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00:00What happened to the lights on the Christmas tree in the lobby?
00:04I don't know. They were not on the first day you came in here and said the tree is there.
00:11It's replaced the seating area, and it's lit up.
00:14It wasn't decorated, but the lights were on it.
00:17It was on when we left. The next day when we came back, the lights were off.
00:20That's right. It's not been lit up for days.
00:22So maybe they just tested it to make sure it was working and then turned it off because it's not
00:30time yet.
00:30I don't know. I have no idea what's going on there, but it hasn't been lit up for three days
00:34now.
00:34The lights are still on the tree.
00:36Yeah, the lights are a permanent fixture on the tree.
00:39Yes, but it's not lit up. Somebody just unplugged it.
00:43You want to just go down there and plug it in?
00:45I don't feel like that's a step I need to take.
00:50I think I might do it, but now that we've talked about it, then people would know that it was
00:54I who did it.
00:55Yeah, you don't want that.
00:57But why have the tree and have it not lit up?
01:01Is it a cost issue?
01:03I doubt that it's a cost issue.
01:05Maybe the people that are in charge of it want to wait until all the decorations are on it before
01:11it's lit up.
01:12Because the lights on it alone feel premature.
01:16Who is in charge of that decision?
01:18Because you would look at it and go, why are there just lights on this tree?
01:21Why is it not decorated?
01:24Sam?
01:26I think this is a good theory.
01:27Who's in charge of, like, it's company-wide, right?
01:30It's all the buildings together.
01:32It's the Uniland.
01:33I would imagine that's where the bus stops.
01:35Somebody's job is to decide that?
01:36I guess so.
01:37It would have to be true.
01:39Hi, Sam.
01:40Hi, Mike.
01:41Hi, Bulldog.
01:43I was informed this morning that the local Light Rock station in Chicago is already doing Christmas music on November
01:506th.
01:51Yep.
01:52That's pretty typical.
01:53How's the weather?
01:55It's okay.
01:56I think it's like 50 outside.
01:58It's been gorgeous here for at least a month every day.
02:03It's a little cooler than it was last week, but, like, no snow.
02:09It rained once.
02:10One night it rained.
02:12It rained overnight last night, actually.
02:14Oh, it did?
02:14Oh, yeah.
02:14Okay.
02:15So, I mean, a little bit of rain, but it's been sort of perfect here for a long time.
02:19All right, Sam.
02:20Nice talking to you.
02:21Yes.
02:22What's on your mind?
02:24Sam Paniatovich.
02:25Fox 32 in Chicago.
02:27What's on your mind?
02:28I can't figure out what I'm missing on Monday night.
02:31And you guys know me.
02:33Like, I don't like the obvious plays.
02:34I never do.
02:35I run usually for the hills when I see something fishy.
02:39Why are the Bills only three-point favorites against Minnesota?
02:44Does it – do you want to evoke the Raider game here two weeks ago or three weeks ago,
02:50whenever that was, where they were – what was it, Bulldog, four?
02:53I know you lost on it.
02:54It was like four.
02:55I don't remember the number now.
02:58I'm pretty sure it was four and a half, and that was the backdoor cousins game, right?
03:01But here's my thing, though.
03:03Four and a half and three in the NFL are completely different.
03:06You know, if you're up 10 in the NFL, you go prevent.
03:11You just try to keep everything in front, and guys can put together big drives, you know,
03:16like 15-yard pass, 20-yard pass.
03:19But in this scenario, if Buffalo's up 10 in the final minute, like, you're protected on the three.
03:24Now, you're not going to win if Minnesota gets into the end zone.
03:27You tie if it's 24-21 or 30-27 or whatever.
03:31But, like, the Bills should blow out the Vikings with Carson Wentz.
03:36What's the right answer?
03:38I don't know.
03:39Minnesota's defense, how many points have they given up?
03:41Less than 100.
03:43Mike, they gave up 164 rushing yards in the second half last week.
03:47Like, they're good fundamentally and stylistically, but they're a little overrated, honestly.
03:53Well, you're on Buffalo, it seems.
03:55Or you're nervous about being on Buffalo is what it sounds like because you think the number is fishy.
04:01Right.
04:02Well, I told you guys in the summer, I'm going to this game because I have, you know, an affinity
04:06for both the Bills and the Vikings.
04:08So when I've got the ability to go to a Monday night game, I'm like, yeah, I'm going.
04:12So I've got the Bills.
04:13I got the Bills in pocket already.
