He still believes.

He has (very) high praise for the Buffalo Bills’ embattled young receiver.

When in the Bay Area, you know we’ve got to catch up again with Stevie Johnson. We’ve covered his immense impact on both the position and the Bills in 2021, and then welcomed Johnson onto rip-roarin’ Happy Hours in 2022 and 2023. From Radio Row here in San Francisco at Super Bowl LX, I chatted with Johnson on a host of topics…

* Igniting a flame in WNY. He saw the need for fun.

* How he helped revolutionize the position… with the help of a few friends. Young receivers across the NFL say Johnson changed the sport with his inventive route running.

* How he learned to cook Darrelle Revis.

* Keon Coleman. How can the Bills receiver turn it on in Year 3?

* Separation. It’s been a problem for Coleman, but Johnson sees a solution.

* Out is Sean McDermott. In is Joe Brady. We get his thoughts on the state of the Bills.

Video and audio is available here as well as Apple, Spotify, everywhere you pod.

ICYMI, Go Long also sat down with Brandon Beane and Pete Guelli to guide you through the search for new head coach Joe Brady. Both had a lot to say.

Subscribers can access everything from Super Bowl Week.

Thank you for reading and sharing with a friend. We’re powered by you.

The Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams staged a thriller of an NFC title game.

New England trudged through the snow with a tick more precision than the Jarrett Stidham-led Broncos.

We dissect both conference title games here on “Real Football” with co-host Jim Monos.

New here? Monos was an area scout for the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints before spending four seasons as the director of personnel for the Buffalo Bills. We discuss ‘n debate everything you saw on Sunday: Sean Payton going for it on fourth down, the Rams’ special teams disaster, Sam Darnold’s finest hour and Mike Vrabel’s dominant defense. (What a rebuild it’s been.)

Of course, here in Western New York, the Buffalo Bills’ search for a new head coach is heating up. They’ve interviewed a slew of candidates, from Brian Daboll to Grant Udinski. A decision could be made soon. After all, whoever’s the new head coach will need to flesh out a staff.

What is it like inside these interviews? Monos shares his experiences.

Also, we expand on the need for the Bills to sync up Josh Allen with a new coach. It’s crucial. It’s been missing.

This entire 74-minute episode is available to paid subscribers. No ads, no sponsors. We’re powered by YOU. Thank you for your patronage.

You can access this episode in its entirety above and inside the Substack app. If you prefer to listen on Apple or Overcast, bang it here to sync your account. Instructions on syncing on Spotify are also here.

Miss the three stories last week? Links here…

* Hunt for QB-HC harmony: Why Josh Allen is sitting in these meetings

* ‘What is success?’ The truth hurts...

* Why was Sean McDermott Fired?

Past episodes of Real Football:

* Sean McDermott is out, Brandon Beane is promoted... now what?

* Mile High Moment of Truth

* Wild Card Extravaganza!

* Soul-searching time for Chiefs & Bengals

* Your move, C.J. Stroud

* It’s Not Sunny in Philadelphia

* An Epiphany in Buffalo

* What’s wrong in Buffalo?

* Meet the NFL’s 2025 Party Crashers

Crushing playoff losses have consequences in the NFL.

Especially when those losses stack up to this extreme.

On Tuesday AM, we published this piece on why the Buffalo Bills finally moved on from Sean McDermott after nine seasons. Thank you to everyone who has subscribed and looked back at our three-parter (now unlocked) from December 2023.

What a perfect time to record an episode of “Real Football” with co-host Jim Monos. For those who don’t know, Monos served as the Bills’ director of personnel from May 2013 through 2017 after scouting for the Eagles and Saints. He and Doug Whaley led the search to hire McDermott once upon a time. On this episode — exclusive to our paid subscribers — Monos offers sharp perspective on everything.

He brings his experience from living a week like this himself and I share some more reporting from sources around the former Bills head coach.

We examine all angles of this decision and drive it forward. Urgency is high. Josh Allen isn’t getting any younger, the New England Patriots are back, it was high time for a change at One Bills Drive.

Go Long subscribers can access this episode in its entirety above and inside the Substack app. If you prefer to listen on Apple or Overcast, bang it here to sync your account. Instructions on syncing on Spotify are also here.

Greatly appreciate you all for watching and listening. We don’t rely on ads or sponsors around here. All stories and podcasts are completely powered by you. On the free list? Interested in accessing this pod and all coverage in full? Subscribe here.

And if you’re enjoying your time at Go Long, we’d love it if you shared the word with a friend.

Past episodes of Real Football:

* Mile High Moment of Truth

* Wild Card Extravaganza!

* Soul-searching time for Chiefs & Bengals

* Your move, C.J. Stroud

* It’s Not Sunny in Philadelphia

* An Epiphany in Buffalo

* What’s wrong in Buffalo?

* Meet the NFL’s 2025 Party Crashers

Of course, this one boiled down to more theatrics.

These 2025- ‘26 Chicago Bears know no other way.

