The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1484 - TOP 5: SUPER WILDCARD RECAP

Episode Date: January 12, 2026

On today's show, Pat, Darius Butler, and the boys break down the biggest storylines from Super Wildcard weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ladies and gentlemen, we got five headlines coming out of Super Wild Car Weekend that you need to hear. Five things that we think really stole the headlines. Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for top five driven by Ram trucks. Listen, when you hit the gas pedal on a ram truck, the only sign you hear is, you know, they're getting back in the NASCAR truck race. That's right. What have you said about NASCAR truck racing in the past? It's arguably my favorite thing ever, and that was before rams were out there on the dirt.

track, so I can't wait. I forget when it actually is starting, but I've been basically waiting every night for this to happen. Yeah, and we're not 100% sure if it has already happened. Yeah, correct. 19 days, right? If your counter is right out there. Okay.

Well, we don't know, though, because that's good, power goes out. It's an hour. Yeah, it might be 100 days. Nine could be a zero. You're right. Whatever the case. This is driven by Ram. Let's get to number five, shall we? The Chicago Slight. A cold handshake after a crazy comeback.

What a win for the Ben Johnson-led Bears. Everything that Ben has kind of preached about mental toughness and his team has shown fourth quarters, they've been outrageous. Everything he has tried to build so quickly over there in Chicago comes to spotlight in the super wildcar round against NFC North rival for a long time, the Green Bay Packers. Packers up by a lot. Kickin shit eyes, Chicago Bears.

I'm texting Chicago Bears fans saying, Just like we said, just like we said, you thought Ben Johnson was going to be able to go in there in one year and create an actual winner. Whenever push comes a shelf, you play a good team, you're going to lose. We already played the Packers. We already beat them. Doesn't matter.

Bears can't get it done in the playoffs. A lot of people thought that. Turns out they can. You know who can't? The Packers. Oh. Green Bay Packers, owner. I shouldn't say that.

Matt LaFleur can't get it done in the playoffs. Whoa. Wouldn't that be the Green Bay Packers? I saw he's potentially going to be maybe a negotiation. to sign a new one with a Green Bay Packers. Yeah, yeah, we'll see. No, but, I mean, you hit the nail on the head. It's like the Bears have been doing this all year long.

And kudos to Ben Johnson for dropping his nuts on the table, not only at his opening press conference and kind of starting this whole thing off and saying, like, you know what, I enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year. I can't wait to do that again. And then just kind of all the back and forth that led up to the game. Like, he knew he was going to get crucified. He would have got killed if that would have been the end result. You know, they just played flat the whole game, but he is an unbelievable coach and his team believes in him and we saw it happen.

Yeah, and not only believes in him, what Caleb Williams becomes late in these games is outrageous. Let's go to 537, 2716. Caleb's down 11 at home. This is going to be his legacy. Jesus. Cross body on the run, one leg off ground, one falling into a bucket, fourth and eight pickup, extends the game, keeps it alive and has play a season as he's jumping out of a sec. I mean, you're talking about Caleb's shit in the NFL here. Now, I did see a couple people tweeting about people wondered if he was going to be able to do this like he was able to do in college in the NFL. I was one of those people. I had no idea if he was going to be able to do stuff like this against grown men who are all the best in the history of the game at one time.

He certainly can't. His arm strength is outrageous, outlandish, I would say, with how strong he throws the rock. And then obviously his ability to move is crazy. Third and ten now after they pick up the first down. Debutt, they always got to. it when they needed it, especially in the biggest moments. Yeah, the three times these two teams played, it always kind of came down to the end. We had the interception in the two games where he made big time plays down the stretch.

But this is what he did all season long for the Bears. Already six, fourth quarter comeback wins leading into this game. Now seven, including the playoffs, which is most in Bears history already. He's kind of already up there when you talk about Bears, all-time quarterbacks. But, I mean, just these throws, Colston Loveland, he's been unbelievable, especially down the stretch. Had to go for two, obviously, to make it a three-based. point game. Oh my God. Are they going to erase 11 points in four minutes? Are the Chicago Bears at home going to be able to do what Jordan Love says, not on my watch.

