We have our first head-coach hiring of 2023, as the Panthers turn to former Colts coach and first starting quarterback in Carolina franchise history Frank Reich to come in and get the offense moving. Conor and Gary size up the move, the upgrade for Reich himself after escaping Indianapolis, and the mild disappointment that the Steve Wilks-Ben McAdoo marriage has probably run its course. Then, a look at the Jets’ decision to bring in Nathaniel Hackett as their new offensive coordinator after his one-and-done season in Denver, and continued confusion over what it means to get a Blake Bortles- or Kyle Orton-led offense operating at a league-average level. Also, a look at the conference championship games—how the Eagles’ strength of schedule plays into it, the 49ers’ big question mark offensively, and the Chiefs’ desperate search for answers with an immobile Mahomes—as well as a discussion of Conor’s near-perfect picks so far this postseason. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The NFL’s final four is set, and Conor and Gary are here to talk through just how we arrived here. First, what in the world is happening to the Cowboys at the end of playoff losses? Is there anything fundamentally wrong with this team, or do they simply keep running into a very good 49ers team in the playoffs? And does, theoretically, handing things over to Sean Payton make things any better? Then, the Bills run out of steam against a surgical Joe Burrow who threatens to quietly rule the AFC for the rest of eternity, the Eagles just beat up and beat down the Giants in every imaginable way, and the Chiefs start their search for answers when it comes to building a game plan for a hobbled Patrick Mahomes. Plus, Greg Roman is out as offensive coordinator in Baltimore. What’s next for Roman, the Ravens, and Lamar Jackson? Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Conor and Gary are still sifting through the aftermath of *SUPER* Wild-Card Weekend, including what was likely the end of Tom Brady’s run in Tampa. Assuming he comes back, where does it make sense for him to play in 2023 (and, likely, beyond?). Then, a conversation of three very different outcomes for offensive coordinators. Joe Lombardi, as expected, is out with the Chargers, opening up a chance to work with Justin Herbert in one of the NFL’s most desirable non-head coaching jobs. Byron Leftwich is out in Tampa after a rocky year (and seemingly little public support from his now-former quarterback). And Ben Johnson says “no thanks” to a collection of underwhelming head-coach openings and returns to the Lions for at least one more year. Plus, a discussion of special-teams pressure in light of Brett Maher’s MNF struggles, and a look at the weekend’s Conference Semifinal Games. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Super Wild-Card Weekend is five-sixths of the way done—nobody likes Monday night playoff football!—and Sunday’s and Saturday’s action brought a nice mixture of excitement and regret. Conor and Gary discuss every bit of it. The Ravens once again had Joe Burrow’s number (relatively speaking) and came up with some nice solutions on offense, but also a few of the most mind-bogglingly poor decisions by coaches and/or quarterback. The butt-push that wasn’t, and why the Bengals are glad the Ravens are in the rear-view mirror. Plus, Daniel Jones as the most vindicated-y man in the world, the Bills win ugly in a game that lasted approximately 97 hours, the Jaguars comeback (a fake butt-push!), while the Brandon Staley mistakes are piling up, he should still be the guy for the Chargers (the offensive coordinator on the other hand…), and the 49ers play a meh game and win by 20 points anyway. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It was a relatively quiet Black Monday in the NFL, as only two teams made moves at head coach while three other significant coordinator firings went down. Conor and Gary delve into the situation in Arizona, where Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim are done less than a year after being awarded seven-year extensions. Then a look at Houston, where a head coach went one-and-done for the second consecutive year. Are the Texans ready to function like a professional football franchise? Plus, a discussion of offensive coordinator changes in Tennessee and Washington, and the strange situation for any new defensive coordinator in Cleveland after the Browns move on from Joe Woods. Then, a trip through the NFL playoff bracket, during which Conor makes predictions based on logic while Gary acts like a stubborn jerk. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

