E can't pick Tom Brady this week.

That bad man on When it comes to Aaron Rodgers, who I believe to be the greatest talent at the quarterback position ever.

I usually don't do this.

There are exceptions to everything on, and Aaron Rodgers qualifies, as did accept.

Wow, I'm rolling with who I believe.

Unbelievable.

The greatest talent at the quarterback position ever joining us now?

Ah, Hall of Famer.

Ah, three time Super Bowl champion winning quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys.

He's also a lead analyst for the NFL on Fox and will be on the call for the NFC Championship game between the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This weekend's Let's Bring in the one and only Troy Aikman.

Troy.

How you doing, buddy?

How's everything?

Yes, Dallas Cowboys on my show and I have no problem with it.

How you doing, man?

How you doing?

Uh, Steven, I'm doing great.

Thanks for having me.

Thank you for being here.

Let's get right to it.

This is a big time matchup.

Tom Brady.

Aaron Rodgers, Tampa Bay vs Green Bay.

You'll be calling that game.

Talk to me about what you think.

The keys to this game to the keys to this contest is this weekend.

Well, you know Stephen A.

The reason that these teams air in this game is because they're both playing with a lot of confidence and playing really good football, especially Tampa Bay.

This is the best that they've played all season long, and then what Green Bay has been able to do coming off that big win against the Rams.

I I think this game, like so many playoff games and it sounds pretty cliche, is who's able to protect the football?

I know that.

You know, Jimmy Johnson used to always say to us before big games like this, that it's not who makes the most big plays.

That's who makes the fewest bad plays and you go back to that Week six matchup between these two teams.

Tampa Bay was able to run Green Bay right out of the stadium early in that game, primarily because of the turnovers in the interceptions that Aaron Rodgers had, and and that's something that he doesn't do very often.

So I expect this to be a really good football game when I look at the Green Bay Packers, one of the things that I saw just watching them because we all know that the Rams defense was big time.

But I just watched Aaron Rodgers the chemistry with the Davante Adams and how glowingly he speaks about that guy.

They've got a running game now.

They're Scantlin along, along with Lazard and others, he seems tohave the necessary weapons.

How do you feel about his supporting cast this year compared to last year?

Well, I think there's, I think these players have really grown this year, and and I think it's a group outside of Davante Adams that has has not gotten their do, quite honestly, Stephen A.

I mean, you said it.

I think that what?

Alan was already missed a lot this season.

But when he's been healthy, he's a good player.

They're they're different types of receivers.

These these air big receivers that can run and they could do some things.

And then Davante Adams could could do anything he wants.

He can get down the field and get open, you know, in the slot.

He's got it all.

But as you mentioned, I think one of the real keys for them.

It was the key to our success back when I was playing is they can play whatever game you want him to play.

If, if you're going to play coverage like the Rams did last week, they're able to run the football.

And if you come up and try to play the run, then they have the big playability down the field.

So it really puts the defense in a quandary.

Transition a little bit to Tom Brady from this perspective, your last year in the league.

If I remember correctly, you were 34 years old.

This man is 43 he's got them in the NFC championship game.

Hiss.

First year out of New England, how do you put into words in terms of your perspective?

What Tom Brady has done it, what you Yeah, and what's interesting?

And I think you could say that about both these quarterbacks, that there was a time where it was really basketball, where you could bring in a LeBron James or Kobe Bryant and then go to the N B.

A finals.

And in football it wasn't like that, and I don't think it totally is, But it really does.

I think when you consider what Tom Brady is done for Tampa and him going there, and just the confidence that he has permeated throughout that building, I think is huge.

I think he's just raised the expectations and the level of play of all of those players around him.

And as this season has gone along, he was getting hit a lot and I didn't feel that.

I didn't feel he had the outlets that he had in New England when when he was under pressure in his ability to get the ball out of his hands.

And I think that over the course of the season, they've given him or of those opportunities.

And so now he has outlets.

He has places to go with the football.