Dime to dog. Damn. Is the greatest guardian cap wearer in the history of football? Yes. Yeah. He's the best player. That thing is everywhere. I see it. And he, hey, whatever protects your brain, whatever makes you comfortable, you do what you've got to do. But it does stick out. And he always seemingly is making big plays. What a catch. What a throw. Get some in a field goal range. All right, let's at least make them have to go down the entire film and get a touchdown. Brandon McManus, former Super Bowl champion, reliable normally, not this year as much for Green Bay misses his second field goal of the night. Yeah, I mean, this is the shit that drives you insane because I've been saying this for weeks now. He's three of nine on field goals over 40 yards

this year. So, I mean, they knew that was an issue going into the game, really knew that was an issue. And guys won a Super Bowl. He's been there. He's done that. I will stick up for McMannis. Now, on that note, he makes the 50-some yarder timeout, hits it again, misses it seems to move a little bit more. This ball feels like it was out down the middle, moves way to the right. Extra point miss, obviously becomes a huge crash. He had his worst game, I think I've ever seen Brandon McManus have in the Super Wild Car weekend against Chicago Bears. Yeah, but, and, you know, again, you don't want to just shit on him because he has had his moments in Green Bay, but, like, he hasn't been good this year. He just hasn't.

And that's kind of where you're sitting, like, and I don't even want to say that because honestly, yes, he misses that extra point. Packers drive down the field at the end of the game. He's not making that field goal to tie it. The way that the game was going, they had to score a touchdown. He's just not sorry. But, yeah, you know, you leave seven points out on the field in a playoff game. Yeah.

That's usually going to come back and bite you in the ass. On the road. You might as well go ahead and call it a couple of turnovers. Then third and four. the Bears going to answer in front of a crowd that was insane. Very quiet, obviously, didn't have much of cheer for it for a long time. Then this fourth quarter, Chicago Bears fans, awesome performance, I would like to say. Incredibly loud, wildly into it, and it felt electric through the television.

First and 10, down three. What's Caleb going to do? Pump fake, got him. Touchdown, DJ. This one almost went into his face mask, into his helmet, like in that one kid movie, where they throw the football in. Little Giants. Bang where it goes right there.

DJ Moore almost got that. Had to drop a little bit earlier. So him having this catch, this touchdown, this release, this everything in this moment. Congrats and shout out to DJ Moore. Always been an incredible player. Yeah, in this situation, Caleb didn't have to make a phenomenal throw or break the pocket. This was a great play call from Ben Johnson. And they kind of set this play up.

One of the first plays of the game, they ran a screen to the same side of the field, picked up maybe 10, 11 yards, and then came back to it now at the end of the game. kind of a screen and go. Great fake, great pump, fake. Everyone executed properly. And then obviously hit him with the accurate throw for the gorehead touchdown. I mean, if that thing hits in his face mask and sticks there, that'd be a really cool thing. And said, DJ, he caught that thing like this. That is maybe the hardest. That's an incredible grab, especially in the moment to score a touchdown. Those easy ones, always the hardest. Congratulations, DJ Moore and his Chicago Bears. Now, the Green Bay Packers will get a shot at it,

down four. Got a chance to take a Hail Mary. We dropped the snap, obviously then we fumble, bumble around. Somehow they stopped blocking even though I still have the ball. Now we have pressure. A little throw to no one except for their team. Could have got a pick in a super wild card. Instead drops it. 31, 27.

I'll put this thing into the stand. Somebody can keep that for the rest of their lives. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson experienced their first playoff wins together and it's a dawning of a new day in the NFC. North. Then at the very end, obviously, there's a ritual that happens of sorts.

You know, each coach will go out and shake each other's hands, say, way to compete out there. Well, there's been a couple of these, obviously, this year, because it's been split. Matt has been on the winning side of it, quick. Ben has been on the winning side of it, quick. This one, though,

whoo! Go ahead and keeps it moving as quick as possible. Easy come, easy go. How you doing? Keep it moving. You know, Mount 4 said, good job, and then he turns quickly. I don't know if there was an extra,

him on the end of that? Did he yank him that way? Or was that just kind of Matt LaFleur pivoting like that? It might have been like a watch this. Watch me go celebrate my guys, bitch. This is going to be awesome. Oh, is that what he was saying? Yeah, yeah. Look this way. Something that wasn't really talked about here is the fact that Ben Johnson going in, yelling quickly leaving, certainly an alpha dominance, certainly an alpha dominance. But it was an answer, I think, to what LaFleur did before, right? Didn't LaFleur do a quick handshake on the way out whenever they won over the Chicago Barrett? Yeah, he did. And these two have been bickering for a long I saw some people saying they didn't like this.

