NFL Playoff Team as COVID-19 Characters

NFL Playoff Teams as characters from COVID-19 (Past Pods were based on Game of Thrones Characters, Star Wars Characters and Always Sunny in Philadelphia Characters)

possibly our 5th annual? Definitely our 4th annual!

This is the widest choice spectrum in our 5 year history of this podcast — but, I still think we’ll pick 3 teams as the same thing from COVID-19

Zoom, Kobe Bryant (the only thing before COVID and a Harbinger of things to come), Unemployment/ Stimulus, Masks, Social Justice/BLM, Tok Tok/ Ocean Spray Guy on the skateboard, Election (Biden/Trump), Vaccine

Tiger King - Carol Baskin, Joe Exotic

The Last Dance

Karen’s Unhinged

Anthony Fauci

AFC: 1 Kansas City Chiefs (Bye), 2 Bills vs 7 Colts, 3 Steelers vs. 6 Browns, 4 Titans vs 5 Ravens

NFC: 1 Packers (Bye), 2 Saints vs 7 Bears, 3 Seahawks vs 6 Rams, 4 Wash Football Team vs 5 Buccaneers

NFC Teams

Packers are “the last Dance” — Rodgers “took it personally”

Saints — Roy Jones Junior from the 50+ Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones exhibition. Shadow of their best days because they’ve taken so many haymakers over the years, that it’s bound to end badly again

Bears — Rudy Guiliani’s press conference live from the Four Season’s Landscaping — you think it’s a good thing the Bears are in the playoffs, but really it’s more of an embarrassment to all almost everybody involved

Seahawks are Carol Baskin (started COVID as a potential mastermind and murder) — by November has faded from the MVP of COVID times like Russell Wilson has faded in the MVP Race

Rams are “Murder Hornets” — They are Hugh Grant’s character from HBO’s “The Undoing” with our friend Nicole Kidman. As much as they tried to make Jonathan aka Hugh Grant not seem like the murder… it’s been pretty obvious that despite best efforts that the Rams are guilty of being a tier below a true title contender

Washington Football Team — are the $600 Stimulus checks — Alex Smith is a feel good story but it’s nowhere close to enough to make anything meaningful happen

Buccaneers - "Aliens are Real” - Brady at 43 on a different team is strange. After a day or two everybody said “meh” and then like 5 months later a retired and credible Israeli Govt Official reiterates that “no seriously Aliens are real”… and then Tom Brady and his team rip off six wins in a row, because he’s an alien and what do Aliens have (the best weapons). Ipso Facto: TB12 is an Alien

AFC Teams

KC Chiefs are Fortune 100 companies and Airline Industry — they’ve always got enough juice to get bailed out - and they’re gonna keep winning because they are the 1%

Bills are the Lt Governor of PA John Federman (sp?)— things were looking ugly and then they just came in to drop the hammer, save the day, and flip the script on the AFC and potentially the whole League

Colts (Mike Tyson from the Mike Tyson Fight) - Been years since we’ve taken him serious. We question why we continue to watch Philip Rivers but as things have marched on your eyes keep telling you — he’s kinda still got it. (Shoutout to Frank Reich the true genius behind the Eagles’ Super Bowl Title

Steelers — Joe Exotic — started out ON ABSOLUTE Fire and by the end it’s pretty clear that they aren’t who we thought they were and they are not coming out of this as the winner.

Browns — They are the convergence of Jupiter and Saturn — it’s the first time in 450 years since they made the playoffs, but we’re all happy to see them briefly

Ravens — Lance Armstrong Documentary — they will never apologize for who they are, despite being flawed. Not implying that they cheat… and honestly that part of Lance Armstrong isn’t applicable. But the Ravens if they play a perfect game on offense can easily win and it won’t even be close — like Lance back in the day

Titans — they are the NBA Bubble’s eastern conference number 5 seed, the Miami Heat… They literally have to “out tough you” to win. And they likely can hang around - unless their opponent plays at their absolute best

Wildcard Card Round Picks

Saints vs Bears (this game will be way too close for Saints but they’ll eek it out)

Seahawks vs Rams (could see either team winning close or Seahawks in a blowout — going with Seahawks Close

WFT vs Bucs — I think Bucs get it done

Bills vs Colts — The Bills seem like a touch too talented to get beat in round 1 — but Colts might make them earn it

Steelers vs Browns — division rivals could go either way — I’ll go Browns in the upset

Ravens vs Titans — rematch of last year. Last Year the Ravens were the Rocketship and the Titans found a way — I think the Ravens pay the favor back this time, but that means Lamar plays his first great playoff game. If he can’t do that — Titans take it

Who’s your final four, who’s going to Super Bowl 55 and who’s gonna win this thing?