Once again, Caleb Williams made a few mistakes throughout the course of the game. But once again, Caleb Williams supplied a throw for the ages. His touchdown to Cole Kmet at the end of regulation is one of the best our Bob McGinn has ever seen.

Here on your weekly NFC North pod, we analyze everything Bears-Rams and look ahead. Year 1 did not go well for Williams but — without question — the young QB accepted Ben Johnson’s hard coaching and supplied hope for the future. This division will be a lot of fun.

Go Long subscribers can access this episode in its entirety above and inside the Substack app. If you prefer to listen on Apple or Overcast, bang it here to sync your account. Instructions on syncing on Spotify are also here.

On our free list? Looking to upgrade? You can subscribe here.

Also, here is my piece on the firing of Sean McDermott.

Looking forward to a Happy Hour discussion tonight. Join me at 8 p.m. (EST).

You heard from the Texans defenders. That’s one nickname Calen Bullock, Kamari Lassiter and the gang kicked around. A simple “SWARM” works, too.

This week, Drake Maye assured us all in Foxborough that he understands what’ll happen if he tries to escape the pocket to gain yards against this Houston unit.

“Those guys, especially at the linebacker level, they’re trying to take your head off. … They tackle the ball carrier hard and they’ll make you pay for it.”

There will be blood on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. This is — without a doubt — the greatest test yet for New England’s 23-year-old wunderkind.

Let’s welcome back the excellent Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston to see how Maye and the Patriots will counter the best defense in the NFL. Phil hosts The Next Pats Podcast and co-hosts Tom Curran's Patriots Talk. Absolutely love learning everything we can from Phil.

Video and audio is above.

You can also catch this episode on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

OUTLAWS:

* Part I: ‘We want you to remember when you played the Texans’

* Part II: Why Azeez Al-Shaair and these Houston Texans ‘savages’ seek and destroy

Links:

* ‘Who’s willing to shed blood?’ Hard coaching makes a comeback

* ‘We’re savages:’ The Houston Texans’ defense aims for history

* Mark your calendar: Isaiah McKenzie is BACK for an NFL Playoffs Happy Hour

* Real Football: Mile High Moment of Truth

* Ty & Bob S4 E17: Autopsy look at the Green Bay Packers’ wild-card calamity in Chicago

* Hall of Fame pits greats against each other

* And then there were EIGHT: On Cole Bishop & Bills D delivering, Caleb/Maye, John Schneider’s mastery, more

* Matt LaFleur, the Green Bay Packers and the art of a choke

* It’s Year 9. The Bills (again) have the talent to reach the Super Bowl, but will they?

Logic points to a Denver Broncos win. They’re the team that’s rested, the team coached by a Super Bowl champ with two weeks to prepare. Playing one mile above sea level is a challenge itself. Let alone when your roster is still banged up.

Logic, however, often does not apply to Josh Allen.

Bills-Broncos kicks off the divisional round of the NFL playoffs this Saturday.

Here on “Real Football,” we take a close look at the matchup. Jon Scott of WGRZ-TV subs in for Jim Monos this week. We get into everything…

* Josh Allen’s toughness. It’s the trait nobody discusses nearly enough, but it’s infectious.

* Is this Keon Coleman’s shining moment?

* The D made the play in the moment at Jacksonville. Can Sean McDermott’s unit do it again?

* Brandon Beane’s roster construction. We explored ahead of the postseason. The firepower at receiver is lacking, but the Bills GM evolved the offense for a road trip like this one.

* Joe Brady the run-game coordinator vs. Joe Brady the pass-game coordinator.

* If the Bills lose, will there be repercussions?

* Tony Romo is back to narrate another Bills game. (It was rough last week.)

* What do the Denver Broncos do best? Like champs past, they’ve got a pass rush.

* Predictions.

Thank you for subscribing, listening and watching.

The best place to catch all podcasts is at GoLongTD.com and inside the Substack app. If you prefer to listen on Apple over Overcast, bang it here to sync your account. Instructions on syncing on Spotify are also here.

My plan here in Foxborough is to talk Patriots-Texans with one of the top beat writers/podcasters in the market today. Keep an eye out for that discussion. Here’s the Ty & Bob Pod on everything Packers-Bears. And Thursday night, former Bills receiver Isaiah McKenzie will hang out with subscribers on a virtual Happy Hour.

Of course, we’ll have stories from 1 Patriot Place, too.

Subscribers can always access every story and every podcast at Go Long. New here?

Current members, thank you sharing the word.

Past episodes of Real Football:

* Wild Card Extravaganza!

* Soul-searching time for Chiefs & Bengals

* Your move, C.J. Stroud

* It’s Not Sunny in Philadelphia

* An Epiphany in Buffalo

* What’s wrong in Buffalo?

* Meet the NFL’s 2025 Party Crashers

Our Bob McGinn has covered the NFL since 1979.

He’s seen a lot of playoff football.