Who was Schwartz? Then he go fight a guy. Schwartz fought a guy. Schwartz and Harbaugh. Yeah, Schwartz and Harbaugh. Yeah. The backpack. Yeah.

And then Ben Johnson in the locker room going, the Packers. Hate those guys, man. Yeah, him saying how bad he hates him, like continuing to follow up on it. And the Chicago Bears posting it. Okay, like the Chicago Bears posting it. I respect that.

I love that. I wonder what the Packers did to the Lions. Was there some sort of, something with a locker room incident, some personal incident that took place. Because Ben Johnson immediately upon signing to the Chicago Bears says, can't wait to beat Matt LaFleard twice, like literally says that. Oh, pissant. I can't wait to beat him twice.

And we're all like, yes, we love this for the rivalry. But then now it's like real heat. And Ben Johnson living the gimmick in this entire thing. And the Chicago Bear social team posting that means everybody in the Bears building saw that and was like, yeah, we do hate those guys. Let's go ahead and run this. I love that for football. I love that an entire organization in the NFL, which I would say sometimes lacks the passion that college football has.

I like that in the NFL in a professional business, brand new head coach, a lot of new pieces in there. Obviously, ownership passed, got new ownership in there. I like that they're all bought in on keeping a rivalry of hatred. Like, I like that. I don't know if the floor is doing enough. I don't know if the Packers are hating the Bears enough. I don't, well, okay, I didn't mean that. You are certainly in any regard.

You'll certainly be able to speak your mind here in a matter of seconds. But I don't think the Packers are pitching that. The Bears coming out and saying, nah, fuck this team over here. And that's been a rivalry for how long, forever, right? Yeah, over a hundred years. It's like the oldest rivalry in professional sports. Yes, I love everything about this because Ben Johnson is letting his boys know. Like, hey, this is really how I feel about this entire squad.

This is how Ohio State and Michigan started, right? Then the two coaches, they're both Ohio State coaches and all buddy leaves and goes to Michigan and their actual heat is what led to the Michigan thing. It's like I will be tuned in to Bears Packers, not only because the coach is seemingly good, great teams as well, both sides. They're not saying Ben Johnson.

I'm saying LaFlor too seemingly good. And also all the shit. This is a real rival. I love it, D. Bud. I love everything about it. There's people that were saying they didn't like it. Of course. There's going to be people that didn't like it,

especially I actually part of it. both parts of the handshake, you know, obviously you think, hey, you want a coach to be respectful. And regardless of what the game is, regardless of how you truly feel about each other, do that gimmick, you know, how the gimmick is supposed to be done. In the postgame, when you know it's recorded and you know it's going out, hey, you know, have the respect. And it was surprising to me only because of the history of the Bears and like from the ownership level, I know they're really specific. I think even with like a hard knocks, they were like, hey, very careful with the language.

We don't want, you know, this franchise represented in a certain way. but he's fired up. His first playoff win. And it's kind of, it seems like this is who he is, you know, authentically. Like he's been himself. And when you hired him, you got to support the face of the franchise, the new CEO of your team, if that's who it's going to be. And then hearing on the flip side, I feel like Caleb is,

he sounds like a 40-year-old man when he's talking, he always taking a high road and being classy. And then he'll take his shots, you know, on his social and stuff like that. But I love it. I love when it's some real heat between coaches, between players, is football. I don't mind, you know, people who shake your hands and exchange your jersey or any of that either, but I also do like some of this throwback heat for sure. Ben Johnson today in his press conference, via Ari Mirov here, it's a robbery, city of Chicago and Green Bay. It needs to be a robbery.

Hell yeah. Okay. Yeah, I don't know. I might like him as a person. Who cares? The hell with him. I don't care at all. I love that. That's so good for our league, so good for our league. Because college football has that. A lot of that. And that is college football clear. number two sport in America. The ratings came out, and what are they? Who knows? I had split screen on yesterday with sound on one. So are they counting the one as the rating, or are they counting both? Because I had Golden Globes on.

I see if Timmy and Dway and the boys get a big time win. Did Dwayne? Did not? Did Tim? Timmy did. Timmy did. Timmy did. But I didn't have any audio on over here.

You see, I had the audio on New England game. Okay, so I was almost picture it. I almost sent a picture and sent it to Nielsen on X. Yeah. I can't believe you did that. Why? That's disrespect for the football. I know.

I know it is. But I was trying to show respect to Timmy and Dwayne and them, you know? I was trying to show my respect. YouTube provides that. YouTube TV, which, boy, I'm happy. Yeah. Yeah. Thank God.

They got it. By far the best platform. By far. Right. Great. No question. I mean, just being able to do that. Two very, I mean, we're doing okay around here.

Two very big squares watching both things. And then, but the audio is only on one side. So are they going to count me for that? Because then they will go to commercial, and I'll be, oh, I'm going to go to the other one, and I guess who comes out on your side, Drake May's rubbing on. It's like, yeah, right, dude. So sorry for me to care what's going on over here. I do wonder what that's going to do.

But ratings up into the right for football, huge. College football, clearly number two. Clearly number two. I think it had eight spots in the top hundred or something like that. It hadn't had that many in the past. 90-something were football. And then the others were whatever they were. Like, how do you not like sports?

these people that are just always miserable. How do you not? Everybody does seemingly. Yeah. Get with the times. Come on. Come on. Football is good. It's fun. It's fun. Sports good.

They're fun. Let's do that. Humans. It's a humans playing and coaching as well. So it's always good to have like a human moment. Thank you. Regardless of where it is like, hey, keep your head up. And you could tell Liam genuinely appreciated that too.

So like, I mean, I just don't get it. I appreciate it. listen you're new here you're young ladd is your first time you got it buddy you're the one just her inner body saying this poor little look at this little

this guy needs to be lifted up yeah hey Liam you think it was a good idea to first hey Liam earlier in the year you said bye you said bye you said bye mm-hmm mm-hmm and she's like give me the microphone please

you're all right young man did you see any of the other questions asking that pressure no yeah that's the thing or answers yeah We need to watch the whole thing there. Yeah, sure. Well, it's not about winning the press conference. We watch the game.

You know what happened? I don't want to see a coach up there, potting. Yeah, but I don't. I just, I don't. The ownership of what something is, is my problem with things. It's like we had three years, four or five years, I guess, in total. But three years, the first three years of Aaron Rogers just wide open through an entire season. He won two MVP's awesome.

We wrote every single week with him, like every single thing. And the guy never talked really to anybody before that. And they're like, get mad at me for not like countering an answer that he gave, that he has researched that he lived, that is his opinions. And I'm asking him questions. It is we were learning about, like, how is that not journal? Like, how is learning entirely about one of the greatest of all time, not considered some form of journal, are documentaries a form of journal?

Like, I don't think I fully just, comprehend how this is what journalism is. It is sawing everything down all the time and finding the worst. It's like, what about learning about things and, like, expanding your, or, like, is that not a part of it? I genuinely don't know, because I didn't get invited to broadcast. True. I don't have a clue what it is. Why is that always the thing?

I don't know. I don't know, because we get accused of it a lot. A lot, a lot. Well, I mean, the Rogers situation, especially. You know, you can't have your cake and eat it to. You can't want you to be a CNN or a Fox News anchor, and then 10 seconds later, all right, now you're in ESPN guy again. Okay, you're a sports guy again. Shut up and talk about sports.

It doesn't really work that way. It's great. It's all good. But we're just saying you're allowed to be happy in sports. Like in our world, you're allowed to be happy. If you won't go be miserable, go do it. Like, there is certainly a lot of options to these yell at each other. Cover war.

I guess in war is happening every day, I think, with the political world. Yeah. Every once in a while, that shit will show up in my album. go and I'm like, why would anybody want to get into this? This seems like the most negative of all of it. It just seems. And then every day, somebody knew who's the best human earth? And it's like, so you're fighting every day for a new best.

Good job, security, I guess. Oh, my God. It is just like a never-ending supply. And it's like, who's right? Is there a scoreboard? There isn't our world. Let's go to the number four headline. And it's been very good to this team over the years.

A familiar feeling in Foxborough. The Pats are all the way back. We chatted about it already a little bit, but here's the top five headline out of Super Wildcar weekend. Mike Frable, he's done it, folks. He's done it.