That’s a wrap for the regular season, but the entire week was unforgettable across the NFL. Conor and Gary start with an unbelievable opening play in Buffalo, and the Bills pulling it together under unreal circumstances. Also, Conor discusses the time he spent in Western New York last week, as greater Buffalo worked its way through the emotion of Damar Hamlin’s collapse and recovery. Then, the Packers go out in a very familiar way, and Aaron Rodgers leaves the field in a kind of weird way—what does it all mean? Pete Carroll is a hat-wearing playoff coach, Jalen Hurts returns, and the Cowboys (hopefully for their sake) get their January dud out of the way. Plus, the Bengals and the coin flip that wasn’t, the Chargers mangle themselves in a meaningless game, the Jaguars win the AFC South despite one of their worst performances of the year, the Sean Payton-Broncos connection that makes little sense for Sean Payton, and the Bears find themselves in a fascinating spot after clinching the top pick of the draft. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Unless you’re a Bucs or Packers fan, everything you feared came to be in Week 17: The Packers are still alive, the Bucs are going to host a playoff game, and Jarrett Stidham is maybe good, perhaps? Conor and Gary are here to figure things out. First, whether or not anyone should fear the Packers in the event Green Bay gets back to the playoffs, or if it seems like that’s just the stylish thing to say. Plus, the Bucs put up 30 points in clinching the NFC South, but has the offense really figured things out? A conversation of the surprisingly effective Jarrett Stidham performance on Sunday afternoon that fueled Josh McDaniels’s quest for a tie, and the red flag that popped up with the Eagles that has nothing to do with the injured Jalen Hurts. Plus, some branding advice for the Sasquatch. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s a hybrid show on The MMQB NFL Podcast—not quite a review, not quite a preview, but you get a good meal. Conor and Gary do their best to ignore a horrifically boring slate of Week 16 games and instead look to the bigger pictures around the league. And, to do that, it’s a whirlwind trip division by division. On this show: • A discussion of the fallout in Denver, where the Broncos’ new ownership group takes the most predictable and—historically—least effective path toward putting out the five-alarm fire engulfing their organization. • Baker Mayfield’s on-field play has put him back in the discussion for a starting job in 2023. Should he want that? Should anyone want that? • The Packers are back in the playoff hunt. Have they really turned it around though? A search for optimism, but on the defensive side of the ball. • Plus, J.J. Watt’s retirement, the final stages of the Colts’ total collapse, the Bucs continue to hang by an absolute thread, and more. So much more. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Or, upon fact-check, two crazy nights (or days—but depending on time zone it was night somewhere). Conor and Gary discuss three truly unprecedented moments from the Saturday-Sunday slate of games. First, a confused discussion of the most stunning finish to a game… maybe ever? The reaction to Jakobi Meyers’s lateral to nowhere with no time left in a tie game, landing in Chandler Jones’s hands for a game-winning TD. What could have been going through Meyers’s head? Is Rhamondre Stevenson the one who started the fire? And is there any way to pin this back on the Patriots’ insistence on calling 47 screen plays every week? Second, the coolest interception goes for naught, but goes nonetheless in Titans-Chargers. And third, the fallout of the Vikings’ record-breaking comeback against the Colts. Plus, Trevor Lawrence’s ongoing ascension to the elite class, the Lions keep winning but the Jets keep proving they’re good, a couch investigation of the late-game officiating in Giants-Commanders, lots of reminders that you’re two or three big mistakes from losing to anyone, and much more! Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s the small-market show on The MMQB NFL Podcast—or the small-to-mid market show—as Conor and Gary take a trip around the NFL to discuss three QB-centric storylines. First, a refresher course on Desmond Ridder in advance of his first career start, and what to expect in an Arthur Smith offense for the rookie. Also, a discussion of Mariota-gate after a strange couple of days during which he may or may not have left the team following his demotion. Then, trying to figure out what in the world the Cardinals were thinking in regards to their roster-building, Troy Aikman shade, and the disaster it spells if Kyler Murray is going to miss even some of 2023. Finally, it’s time to see how the Dolphins offense adjusts to the adjustments. And time to find out just what Tua Tagovailoa does when he’s taken out of his comfort zone. Fans of the Eric Carle classic Pancakes, Pancakes! know what we’re talking about. Or not. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy