Ross Tucker is doing Texans-Chiefs for Westwood One on Saturday, so he’ll probably be ‘in a bar in Kansas City somewhere with Kevin Harlan’ watching Commanders-Lions…and he’s got an interesting prop for the night?
“I went in on a bet with my Even Money betting podcast partner: under six punts for Washington-Detroit,” Tucker told G&D Tuesday. “Usually the number is eight or 8.5 for a normal game, sometimes nine, but you've got two electric offenses, and Dan Quinn and Dan Campbell, they hate punting! They love going for it on fourth down. I don't really have a rooting interest in the game, but now that I'm in on the under six punts, I can’t wait to watch your game just rooting for points, cheering on the Dans to go for it on fourth down, and no punts!”
Ross was promoting FutureFans.com, a site run by Bengals fans who have put together activity books to help younger kids understand football to watch with the parents, something we can really identify with here in a generational football town like DC.
Those Washington Commanders are heavy underdogs on the road Saturday night, but don’t count them out!
“They’re playing loose and free, and that's why teams like this sometimes in the playoffs can be dangerous. We've seen runs like this over the years, like the Jaguars and Panthers going to championship games their second years as a franchise,” Tucker said. “There are times when a team that's kind of young, doesn't know any better, has confidence, and is just going out there and playing, and that’s wht the most important aspect of this to me is that the Commanders get off to a fast start. You want to get off to a fast start and just hang in there so that in the second half, if it’s a one-score game, there’s tension in the stadium, and Lions fans and players and coaches are starting to look up at the scoreboard, starting to wonder what the heck's going on because they’re the Super Bowl favorites – so why can’t we shake this team?”
Tucker’s family lives in Montgomery County, and he was telling G&D how excited he’s seen them for this run, which just goes to show how the Commanders have invigorated the whole area.
Imagine if they actually do pull the upset and head to either Philly or Los Angeles (or maybe Arizona) for an NFC Championship Game in Year 1 of the Peters/Quinn era? Tucker says Have 5, Have a Chance.
“I want this for you guys so, so badly, and the fact that they won a playoff game, the only road team and lower seed to win?” Tucker marveled.
“The thing that's most encouraging moving forward is Jayden Daniels is not just good, he's clutch. There are certain quarterbacks that put up awesome numbers, but when it comes to late in games or playoff games, they're not usually at their best for whatever reason. Then there’s the opposite – Joe Montana, Tom Brady – and what I’ve seen from Daniels, in that second half, and the fourth quarter against the Eagles and Falcons, are you kidding me? You run the clock out with 4:41 to kick the game-winning field goal? He's got it. He's not just a Top 10 quarterback, he’s got the late in the game, big game gene that you really need to have a chance to do special things in future years. Washington players know that in any situation, we have the guy who can get it done.”
Listen to Tucker’s entire visit, as he discusses Dan Quinn’s influence and why that’s a key to success and the rest of Divisional Weekend!