04:15And I think I am a little bit nervous.
04:17But, like, this number was three and a half, and then they ruled out Kyler Murray and said, oh, Carson
04:22Wentz is going to start.
04:23And it's like, oh, well, let's just move it down to three.
04:25Like, there's an appetite to bet Carson Wentz in the year of our Lord in 2026.
04:29I think, I mean, listen, from a Bills fan perspective, I feel more worried.
04:37And I know how this sounds because Carson Wentz can look like a crash test dummy a lot of the
04:42time.
04:42And if the Bills can get to him, then they will blow them out because he can't function if pass
04:48rush is getting home.
04:49But they haven't been great.
04:51Russo's been great at that.
04:52The rest of the team is not so great at that.
04:55They get pressure, but, like, get a guy on the ground.
04:59And I feel like Wentz, there's a certain level of, I don't know, aptitude that he's going to know where
05:07to go with the ball.
05:08And the Bills have had trouble covering anyone this year, whereas Murray, to me, if his first read isn't there,
05:14he's going to start running around.
05:16And, you know, the offense just can't function unless he hits a home run play or something.
05:21Wentz, I feel like, play in, play out is more reliable if he stays on his feet, which is a
05:27big if, I know.
05:28But I think this is an improvement for Minnesota off of Murray and myself.
05:32You could be right.
05:34I think the floor is probably a little higher with Wentz.
05:38Right.
05:39Sure, I'll give you that.
05:40I just don't think that Wentz can go blow for blow with Josh Allen.
05:44And, you know, I watched the entire second half of that game because we had the Bears on Monday in
05:51Seattle.
05:52So Sunday we were in the office watching, you know, Lions and Vikings.
05:56And they were just getting whatever they wanted on the ground.
05:59They just bullied them.
05:59Yeah, I look at Buffalo's running attack and the physicality of their offensive line.
06:04And I just feel like they're going to be able to do what they want on the ground.
06:06And then they're going to consistently be in third and short.
06:10And then you can do whatever you want with 17.
06:12I know you're going to talk about this game on Monday.
06:14I'm just like, that's the biggest topical story in Buffalo right now, obviously.
06:18And, like, I wanted to talk this through with you guys.
06:20I'm on Buffalo.
06:21I'm not getting off it.
06:22I doubt, I'm almost sure, that it's not impacting the line whatsoever.
06:27But the left side of their offensive line, Dawkins and Alec Anderson, have yet to practice this week.
06:32It's only the second day today, but they're not on the field practicing, at least according to the early reports
06:39at practice.
06:40So that's something to monitor.
06:43Although, again, I doubt that that's, you know, worth a half a point or something in the line movement like
06:48you're describing.
06:48But that's another thing to be concerned about going into this game.
06:52Like, this is a blitz-heavy, crazy defense, and the left side of my line is, you know, not practicing
06:59yet.
06:59Well, what, you know, Sam, we always look up to you in this area.
07:03What is one to do when this happens, where you just sort of don't get the line?
07:10Do you trust it, or do you sort of get spooked, or what?
07:14Like, this, for me, and again, I'm not a professional, but for me, when I don't understand it, I feel
07:21like I'm in the wrong.
07:22There's something that I should know that I don't know.
07:25I played in a fantasy league with a guy who is really inside, and he killed me.
07:32And I'll never play with him again, because I came away thinking, like, he knows people.
07:38He knows the answers, and I know the ball isn't round, but he knows the answers that I don't.
07:43And so when this happens to me, I sort of want to run away.
07:48Yeah, I try not to get too emotional with it these days.
07:51I used to really get emotional, you know, 10 years ago, 15 years ago, and I started betting and all
07:55that.
07:56So I understand what you're saying.
07:57I just, I try and stick to the math.
07:59And again, at three, flat, minus 110 each way, I'm just not going to overthink it.
08:05Now, if Minnesota wins outright, I will tip my cap.
08:08If, you know, Minnesota decides, say Minnesota's down seven, like, here's my big fear.
08:14This is like therapy.
08:15This is awesome.
08:16Here's my big fear.
08:17Buffalo is up seven.
08:19Final minute.
08:20Minnesota scores and touchdown goes for the win.
08:22You know?
08:23Get it or not, I'm not going to cover.
08:25Like, because it'll be a one-point decision either way.
08:27Like, that's sort of, like, that's what I can envision, I guess.
08:30But I just, I don't have Minnesota highly power rated at all.
08:34I have them as, like, the 14th best team in the NFL.
