3 & Out - Previewing the Christmas Games, are the Bears actually a good team, Who is to BLAME in Baltimore

Merry Christmas to everybody. No show on Christmas night. The games don’t move the needle, so I’m spending the evening with family. We’ll go live Saturday night on YouTube and then roll into a normal Sunday and Monday. Today it’s a tight mailbag with a few quick hits on the holiday slate.

Christmas picks, rapid fire. I like Dallas big because Dak’s been top tier all season and Washington’s secondary can’t hold up. I’m laying it with Detroit against a banged up Minnesota, and I expect Denver to cruise in the night game with Sutton a good look for a touchdown.

Saturday leans. I like the Texans getting points at the Chargers. I also love Green Bay to handle business against the Ravens and win by a margin.

Quick note before the questions. I watched that Elway doc, and it was a reminder you can’t compare eighties and nineties quarterbacking to today. Quarterbacks used to get crushed on routine plays. Now you’re protected from being driven into the ground, and defenders think twice over the middle. That safety net lets a veteran like Philip Rivers play free. Football’s still violent, but not for quarterbacks the way it was.

Q: Are the Bears being overhyped as a live dog? A: It’s a weird, charmed season. They win crazy games and then everyone forgets they were down late. They could win multiple playoff games or get bounced right away. This week they have a huge rest advantage over the 49ers. If it’s Packers at Bears on wild card weekend, that’s instant prime time.

Q: What to make of the Ravens’ late-game collapse and Harbaugh’s role? A: Pulling your second-best offensive player was a mistake, but the defense also gave up explosives and got picked on. Harbaugh could be a live-fire candidate if this keeps up. Tenures aren’t marriages. After a long run, sometimes it’s time to pivot.

Q: Could Philip Rivers’ late run sink Daniel Jones’ next deal? A: You can’t justify franchising or paying Jones real money off injury and uneven play. Rivers is flat-out better. Jones’ agents won the last negotiation, but this time the market isn’t there. The Colts are in a strange spot.

Q: Why do Purdy, Bo Nix, and Caleb get treated differently? A: They’re all polarizing. Caleb can be inaccurate in a league built for easy completions, but he’s clutch and makes big-time plays. I’d take Drake Maye over Caleb straight up. Think Cam’s playmaking range, a lesser Deshaun, or the best version in Russell. Everyone gets nitpicked now, even Mahomes.

Q: Should the Vikings offer a mountain of picks for Burrow? A: The Bengals aren’t trading him, and you can only ship so many firsts anyway. It’s a non-starter. The Vikings are in a tough spot with quarterback health and development. That injury on the free rusher was brutal.

Q: Fire McDermott and hire Robert Saleh if the Bills fall short? A: That’s a lateral move. McDermott consistently fields playoff teams. The bigger problem is roster construction. They’re a little small and the wideout pick has been inactive too often. Personnel, not coaching, is the letdown.

Q: Should the Lions rebuild both lines around Sewell and Hutch? A: Easier said than done with so many stars due real money. Premium linemen are scarce, and rookies aren’t plug-and-play on contending teams. The DB injuries have been killer. The good news is you still have elite playmakers.

Q: Coach of the Year? A: I lean Ben Johnson, with Kyle in it if the 49ers lock the one seed. Vrabel’s done a great job, but Drake Maye has powered that surge and Mike isn’t coaching him. Awards are nice, but the context matters.

Q: Can the 49ers ride a one seed to the Super Bowl? A: Win the next two at home and you’ve got a bye and two more at Levi’s. If they take this week, I’m convinced they can win the NFC. A Super Bowl at Levi’s would be wild. The defense is still the swing factor.

Q: Why the backward hat on the show art? A: We grabbed a photo years ago. West Coast culture is looser on dress codes, and I’m bald so the hat helps. Different jobs, different rules. Bank CEOs wear suits; founders wear hoodies. I’m a podcaster. All right, enjoy the holidays and we’ll see you Saturday night.