny dime story, obviously Jonathan Taylor having the year he’s had, that was the team that was coming out of nowhere. The Patriots have been talked about. The Broncos have been talked about. But Jacksonville, I mean, they are 10 and four. Trevor Lawrence, look, he’s a guy that a few years back, remember, they won a playoff game, had that comeback win against the chargers in the wild card round, and he had
Nestor Aparicio 26:00
five coaches. I mean, it’s been a lot of Urban Meyer was there, yeah.
Luke Jones 26:04
I mean, there’s been a lot of that, but, but he also hasn’t been very good. I mean, he just hasn’t. If you look at him his last few years, he is not, and that’s one, one reason why they’ve cycled through coaches, right? I mean, the idea that you have these franchise quarterbacks, at least, you want them to be in your mind, but then they end up costing coaches
Nestor Aparicio 26:22
winning in college, though, right?
Luke Jones 26:23
He did, but that all that being said. I mean, I don’t know how many people watched him play on Sunday, but go look at his numbers. Go look at what he did on Sunday, where, you know, he’s throwing five touchdowns, and I get it, it was against Jasper. Didn’t figure it out till he got in a real franchise, like, right? I mean, yeah, yes, and no, he lost a lot, but Matthew Stafford was a good quarterback in Detroit for a long time. He just had, he was just on terrible teams. Trevor Lawrence hasn’t been very good at at times over the last few years, but on Sunday, and I get it, it was against the Jets. But you know what I’d say to that? Lamar Jackson didn’t put up big numbers against the Jets. A few weeks back. He had five touchdown passes and ran for a touchdown.
Nestor Aparicio 27:04
Also had Megatron. So that’s he he did. But that
Luke Jones 27:08
you’re not going to argue with me that, that he was on terrible team.
Nestor Aparicio 27:12
No, I’m not. I’m just the perception. But he was one, one lead, leading an Archie Manning terrible team. That’s and you would agree that Trevor Lawrence has been a part of how bad they are. But just ownership all that, not dissimilar to Mrs. Ford running the Detroit franchise, which still hasn’t gotten sure with another quarterback. So I’m just saying these bad franchises that feel throw the Texans in there, throw the Cardinals in there. Throw the Bengals in there. Despite the fact that Joe burrow got him there. Like all of these franchises that can’t get out of their own way, there is something about when the Patriots get off the bus, at least it looks like Tom Brady this week, right? There is some sort of pedigree that I don’t know, that Jim Harbaugh has in those stolen jerseys of the San Diego superchargers that they’re going to have that Mojo. You feel that way about the Jaguars. And you feel that way like Trevor Lawrence is in the bin of damaged goods or something like that, and you still think, dude’s a one, one. They’re 10 and four. He’s throwing the football. Oh, it’s late December. They’re healthy, you know, be aware. Be aware that they’re, they’re, they’re going to be in the tournament too. That’s all I’m saying. Yeah.
Luke Jones 28:29
I mean, look, I just said it. I mean, I think Jacksonville’s interesting in that way. I mean, I think what’s also interesting about what this AFC playoff field is shaping up to be is the presence of some good defensive teams. I mean, Houston’s got a nasty defense. Denver has been a little more or a little less consistent than Houston’s defense, but they’ve got some really good players on the defensive side of the football, and they’ve won some games thinking in terms of their defense, and
Nestor Aparicio 29:00
that plays well in the cold if they have to go Sure, he’s sure.
Luke Jones 29:03
Well, and look for as much as we’ve talked about, Lamar Jackson and this offense being what it’s been in the past, more so than what we’ve seen this year. You know, even though it’s a very similar cast of characters, we haven’t seen the same level of consistency. I mean, what’s been driving the bus for the Ravens getting off the mat after one in five it’s been their defense. I mean, easily, it’s been their defense. Now we can sit here and talk about their lack of pass rush. We can sit here and talk about, you know, their until this past Sunday, their lack of success against high level quarterbacks, but their defense is certainly way better than it was over the first five weeks of the season. And as you pointed out, you add tavia’s Robinson back into the mix. Not that he alone is really moving the needle in terms of what he does individually, but I think from in a complimentary way, maybe it makes all their pieces up front fit a little bit differently. I mean, John Harbaugh talked about this well. On Monday, the idea that tavius Robinson like Draymond Jones are kind of the they’re not the speed edge guys, right? They’re more the heavy hand kind of pass rushers that you know, at least against certain teams you know, like Cincinnati on Sunday, for example, that that can play now, is that going to play against everybody? No, of course not. And I still think if we’re talking about the ravens, whether it’s not making the playoffs, or if they do make the playoffs and they’re eliminated in wild card round or divisional round, I do think the lack of a pass rush is going to be part of that story, as far as talking about what their fatal flaws are, that and their offensive line play, right? So, but you look at it in those terms, and you’re trying to piece it together. Do they need to have a top five or a top 10 pass rush to play deep into January and give themselves a chance? No, that said, can it be a bottom five pass rush and they play deep into January? That’s where I look at it and say, I’m really skeptical of that. So what can you scheme up?
Nestor Aparicio 31:03
Well, that’s where Davis Robinson comes in, where you’re just better, you’re just you’re just better on third and long, when you can move your pieces around, gonna be in third long, and when you are, can you make a play? And what is your likelihood of making a play in third law?