With no fans in the stands in most of these stadium — this is the hardest season of trying to pick these games — plus 2 extra teams qualified for the first time.

I’ll go with Chiefs hosting Bills in AFC Title Game.

NFC Title game is going to have at least one lower seed I’ll try Packers hosting Seahawks - but only because I have zero faith in the Saints. (Rams, Bucs, Seahawks could all go on a real run).

Packers vs. Bills - Super Bowl

Packers to win it… but let’s make it clear — Packers, Bills, Chiefs, Ravens, Rams, Bucs, Seahawks could all win this thing — 7 of the 14 teams could get this thing done.

Tom Brady is the GOAT

Tom Brady is the GOAT 

The debate is over. Only take - Peyton Manning was close and he came in with more raw talent and an unbelievable work ethic. But, Brady’s competitiveness drove him to work as hard as Manning. It’s like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. They drove each other. 

But the crazy thing is Brady is getting 2 different careers: Brady and Manning were like Larry and Magic — the two of them cost each other at least 2 more championships each.

No Tom Brady and Peyton Manning probably wins 4 and goes to 7 super bowls.

No Peyton Manning and Tom Brady probably wins 7 and goes to 11 super bowls.

But, Brady somehow extended his career, and with manning gone he’s more like Michael Jordan — basically peerless, and more competitive and more experienced than anybody left standing. 

Did you ever have a doubt last night about Pats winning in Kansas City? 

Where does this AFC title win rank amongst the other 8 of the Brady / Billy B era?

Do you really think Patriots by a million for Super Bowl 53 pick? 

Are we going to Atlanta? 

What if anything would you have to say to Philadelphia Eagles lineman and Patriots Troll, Lane Johnson?

what’s the mood in Boston right now? 

What’s the Super Bowled theme t-shirt going to be this year - it was “Squish the Fish” in 1986 - is it gonna be “Slam the Rams”? goodness I hope so!

LA and Boston squaring off for 2 world titles in 2 different sports in like a 4 month window — and the Celtics are Lakers aren’t involved  

Crazy KC Chiefs fan/neighbor update

rematch of the Super Bowl that started it all: Rams vs Patriots 

A couple of weeks ago we said that the teams we’d like to see in the Super Bowl ranked most to least:

Patriots 

Chargers (tortured base, that was just abandoned)

Chiefs (officially a tortured fan base)

Saints (starting to become a tortured fan base) - and for decades they were before Brees ad Payton showed up

Rams (abandoned their fan base, but also returned to their original home, so I feel like their mojo is just getting started) — Several parallels to the 2001 Patriots 

3 way tie for last Cowboys, Colts, & Eagles. 

Patriots 10 super bowls - played Bears, Packers, Rams, Panthers, Eagles, Giants x2, Seahawks, Falcons, Eagles (0-2 vs NFC north, 2-0 vs NFC South, 1-3 vs NFC east, 2-0 vs NFC west) 

This is the Patriots 11th Super Bowl - And they’ll be playing a team from the NFC west 

You know who the forgotten victims of this Super Bowl are… former St. Louis Rams fans 

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Best Tailgate Food - 2019 NFL Playoff Edition

2019 Best Tailgate Recipes w/ Jeremy Johnson- ManCookGood CEO & Founder 

FilibusterFreestyle.com 

Here’s who’s left:

Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Chargers (of San Diego) at New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs 

What i’d like to see:

Rams win big. What I think will happen Rams win ugly. 

Saints win by 1 or more. What I think will happen, Eagles win by 1 (actually i think saints win a squeaker, but I just want Eagles out).

Pats win by 1 or more. What I think will happen, I think Chargers take it. But, the Pats with a bye week might have 1 last trick left in the bag.

Chiefs win big. What I think will happen, Chiefs win ugly 

Teams we’d like to see in the Super Bowl ranked most to least:

Patriots 

Chargers 

Chiefs 

Saints

Rams

3 way tie for last Cowboys, Colts, & Eagles. 

trying to think who I like less than those teams… AFC east teams (nope, they hate us). Giants - meh? Ravens (definitely, but they’re out). Broncos (same boat as the Ravens).