He doesn't turn it over.

He doesn't take sacks, but it hasn't taken away their ability for the big place.

They're still the best in the game, and that's something that Bruce Arians, of course, has been known for throughout his coaching career.

Now, Troy, don't laugh at me for saying this because I never played football and obviously I don't like to get hit.

I never played football, but I will say this to you.

Not only do I not want to get hit Troy Aikman, I wouldn't want to get hit in cold weather.

I believe that going the Lambeau Field in Wisconsin, it could be very detrimental for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because you're used to being in Florida, and now you're going to Lambeau Field in January.

You combine that Antonio Brown.

We're learning he's not.

He's probably not gonna be playing this game because of the knee injury he sustained.

How much of a disadvantage does that put Tampa at for this game?

I I think it is a factor.

I do agree with that.

And I also know that Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, I mean, no one likes playing in the cold.

I think Rodgers has talked about how he likes playing at home.

There's a lot that goes into that.

You know, of course, you've got the fans.

Typically, they're gonna have about 8500 there for this game.

But the Packers believe that they have an advantage and I think that they do.

I think in this year of the pandemic it's the Onley riel Home field advantage any team might have is the weather.

But considering that Tom Brady played in New England, he's a custom.

You know, a lot of times when you get these warm weather teams, they don't really know what toe wear in the cold.

Stephen A.

So there's a bit of a try.

A Where is the Packers?

They practice in it.

They're in it each week, this time of year that they know exactly what they need to wear.

Rogers knows exactly what's gonna work for him, but Brady does is well, and and the real key then is being able to keep your hands warm with skill player positions.

And so I don't see this.

Being as big of a factor is what you would generally look at when you see a team coming from Florida having go play in the Midwest and I just want to get you on the record, I just want to get you on the record here.

Are you saying that thermal underwear and thermal socks that might not be good enough at Lambeau Field?

You gotta know specifically what toe we're.

Is that what you're telling me?

Troy Aikman, Well, what?

I'm what I'm telling you.

That's not just strictly for the players.

I mean, we broadcast It's the coldest booth in in the in the league.

And I'm sure what I'm gonna wear yet for this game.

I'm not worried about how I'm going to stay warm.

Then I am for any of these players I got you.

Let me transition before I let you get on out of here.

I know you're not calling the A F C Championship game, obviously, but Patrick Mahomes is expected.

We were anticipating he's gonna play your A person that suffered from concussions in your career.

We know what happened to him last week.

How much of an impact you expect that toe have on his game?

If it all this Sunday against the Buffalo Bills?

Yeah, I don't I don't I don't think it will.

I mean, it's a different time where they've got to go through some real protocols and and meet certain requirements before they're allowed to go out and play.

Whereas for us, I think we could count to 10.

We were back out there playing, and e.

I never missed a game after a concussion.

That I suffered.

I was always playing the next week and eso I expect to like you said, I expect Patrick Mahomes to play, and I don't think it will be a factor whatsoever.

Your thoughts about the combo that has been Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs this year.

They've been incredibly impressive.

Talk to me about that real quickly.

Been amazing.

Yeah, Josh Allen, The year that he's had what he's done, he's terrific.

He's been.

It's really an exciting team.

Toe watch.

I think they're the one team that can really give Kansas City some problems.

We had that game earlier in the season, and Kansas City ran the football really well in that regular season game.

But Stefon Diggs has has given has given Josh Allen just another weapon along with Cole Beasley, and they're they're really talented.

He's terrific.

Stefon Diggs.

I remember watching Tape 111 week years ago of another opponent, and as I'm watching this defense, this number 14 for the Vikings kept popping up.

I finally, who is this guy?

It was his rookie year, Stefon Diggs, and he's been lighting up the league ever since, one of the best to ever do it.

Not just on the field, but clearly in the booth as well.

And he's a cowboy, and I'm still saying that the one and only Troy Aikman.

I appreciate you, buddy.

Thank you, man.

You got a brother, all right.