Luke Jones 31:15
Sure, sure. Well, and some of that is also, can you stay out of third and long, right? Or, sorry, can you stay out of third and short and third and medium? Can you force third and long? Right?
Nestor Aparicio 31:27
Third long means you’re having a hell of a lot of success on first and second Exactly. So, I mean, it’s the kind of success you need,
Luke Jones 31:33
right, right? So, I mean, it’s and that’s where you look at it. And from the Ravens philosophy and how they try to build their defense. That’s why they still value stopping the run as much as they do relative to other teams. That might be more of the we’ll give a little bit in the run game, but we’re going to pin our ears back, and we’re going to have pass rushers who can hit the quarterback, and we’ll, you know, we’ll, we’ll stop the pass. So we’re going to see how this plays out, right? I mean, Sunday night, ravens, patriots, if you protect your home field in a way that, frankly, the Ravens have not done a very good job of doing it this year. But if you can win a big game at home against the team that has a better record than you, then hey, game on in terms of anything happening, right? But if they lose, and even if Detroit, you know, beats Pittsburgh. Yeah, the Ravens won’t be out of it, but it’ll just be adding to the doubt that this isn’t a very good football team. And what they did in Cincinnati last Sunday, well, it was fun, but that’s been a little more of the exception, not the norm, of how they played. So this is a chance for the ravens to really, you know, as the kids would say, Show out and show that last week wasn’t just hey, the Bengals really stunk, and the Ravens were good, but the Bengals really stunk. If you can beat the Patriots Sunday night, then suddenly it feels like the ravens are completely rounding in the form. And that’s putting the rest of the AFC on notice and certainly putting Pittsburgh on notice for the last couple of weeks of the regular season, culminating with the showdown at the place formerly known as Heinz Field. Week 18
Nestor Aparicio 33:10
man, the league’s got this figured out. Thursday night, Ram Seahawks, right? That’ll be a good one, right? Saturday night, bears packers at Soldier Field. Sunday, Sunday. Sunday, we got the chargers in the early game, at one o’clock. We can keep an eye on them. And you know, with the chiefs in the Bengals going by the wayside, there’s nothing there. Then you got jaguars, Broncos at four. You got Steelers, lions at four, and, of course, the Ravens at 820 and then on Monday night, Phillip rivers will be out running around again against the San Francisco 49 you know, good football this weekend, Luke. I mean, I you know, let’s stop ice up, get the snow off the car. The better weather’s coming here this weekend, and we got decent football all weekend long. And who knows, maybe the Orioles will even get a pitcher who knows, right? Maybe?
Luke Jones 34:01
Yeah, maybe. But you just reminded me, I need to make sure I get into the press box early on Sunday so I can watch the four o’clock games, not just Pittsburgh, Detroit, but Jack’s Broncos. That’s another one. Again we’re trying to see. I think everyone’s waiting for the A, F, C to crystallize in some way, right, in some way, to try to get a better idea of how this is going to go, and buffalo check ravens if they get in check, right? Rest of the AFC, who the heck knows at this point. And going back to our point at the beginning of our segment, it’s how Roger Goodell wants it. If the Chiefs aren’t going to be in it, you want it to be wide open. And it really feels that way. Yeah, it’s
Nestor Aparicio 34:38
been a good week. I had Dan Shaughnessy on Bob Ryan and I’ve been going back and forth. I had Mark liebovich on author of The Best NFL book that I’ve ever read. It’s called Big game. It was written about seven years ago. Pick it up. Read it. Liebowitz is he’s a patriot fan. So I chased some Bostonians around this week. I even heard from Phil Jackman’s daughter. It must be you. In my AI, or in the My ESPN or something like that, that we’re on the same wavelength here. Maybe have some clam chowder this week. I got to find a Legal Seafood to ship it into me this week, we’re going to be, you know, I know what I can find. I’m gonna find some Maryland crab soup. On Thursday, I’m going to be at Costas and Dundalk with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Gina shock. John Allen’s coming over. My son’s coming over. John maroon is going to be by my middle school teacher, Calvin stadium’s coming by with George Shulman. It’s going to be science and music together. Maybe I get Thomas Dolby to come by on Friday. John Hoey from the y is going to join me with Dan Rodricks and John shields, who will be at Gertrude. We’ll have scratch offs from the Maryland lottery giveaway. I will have the candy cane cash scratch offs because Roz has given it to me. And then on Monday, I’ll have the funny hats from our friends at Planet Fitness. As we get ready for 2026 brand new location just opening, I’m going to rejuvenate, revitalize, get a little workout in and do the show. It’s Maryland crab cake torch presented by our friends at the Maryland lottery conjunction with GBMC. I gotta get a GBMC shirt here through the holidays too. I got a lot of homework that I’m working on here. Luke’s working in his homework. If any any breaking news, you’ll get it first on the wnst tech service that is brought to you by our friends at cole roofing and Gordian energy. You sign up online, you get the first things first, and the breaking news fast as it happens, and we’ve, we’ve been doing that for 18 years now. Yowza, I’m getting old. We’re W NSD. Am 1570 Towson, Baltimore, and we never stop talking Baltimore positive. Stay with us for the holidays.