Patriots 10 super bowls - played Bears, Packers, Rams, Panthers, Eagles, Giants x2, Seahawks, Falcons, Eagles (0-2 vs NFC north, 2-0 vs NFC South, 1-3 vs NFC east, 2-0 vs NFC west) 

Rams or Saints — most dangerous —but Pats will be underdogs and ME LIKELY THAT !!!! 

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Game of Thrones as 2019 NFL Playoff Teams PART 2 Podcast

Filibuster Freestyle’s 4th annual NFL Playoff teams as Game of Thrones Characters is here and these are the Part 2 podcast notes:

LA Chargers  - Daenerys Targaryen (while she was still in Meereen) - Essentially displaced/ homeless and they have to go east if they want to “go west” aka win the title. Her Dragons were young, the cards were stacked against her, she wasn’t even beloved in her home town, she had to leave her home town due to a lack of support. The chargers have had terrible luck with Kickers, people question their QB and coach a lot, but there is potential for greatness. They’ve won on the road despite  history of not doing so. Nobody is sure how much trust to put in the Chargers, but no one seems to want to face them, and no one seems to hate them.

Baltimore Ravens (House Stark after killing Little Finger) - The Ravens seemed to be left for dead with Joe Flacco at the helm. There was talk of John Harbaugh not coming back, enter Lamar Jackson at QB and everything has changed. The Ravens seem to find a way to win ugly and/or survive to fight another day. Jon Snow at Hardhome, John Snow when he was saved by Uncle Benjen stark after the Night’s Kings killed Viserion the Dragons.) Now House Stark has Bran reunited with Arya and Sansa, and their slitting little fingers’ throats, they killed Ramsay Bolton with his own Dogs, they are poised to recover from certain defeat. 

Philadelphia Eagles - Welp this is a story about the ability to hang on to power when all seems lost. Nick Foles is the “wildfire”. This is Cersei Lannister using Wildfire with Maester Qyburn and blowing up all of her enemies at once in the Sept. The eagles were having the classic super bowl hangover. Everybody was coming for them and coming for them hard. They seemed to have painted themselves into a corner with no plausible escape… and then the ineffective Carson Wentz is “injured” and they insert Nick Foles. Nick Foles is the Wildfire. He allows for an inexplicable change of momentum, just like Cersei’s stunt at Great Sept of Baelor.

Chicago Bears - Night’s King Army and Khalil Mack is the ice dragon, Viserion. They were going to be tough to defeat, but they were outgunned in terms of game changing dragons, and then Jon Gruden gifted the Bears an asset who takes them to another level. 

New England Patriots - The Patriots have always been featured as somebody like Tyrion Lannister or the Night’s King. But I think this year’s Patriots are Jamie Lannister at the battle in Season 6 or 7 with Sam Tarly’s dad and Dickon Tarly. When Dany had three Dragons, and only a heroic move by Bronn saved jamie from being burned alive. The patriots are a shadow of their former selves, as is the 1 handed Jamie, and they are out gunned. But, they are wiley, so there’s a small chance they survive, but not because they are the best team. 

Kansas City Chiefs - Missing Karim Hunt really changed things a bit for the Chiefs —so this was my toughest team to provide a game of thrones character. But here it is… This whole tale started after a young Robert Baratheon struck down Rhaegar Targaryen at the Trident (and then Jamie Lannister killed Aerys the 2nd (the Mad king). If the Chiefs win the super bowl, they are young Robert Baratheon and if they get knocked off, they are Rhaegar Targaryen. And the beauty of this comparison — Rhaegar is actually Jon Snow’s dad. And I’m convinced that Patrick Mahomes will lift the Lombardi Trophy one day, if not this year… just as Rhaegar lost the battle of the Trident, but “won the war” by conceiving Jon with Lyanna Stark. 

LA Rams - Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper of Dorne — The NFL Season is long and drought with peril — The Rams came out of the gates like Oberyn Martell against the mountain and seemed destined for the Super Bowl but, after the past month, I’m increasing concerned that one of these NFC defenses might squish their heads like a Giant Grape. (Fake band name of the week, “Giant Grape”)

New Orleans Saints - The Unsullied. The saints seem to have all the weapons and the home fortress to defend. They might be a little one dimensional, but at the end of the day, if they can play their game on their home turf in the style in which they’re accustomed, aka no gimmick football - they’ve got a it handled. 