What happened at Soldier Field in this year’s wild-card round — without a doubt — ranks near the top of the Green Bay Packers’ most gutting defeats of all-time. I wrote on Matt LaFleur and the second-half choke. Now, it’s time for a full two-hour dissection of this 31-27 …

We’re back. Real Football returns to break down all six playoff games this weekend.

What a joy to talk ball with Jim Monos, our Super Bowl champion scout.

Wild Card Weekend always brings madness. Favre to Sharpe. Music City Miracle. Jerry Rice fumbled. “We want the ball and we’re going to score.” Niners-Giants. Tony Romo’s butterfingers. Beast Quake. Tebowmania. Rodgers vs. Warner. The Comeback. We can fully expect theatrics Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Secure your beverage of choice and clear the calendar.

Sorry, kids. No Bluey this weekend.

You know where we’ve got to start the show: Bills at Jaguars. It’s been Super Bowl or Bust for a while in Western New York. That’s the reality of the situation when you’re quarterbacked by a future Hall of Famer. These Bills could certainly lose to a solid Jags club on the road. These Bills could also go scorched earth behind a reigning MVP, the NFL’s rushing champ and win the whole damn thing. We try to make sense of this team at this time.

(Spoiler: You’ll want to stick around for talk on the long-term direction of the Bills at the end of this week’s show.)

We also dissect everything Rams-Panthers, Packers-Bears, 49ers-Eagles, Chargers-Patriots and Texans-Steelers.

Drake Maye — a unique talent — is on an MVP trajectory. Justin Herbert faces his latest show-me game.

You all know what I think about this savage Texans defense from our latest project. It’s an unapologetically suffocating bunch. Now, you can get Monos’ take. He forecasts a Steeler surprise Monday night. (Of course just a few weeks after we all killed this team, right?)

Go Long is fueled by all of YOU. I cannot thank everyone enough for reading, listening, watching and sharing with a friend.

New here? We’d love to have you join our community.

Past episodes of Real Football:

* Soul-searching time for Chiefs & Bengals

* Your move, C.J. Stroud

* It’s Not Sunny in Philadelphia

* An Epiphany in Buffalo

* What’s wrong in Buffalo?

* Meet the NFL’s 2025 Party Crashers

ICYMI…

OUTLAWS, Part I: ‘We want you to remember when you played the Texans’

OUTLAWS, Part II: Why Azeez Al-Shaair and these Houston Texans ‘savages’ seek and destroy

ICYMI:

Ty & Bob Pod S4 E16: It’s Packers vs. Bears, Round Three

Of course, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears meet again.

Round 1 and Round 2 were both a wild ride.

Round 3 — Saturday night on NFC Wild Card Weekend — will no doubt boil down the final drive again. We get you primed for the matchup here on the “Ty & Bob Pod.” Go Long started this season with a close look at those Bears. From Day 1, new coach Ben Johnson was uniquely positioned to right so many wrongs at Halas Hall. The GM might’ve laughed this year’s likely MVP (Drake Maye) off the screen but Johnson’s been able to get the most out of Caleb Williams by coaching hard.

Which quarterback brings their A game in this one: Williams (in Playoff Start No. 1) or Jordan Love (after missing 2 1/2 games)?

We delve into everything NFC North. Packers-Vikings was a farce, but Matt LaFleur might’ve discovered a big body (or two) who can help his sagging run defense. Speaking of LaFleur, does he need to win a playoff game to earn an extension? We discuss.

No team wants to lose four straight games into the playoffs. The vibes are bad.

Yet? Green Bay is much healthier this time around at Soldier Field. That’s got to mean something.

Lions-Bears was surprising to most, but not this Dan Campbell-loving pod. Of course, he had his team ready to fight. Unfortunately, this season was chockfull of woulda, coulda, shouldas for Detroit. After sleepwalking much of the evening, the Bears showed again they refuse to quit.

Finally, we wrap up with a “McGinn Memory” on the firing of Bart Starr as the Packers’ head coach. I sat down with Starr in Alabama for this piece in 2013. He wishes he never coached at all. McGinn shares fascinating insight into his dismissal.

Watch or listen to this episode in full above and inside the Substack app. (If you prefer to listen on Apple or Overcast, bang it here to sync your account. Instructions on syncing on Spotify are also here.)

Meet the most ruthless defense in the NFL, the Houston Texans.

Azeez Al-Shaair and the gang do not hold back. They plan to bring the pain.

* OUTLAWS, Part I: ‘We want you to remember when you played the Texans’

* OUTLAWS, Part II: Why Azeez Al-Shaair and these Houston Texans ‘savages’ seek and destroy

There’s no defense in football quite like the Houston Texans. This is a team that wants you to hurt.

What a fun time it was getting to meet all of these personalities.

Our series, “OUTLAWS,” icymi:

Part I: ‘We want you to remember when you played the Texans’

Part II: Why Azeez Al-Shaair and these Houston Texans ‘savages’ seek and destroy

Here’s a solo pod to discuss a little more and look ahead to the wild card games.

Be on the lookout for podcasts with Bob McGinn and Jim Monos later this week, too.

Thanks, all.