08:36And I have Buffalo two right now.
08:37So, like, I'm going to lay three with that team on the road.
08:40It's just going to happen.
08:42Shades of UMass.
08:43Too soon, Sam.
08:45Oh, God.
08:45I know, right?
08:46God.
08:47Sam Paniatovich on the Western Hotline.
08:49What else do you like in the NFL this week, Sam?
08:52So, I will be on Carolina.
08:54I took three.
08:55They're at home against Denver.
08:56You know, Denver's in first place.
08:58Denver's really, really good.
08:59Defensively sexy.
09:00They just stopped the big, bad Chiefs at the goal line.
09:03And now they've got to go across the country.
09:05And all they've got to do, guys, is win by three.
09:08Looks so easy.
09:09That's a stinky line, if ever.
09:11You know, Carolina's pretty good defensively.
09:14And I just, I don't like Bo Nix as a road favorite.
09:18I've never really liked that role.
09:20This total says that we're not going to get a ton of offense.
09:23The total's only 44.
09:25And you talk about the room.
09:27This is one of the big five in the room.
09:29Like, 80% of the tickets are on Denver here.
09:32Nobody's betting the Panthers.
09:33But the line has moved from three to two and a half at a ton of books.
09:36So, that's typical NFL right there.
09:39Small home dog.
09:40The line is moving away from the public.
09:43Carolina definitely made my card plus three.
09:46Can we talk Survivor?
09:48Sure, I'm dead, but we can talk about it.
09:51This is your segment.
09:52We probably should just, I'll say it.
09:54No, you're alive, though, right?
09:55How many bullets you got?
09:56Two out of 12.
09:59Jacksonville was two last night.
10:01And I couldn't use them anyway.
10:03I can't use San Francisco.
10:05And I can't use Houston.
10:07There are heavy, there are several good favorites this week.
10:13I don't like the Chiefs at all, Sam, against the Jets.
10:17I think those teams are actually really close.
10:19Even with no Garrett Wilson?
10:21Yeah.
10:22They're flush.
10:24Mitchell, Cooper, Sadiq, Taylor.
10:28They're pretty flush.
10:29Brees all back.
10:31And the other big one I don't like either.
10:35Seattle.
10:36Backup quarterback.
10:38Arizona's kind of plucky.
10:40Did someone else just use that word?
10:41I'm sorry to be repetitive if that happened.
10:43But I've been talking about this a lot.
10:46I think Chicago, unless it's too obvious,
10:50home to Tampa Sunday night is tempting.
10:53Sam?
10:53That was what I was going to say.
10:54And obviously we're playing Survivor.
10:56We're not laying points here.
10:57You know the Ben Johnson primetime stat that I've been talking about for two years now.
11:00The guy's now 19-4-1 against the spread in primetime games when he calls plays.
11:05That's Detroit and Chicago, mind you.
11:08But I don't think the Bucs are going to win the game.
11:12I mean, nobody's confusing Ben Johnson and Todd Bowles.
11:15I get that Bowles is like, you know, he's coaching for his life right now
11:18and the team is kind of fighting, but they're not really good.
11:21They have an awesome running game, but the Bears have Jeffrey Simmons now.
11:25That's going to negate a lot of what they do on the ground.
11:27I would be surprised if Tampa came into Chicago and won the game.
11:31Now, covering the game and winning the game are different stories.
11:34Like, I'm not in love with laying six here, despite the stat I just gave you.
11:39But, I mean, is Baker Mayfield really going to come in
11:42and outplay Caleb Williams in Chicago?
11:44I don't see it.
11:45How about Dallas at the Colts?
11:48The Colts?
11:48Do the Colts have anything to play for?
11:51The only problem is, like, the Dallas defense is so bad.
11:55I mean, like, Jonathan Taylor could have a game, assuming he's still there,
11:59by kickoff, but he doesn't get traded.
12:01I would have a hard time trusting Dallas against anybody.
12:03That's tough.
12:04That's right.
12:05Really.
12:05They always –
12:06Yeah.
12:07I'm waiting – have you used Detroit already?
12:09We can talk about that.
12:11At Miami?
12:13Yeah, I think you could go Chicago-Detroit or double Chicago if you're feeling frisky.
12:18You like the Lions over there?
12:20I do.
12:21Yeah.
12:21In fact, I texted my guy at the bar because I did a reload survivor thing at the bar
12:26that I lost out on the Chargers on in week one, by the way.
12:31That wrapped up last week, so they're relaunching, and Detroit is my pick.
12:35What about the Rams?
12:38At Washington.
12:39There's across the country.
12:40That's all the way across the country.
12:42Denver to Charlotte is, you know, yeah.
12:47L.A. to Washington, if we're going to do it like this, is all the way – end to end.
12:53Sam, what do you think?
12:54The Rams on the road.
12:55I don't like the Rams.
12:56They have underachieved their number all season long.
12:59I mean, they're one of the worst teams against the spread.
13:01Remember, this was a team that was like 4-1, 5-1 to win the Super Bowl.
13:05And, you know, it's no guarantee that they make the playoffs.
13:07It's an old team.
13:08There's not a ton of depth there, you know, after a lot of their heavy hitters.
13:13Like, it's not a deep roster.
13:14And, yeah, I'm looking at the Rams, like 3-5 against the spread.
13:17Nothing special.
13:18So, I don't know.
13:20I think you just ride this Ben Johnson cycle, man.
13:23He's so good in these games.
13:24I think you can trust that guy, and you can trust that team.
13:28What's your favorite play tomorrow?
13:29Or tonight?
13:31Well, the line – so, bare bets we tape on Thursday.
13:34My favorite play was Iowa plus three, but then Northwestern's quarterback got ruled out today.
13:38So, like, that line has completely flipped.
13:40I'll give you an upset.
13:42Missouri's going to beat Texas tomorrow, I think.
13:45Missouri over Texas.
13:46Zach Jones.
13:47Yeah, Texas can't run the ball.
13:50Zach Jones agrees.
13:51Yeah, we have our little pre-talk every week, and he's nervous.
13:53So, that makes me – I mean, not that I want to see Zach cry on a Saturday,
13:57but Texas cannot run the ball.
13:59They have injuries all over the field.
14:01And Missouri's got a really good quarterback.
14:02Plus three at home.
14:04I like Missouri.
14:05Does Texas have a good quarterback?
14:06Have we decided on that?
14:08I don't know.
14:08I don't know yet.
14:09I still don't know.
14:10Man, it's a close one.
14:12All right, Sam, any questions for us?
14:14Are you going to double-barrel Chicago or what?
14:18I'm going to think about it.
14:19Okay.
14:20I have a day, and I will definitely tell you.
14:24Okay.
14:25I won't see you guys in Buffalo or Minnesota, will I?
14:28No.
14:28No.
14:30I've ruled it out.
14:31I'm ruled out for Minnesota.
14:32Yeah, we'll be here doing pre-game.
14:34I've still got to find out how I'm getting to Chicago-Buffalo in December.
14:38I've got to convince my boss I need to get there.
14:40You can see us there, or here, at least.
14:43All right.
14:43Thank you, Sam.
14:44All right, boys.
14:45See ya.
14:45All right, bud.
14:46Sam Paniatovich coming up at three, Sal Capaccio.
14:51Sal's got his own survivor conundrum.
14:54Nine left in his touchdown contest, and he told me that nobody went in last night.
15:00Okay.
15:01So, no basial cuteness.
15:04Chris Rodriguez.
15:06Or Chris Rodriguez.
15:07That would have been a pick.
15:08Like, I mean, I have so many tootin' teams, I got away with it.
15:14That series where he scored to start the first drive.
15:18Yeah, that was.
15:18Yeah.
15:19What's the.
15:19Yeah, I had Rodriguez to score two touchdowns last night, and that one got vultured.
15:24That was Roquan Smith at the goal line, and I, like, how about a replay, Prime?
15:29Can I make sure he's not?
15:31And that's me, because I've got the guy to score twice.
15:33Yeah.
15:34Like, I, you know, assume it was a good call.
15:36The first down was a pass.
15:38The second down was a handoff.
15:39The run down.
15:40Rodriguez was on the field.
15:41Yes.
15:41On first down.
15:42And then they pulled him off after that carry on second down, and then.
15:45And tootin' did the job.
15:46Tootin scored, right.
15:47My guy.
15:47But he ran for 29 yards or something.
15:49He got robbed.
15:50In a blowout.
15:51I was worried about it.
15:52I said it yesterday a lot.
15:53Yeah, yeah.
15:53Like, I didn't really want to play tootin'.
15:55But, you know, I guess you got sort of a par, maybe, a bogey on a tough hole.
16:05Maybe with tootin'.
16:07You score a touchdown, you can't complain.
16:09But it was kind of lucky.
16:10Mike Schopen, the Bulldog, here at WGR.