Turning 40

To Quote Mike Gundy, “I’m a man, I’m 40!”

Places listening: Turkey #2, Mexico #3, Spain #4 - UK, Russia, Colombia, Philippines, Ireland, Germany, Egypt, India, France, Bangladesh, Switzerland, Dominican Republic, Libya, Senegal, Belgium and more - awesome stuff 

Also - an interesting influx in the amount of downloads in Saudi Arabia lately - that’s interesting timing 

You know the “birds fans” come out when we talk eagles - ambler Pa, cherry hill NJ, and philly were 3 of top 4... Mountain View Ca #3. Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir all rounds out top two cities. Three tukish cities pretty amazing 

Do me a favor and subscribe to the podcast on apple podcast, follow us on twitter @gavinviano and tell 1 friend to check out the podcast 

I’m going to keep grinding on this thing, trying to grow it - and when the freestyle turns 4 this january — Drew Brees (saints QB will turn 40) which means if the saints make Super Bowl, we’d have 2 different 40 years old’s start at QB in consecutive super bowls. I think it’ll happen. Also, why does nobody give Drew Brees the same “ageless wonder” credit they give Tom Brady — he’s also basically 5’11’’ - what he does is amazing 

Biggest issues w jay bilas’ “restructuring of college basketball”

If we take out amateurism- what happens to “max years of eligibility” - if it’s a business- you can’t tell employees they’re too old 

If we downsize division 1 - then many average teams that pad their win totals currently, will be exposed as being bad. Fans don’t flock to see bad teams.

Down sizing also makes it “minor leagues”. Americans don’t like minor league sports en masse. 

College basketball being an “open entry national championship” is the best thing it has going for it. Limiting d1 teams to like 80 is bad Idea. 

Only good way to downsize d1 - would be adopting soccer style promotion and relegation - and March madness would still need to be open entry- in fact it could be like the FA cup. That actually could expand March madness

Players should get to profit from their likeness. Period. Open market decides what they are worth. If they want a salary they should go to the G league or play overseas. If they’re not good enough to get endorsements and/or play in a professional league, then guess what - they’re not professional 

Americans don’t like minor league sports. You remove amateurism ethos- I think you kill the mystique and kill the golden goose 

I hate when 23 year olds on instagram try to give sage drinking advice to their 19 year old selves. Me at 19 vs me at 23. Listen if you can’t find an extra gear at 23, you’re doing it wrong. 

The only thing that should slow you down before age 27 is lack of money and/or having a child - anything else - you’re doing it wrong. 

Instagram

You’re allowed to complain a tad at 27 and then every three years after that. 

Why can’t Biggie say “gats in holsters” w/o getting edited - but anyone can buy a gun. How can a country so in love w guns - allow censorship around talking about guns in  pop song. 

Best rock: pop songs featuring bag pipes. 

Long way to the top of you wanna rock n roll

Shipping up to Boston 

Back in the highlife again

So I married an axe murder version of do ya think I’m sexy (rod stewart) 

Amazing Grace (not fair)

Malibu has essentially burned down and we’re thinking about everyone effected by fires there and elsewhere. 

Thanksgiving is the best holiday to enjoy with your friends and family. Enjoy!!!

Can the Philadelphia Eagles repeat? Mid-term Mania. This Red Sox Parade was more than just Duck Boats!

Was 2018 the first “eff you parade” in Boston sports history? 

Seems like that attitude was pure jubilation and feeling bullet proof as a fanbase. 

Price has his eff you parade for towards then fans. 

The Boston sports fans had theirs towards the philly fans for stealing a super bowl.  

This title was a collective realization that even if Tom Brady is never gonna win another and even if the pats go back to being bad... Boston fans just realized - as long as the Sox have good ownership and tons of 💰- we have a franchise that’s won 4 titles in 15 seasons with 3 diff managers... dozens of different players. Hockey is super random. And Boston Celtics aren depended on outsmarting opponents because it’s tough for them  to get free agents. But the Sox - they can miss and take years off and hit bottom, but they’ll always get it right a couple times a decade

The Sox were our city’s first love and are now our best hope to keep the party going once the pats dynasty is no more 

places listening - Turkey, Ireland, UK, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Philippines, Slovakia, Germany, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory & More 

Philadelphia Eagles What’s the mood right now at 4-4? 