Yep. He got forced out of Tennessee. They're in a great spot. Goes up to Cleveland. Has an office in the attic, I think. I don't want to say, we FaceTimed him one time. He was there.

Oh, we did. We did. And he was in and that. I don't even, his office, I mean, I don't want to put anything done. I assume they just kind of cleaned out a closet maybe and put him in there. Ohio. I mean, he was just in the building, like not really, but obviously helping around. We see him in the practices.

We see him the entire thing just kind of hanging. And then him going back to New England after a one-year stint for Coach Mayo is just like an absurd series of events that leaves all football fans thinking to themselves, this is the next 20 years. We've already seen this song and dance. And it's a whole new cast of characters, but it's such a familiar feeling. because one of the players is the guy leading it. And obviously the uniforms and the fans are the exact same. What a performance out of your fans as well.

Yeah, it was unbelievable. Exactly. Starting with the fans, they were the best home field advantage home crowd of the entire weekend. You could even go to, you know, the only one I compared to would probably be Indiana in Atlanta against Oregon where they dominated. But I think they had four false starts, the Chargers offensive line when it came to just noise in general from the macells. Josie was playing, living on a prayer. Bon Jovi they came back with from one of their commercial breaks.

That sounded electrifying. But then just the dominance of the whole entire thing. There was never really a moment where the Chargers offense looked like, okay, here they go. Early on, you mentioned the deflected interception, Drake Mayhad. And that set the Chargers up with first and goal. And one of the Patriots do, they just stand pat, basically lock it down. The Chargers decide not to, you know, kick the field goal,

get some points on the road. but instead they just say, hey, let's try and score touchdowns. You just showed the Milton Williams one. Sorry, what was that? I was going to say, do you think Harbaugh was worried about his defense against Drake May and him early? Because he decided not to take the points. Didn't think the three points would be as important as they inevitably would become, obviously. Yeah, I was very confused. The first points of the game?

Yeah. Plus, with that defense, how many times are we going to be down in here? Just my thoughts. I'm Jim Harbaugh. Plus you keep the momentum when you kick a field goal. As soon as you get stopped, that momentum swing is just ginormous. Yeah, but the gym think this might have to. that we might have to score some points here, at least 20 against, like,

or did he trust his defense and say, if not, we'll pin him down here and we'll get the ball back? I think that's what it was. It doesn't matter. Yeah. This is a bonus. This is house money. We just got a turnover. We didn't expect to get.

We're down in here. Let's just go for you. I mean, I guess it's whatever school of thought you're from, some people, hey, if it's the point, especially your first points, take them in a playoff game, or a lot of people now, especially with the new analytics, once you get kind of inside that red area, you're not taking any field goals, unless you're fourth and seven plus probably because the likelihood of the team getting the ball and they're driving the length of the field and scoring is whatever numbers are there. So it's wherever place you're in, whatever analytics you believe in.

You know, you can always second guess the decision, but he also has, you know, one of the best defenses in the league over there with the Chargers. So maybe he trusted him to hold him out. And also maybe he thought his offense is going to be back there. Yeah. You know, maybe he thought like this would be. I mean, there's so many different until he comes out and tells us, which I don't know if he did.

I don't know if he gave his answer. afterwards. There's so many different angles it could be. And in Harbaugh's mind, he was right. And that's what some people don't understand about having a differing opinion about somebody else. Like at that moment, did not get to see what the Patriots defense was going to do to his offense

all game. This is at the very beginning. He had no idea what was going to happen. And in his mind, in the time, we need to go get a touchdown right here. Why not? Maybe we're not going to score a lot of these against his Patriots. It won't be down here. We're not going to be this close without good his day. There's so many different things that are happening at the same time.

all we do know is those three points will be huge. Yeah. The way the score started to go in the entirety of the game. Yeah, especially just because they chose to play New England. They benched all their guys week 18. If they ended up playing against the Broncos, who knows maybe they win, they definitely don't travel to Foxborough. But Milton Williams was kind of the guy.

He headbutted Mike Vrabble at the end here, which was incredible. After the game ceiling sack, Brable was a little bloodied up. But he, you know, Mike Vrable just loves getting bloodied on that football field. We always talk about when, you know, free agent frenzy happens when the draft happens. Like, you can't win any games in March, but definitely can make moves to help you win. Milton Williams wasn't supposed to be a patriot. He actually, there was tweets, hey, Milton Williams is signing with the Carolina Panthers. What does Vrable do?

They come in way over the top, basically offer him, you know, I think five or ten more million than what the Panthers were offering him. For this moment right here, he won the game. Him and Christian Barmore, I guess, on Monday of last week, Vrable basically. said to lead off the meeting, hey, you too, this is where you earn your money. This is where, you know, the similar thing to what Caleb was saying. This is where you make a name for yourself. This is

where the big dogs eat, and they did. Like, they completely took over the game. The defense had six sacks. And I think they had less than, you know, 200 and I think they had 207 total yards, but with all that net yardage BS, it ended up being underneath, you know, 200 yards. But the defense playing that well

with what Drake may still capable of even when he wasn't playing his best game. Like, the road is clear now. Are they going to be in everything DB or not? They probably be at the top. I got to see what happens tonight with this Texas or Steelers defense. But right now, I mean, six sacks, 30 pressures. They were slinging that good deal.

I saw 30 pressures total after the game. Held the charge two for 13 on third and fourth down conversions. Obviously, it starts up front. I thought the guys on the back end did a great job as well. And Comyn has been talking about Milton Williams being the highest patriot player ever. and he showed up in the biggest moments. The last time we saw him in the playoffs was him dominating the Super Bowl against Patrick Mahomes

and the Eagles defensive lines. So this is a great example of a big-time free agent signing showing off in the biggest moments. But this is a complete team-dominated win at home. Now, you mentioned that you guys overpaid him. Yeah. So you guys are in Capel then? You're in a bad spot after this.

No, not even a little bit. What do you mean? So many of these guys that you're watching dominate. I mean, Chase-on had one of the, also had a massive sack on a third day. down. Debaugh mentioned their third down, you know, stats 2 of 10, 2 of 13. They're the number one third down team in the NFL this year, the L.A. Chargers. And it just did not seem like they could sniff a first down throughout that game.

But there, boom, 44. He's on a one-year deal. I believe Christian Ellis, the guy who recovered it, he's on a very low-cap-friendly two-year deal. Ponder 91, one-year deal. Like, all the moves they made in March and April are paying dividends in the playoffs. So I believe we're, I think we're top 10 in cap space So we can pay a lot more guys. Definitely not A.J. Brown, she has a $79 million dead cap hit. No, everybody, hold on. We'll get to that.

Yeah, yeah, sorry, sorry. Actually, on that note, bang. Number three headline. Oh, no. Another brotherly brouhaha. Oh, no. Two ends, not two Ds, fascinating. Don goes the world champs.

The Philadelphia Eagles. Another. In the link. A neuter. That new. And Uder. There it is. An Uder brotherly.

An order brotherly brulha. There we go. That is a Delco exit. An odor brotherly brouhaha here. Down goes the world champs. Philadelphia Eagles. World champs.

So much talent. All across the board. Lane Johnson not playing. Surprising. That was huge. That was a big deal. Me and AJ Hawk both and I think D.Budd as well.

All picked the Philadelphia Eagles strictly because Wayne Johnson was coming back. And the offensive line was what carried them in our eyes to a Super Bowl last year alongside a number one overall defense in what Vic Fangio was cooking over there in Philadelphia. Almost forgot the Pizan's name 100% on me. Has not been talked about much this year because the entire conversation about this particular team all year has been how much A.J. Brown hates the team. It's not just the wide receivers. Last year, whenever they became a very run dominant team, Sequan Barkley, we all remember.

He did the thing and he did the things. and he did that thing, and then he was doing the thing. You know, he did it. And the thing and all the things. Remember, that's what they were doing. A lot of it. He was the number one rusher in the history of the NFL. Yep.

And for one whole year, counting the playoffs. And then if he was to have his own individual representative on the rushing yards list as him before contact, before anybody touched him, you know, like, let's say big gaping holes, I think it would have been like the number four. in the NFL. So you're talking about what they did last year was just dominate the line of scrimmage and run the rock. First team to win a Super Bowl that was more run heavy than pass heavy and you, since the evolution of football that we all watched live in person. So the

wide receivers, Devonte Smith, A.J. Brown, both paid like number ones last year, pissed. What are we doing? What are we getting paid money? Nick Siriani, former college wide receiver had to take it upon himself to keep everybody together. Hey, we're running the ball. We're winning. We're a number one team. Everybody hates a South Sire. Yeah, who cares just go? We're a bunch of dogs. They win a Super Bowl. Devonte Smith, A.J. Brown, get the Gatorade Tub, dump it on Nick Siriani. All year. It was the wide receivers. Hate the Philadelphia Eagles. They win a Super Bowl. The wide receivers

are dumping the Gatorade Ray bottle on Nick Sireani. You've got to think of yourself, wow. That's a great coaching job. That's unbelievable to be able to manage all that, especially with the expectations going into the year. Then Kelly Moe gets a head coaching job down in New Orleans. New offense coordinator in Petulo. And they were calling him bad words at the beginning. Oh, boy.

And still are all the way through. And all of a sudden, A.J. Brown's like, I did it last year. Our offense stinks right now. I'm not doing it this year. Started getting loud. Start getting louder. Starting to become a little bit of a distraction, you know, outside, but inside, everything's all good. We watch hard knocks with Philadelphia

Eagles. Everything's all good. They got all in the control. So, my eyes, whenever they get to the playoffs, the biggest stage is where all the stars want, hey. Two big plays away from being trending topic number one. we're happy again, whoever is looking for that. Two big plays away from upping our stats and becoming maybe $5 to $7.5 million more expensive per year next year. Whatever the case is,

you could do it in the playoffs. And then when it doesn't start happening, and then ball started hitting ground, we start to watch it unravel. We're like, wait, I thought the big time players were going to make big time plays into big time games, which is why they're big time players. Yeah. But instead, there was a big time. Brugaha. Yeah. What are you doing? You think you're doing?

You need to finish your play. You need to catch, make a catch, maybe get off the field, run off the field. What are you doing? What are you doing? What do you say to me? Stop. Oh, pause. Pause.

Italian. A lot of people ask him why he's got a headset. Yeah, this guy. What do you mean? Why's he got a headset? He's part of the game ops now. He's had the headset on all year. So he can talk to his Laboooooooooooo.

What? Uh. Yeah. Sorry, what? It's like a fancy beanie baby. A Laboooo? Yeah. What's that?

Tom has one. Yeah, there it is. This guy sucks. Hey, oh, look at my new Labo Boo Boo. Don did not say that. I don't really like what you did the 0.01% of me. Okay, I don't like the way you just mimicked. It felt like it was a shot at all at Ty.

No. Don didn't say anything about a little booboo. I don't like what they're doing a big, Dom. And unfortunately, you either died of here. you live longer becoming the villain. And that's where a lot of people are with Big Dom right now. But I don't mind his Labubo. I kind of like the Labubu.

I don't know with the Labubu. This is coming at. Labubu is a popular mischievous-looking, collectible monster character with point of ears and sharp teeth, created by Hong Kong artists, Kising Lung, and produced by Pop Mart, known for its cute yet creepy aesthetic sold in blind boxes that add to a collecting thrill.

He didn't even know what he was getting. We bought this thing. That's a Big Don Labubu. Oh, it is. Got the chain. Got the ear. Custom, big Dom. His little Dom.

Yeah. Or like LaDoodoo. I like Dom a boo-boo a lot. Okay? If we're going to get into this business, I like it. But remember, he was given a headset because he was kicked off the sideline. What's his job? He doesn't have a job.

Now he's assistant to general manager, assistant to coach, assistant coach. He had a headset on all year. And I've seen him flip that thing down in the background. I've seen him flip that thing down. If he had a little bit of ideas, maybe he's out there judging temperaments, you know, just like at the beginning of the game. game when the Niners and the Eagles almost get into a brawl. They ran the history of these two, recent history.

I completely forgot. Oh, yeah. Hey, they've had incredible battles over the last few years, especially in the NFC playoffs and games that matter. And on the flip side of that, it's Niners team. How are they doing it? Which adds even more, I assume, to the A.J. Brown stuff. Crazy.

AJ's thinking, hey, why are we even a game with this team? Why don't we just throw me the ball and see what happens? Then he has a couple drops. They get a little bit out of control. And then Jawan Jennings is on the other side, throwing dimes over the shoulder in a bucket to Christian McCaffrey as eating. He's eating a shot right to the mouth. Christian McCaffrey is a specimen. He is a machine.