Is getting each team’s best shot week after week what you expected? 

What’s the feeling for the next 8 games? Home & Away vs Cowboys and Skins, at Saints, at Rams, Home Giants, Home Texans

What’s the city’s feelings on your QB situation? 

Can your guys go on the road and get Saints or Rams? What about winning on road in playoffs? 

How was the raising of the banner on the first game of the year? 

Are people still basking in that Super Bowl win or are fans finally more focused on this seasons results? I felt like after Pats first title - i dealt with their 9-7 season in a way of saying well we’re still the champs until the super bowl… i’ve since stopped feeling that way about title teams. 

MID-TERMS!?!?!!? Any hot takes 

Super Bowl easy recipes

Mancookgood - Filibuster Freestyle - NFL Playoffs. We give you EASY & DELICIOUS playoff football party recipe ideas. 

Minnesota Vikings - Hot Dish

Philadelphia Eagles - Cheese Steak Nachos

New England Patriots - Italian Grinders

Jacksonville Jaguars Teal Beer, Teal Hamburgers, and Seafood Gumbo

Food Blog, Pulled Pork, Atlanta Flacons, New Orleans Saints, Hot Chicken, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh stealers 

 

NFL playoff teams as Game of Thrones characters

 2018 NFL Playoff teams as GOT characters 

Which fan base Eagles fans hate (of the playoff teams)

Also - playoff teams as game of thrones characters = DOPE idea

Congrats to Dan O’Brien of “Paul is Dead” on winning the Filibuster Freestyle Fantasy Football Championship

Places listening Des Moines, Iowa 

Ashburn VA , Athens Greece #3 

Mountain View, CA new comer in Middletown RI

A Coruna Spain - beautiful Costal / port city in northwestern Spain. 

And Anchorage Alaska - we’re on the crab

Greece, Uk, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland

Ukraine, Kuwait, Lebanon, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka Saudi Arabia and Philippines

New England Patriots - Tyrion Lannister - they know everything, equally hateable and admirable - -but sometimes get too cute for their own good and/ or get beaten in obvious ways

Pittsburgh Steelers - Oberyn Martell - flashy offense could defeat anybody - but ultimately a little too predictable to exploit their faults

Jacksonville Jaguars - Bronn - finding a way to get it done via one or two skills and nothing else. Won’t be surprised if he dies at anytime - but also not surprised that he keeps living

Kansas City Chiefs - Cersei Lannister - one day they seem like geniuses, the next week they seem doomed - can’t figure out the role that they will play at the end of the narrative, but getting the feeling they’ll be central to the story

Tennessee Titans - the Sand Snakes of Dorne  - want to be interested in them, want to see their story become interesting - but in the end, they appear to be fodder for mainstream characters

Buffalo Bills - Theon Greyjoy - they’ve had an un-redeemingly bad run. They sold out their own family (playing games in Toronto), and jumping overboard on Yara aka Tyron Taylor. 

nobody thinks they still belong alive - but they are and they recently came through in their darkest hour. 

Philadelphia Eagles - Daenerys Targaryen- with Carson Wentz - they were seemingly unstoppable- but losing him was like losing Viscerion - only difference is he isn’t now playing for the night’s king (ahem Jimmy G is)

Minnesota Vikings - Jon Snow - seemed like they were left for dead - killed by getting QB’s hurt in practice or during games, only to find out that the answer was within them the whole time - Case Keenum is the unlikely leader of a fierce army in the north

New Orleans Saints - Jamie Lannister - all the skills but one major hindering factor - for Jamie it was losing his hand (or and terrible choice in ladies), for the saints its leaving the dome in cold weather

LA Rams - Arya Stark - have all the tools to be deadly assasins - but very young and maybe not yet ready to defeat everybody

Carolina Panthers - Sam and Gilly ? Boring but potentially important?? Hodor ? One dimensional but effective??? Gendry? Forgotten but possibly a baller ?? Daario Naharis? Flashy yes?! Important two years ago, definitely ? Important now? That remains to be seen

Atlanta Falcons - Brann Stark - all the tools to absolutely destroy everyone in their path - but seem to be missing the ability to harness their powers consistently

Most fan bases hate eagles fans, who in the playoffs do eagles fans hate the most ??

Where was the confidence level before Wentz got injured? Has it ever been higher ?