He is outrageous. He takes big hits. He makes big catches. He does everything. Remember, Christian McCaffrey can also throw this touchdown. I remember if I wonder if they have a alternate side where Christians throwing this thing to Jawan Jennings. They have so many weapons. Kyle Shanahan's been able to rally the boys.

the amount of injuries that they had, and now you've got people in San Fran saying, Fred Warner's coming back then. We've played long enough now that our all-pro middle linebacker, who's been described as the best linebacker in football, he's going to rejoin us, but they've had him gone. They've obviously had Bosa gone. Trent Williams has missed time.

Brock Purdy has missed time. First round pick has been out the entire year. First round pick out the entire year. Wide receiver situation. They traded Debo. I mean, you talk about a culture, a team, having a run that none of us could have expected. I mean, outside of their locker room, outside of their fan base,

it's like, what a win. And, like, Kyle Shanahan deserves a lot more credit whenever we get into the, hey, is he a good coach, great coach conversation? It's like, I don't know how you keep the boys motivated. I don't know how you keep the boys rallied, how you keep the boys bought in. But he's certainly done that. Use check is a 10-time pro bowler. Yeah.

They put that up on the screen. I'm like 10-time pro-ball. That's first ballot. That 10-time pro-bowler at a full-back position. And obviously, he is completely transformed. fullback position is he's a tight end who's not scared to line up in the backfield run your ass over if he has to but he is just like outrageous this entire group i guess they have it all except for what the super bowl yes yep and it's like can they do it this year they seem more motivated than ever

going into the lincoln getting this win they lose george kittle which is obviously hard that sucks that sucks so bad george godspeed tease a piece look george sucks dude the story about a tequila bottle getting taken to the locker room though that That's awesome. George, you continue to be legendary in every situation. We will miss you, obviously, and we know that you will kick ass throughout the entire of recovery. I don't, I think he has like a full, remember? In Nashville, yeah.

Yeah, he has like a full recovery facility. The amount of commitment he has to his body on a daily basis, we assume he will just crush this rehab and this recovery and everything, especially with modern science. What we're seeing with Tatum, what we're seeing with Halliburton. Now, obviously, football, different sport than that. George, it sucks that that's how your season ended. We will miss you, brother. Thanks for your service to football issue, George.

But on that note, they've been able to win somebody. Kyle Shanahan, outrageous this guy. Unbelievable job as a coach, Kyle Shanahan on the offensive side of things. Brock Purdy of weapons around him. Joanne Jennings, you obviously saw him throw the touchdown there, but he's been an unbelievable receiver as well. And then what Bob Salas has been able to do on defense with a bunch of names that people don't know, you know,

and guys just showing up to play weekend and week out now. You talked about juice, spend a 10-time Pro Bowl there, a fullback. A lot of people are saying he had more route options than A.J. Brown and Devonte Smith, well, how basic that damn offense is. So that's a conversation for this offseason. I'm sure that will happen in Philly. That last play was a perfect example of that.

But what Kyle Shanahan has been able to do in San Francisco is unbelievable. Specialist get to the number two headline coming out of super football weekend, college football, an instant classic in it. Or do we think an ass beating is potentially coming? I don't know. changed the headline. Set up in a banger in Miami is coming next Monday. This Indiana team, con, man,

we get a chance to be there. First of all, Mercedes Ben Stadium, loudest stadium I've been in. They actually hurt my ears. That pick six first play for the game. The roof on crazy. Indiana for real, and obviously, we've been saying it, and I don't want to undercut what they are. For real, though. This is for

real, one of the greatest teams ever assembled in college football. Absolute wagon. It's hard to see them lose just because Mendoza is so locked in another game where he has more touchdowns than he does. in completions. This is the perfect setup for a national championship. He's going home where he's from Miami to play Miami. Yeah, he went to Columbus High School about a mile away from the University of Miami campus. His mom, I believe, actually played sports at the University of Miami. So this is a huge ordeal. They will be taking on the University of Miami physical, tough, mentally and body

team. Cannot wait to watch this game. Yeah, it should be awesome. They basically play like a Big Ten school does. So it'll be interesting. And they're very similar to Ohio State, who we saw last year, You could kind of feel it. We've been at every single one of their games. And it did just kind of seem, hey, this team's destined to maybe not win the national championship, but at least be there. So the perfect story, really, for the national championship. Either of these teams can certainly win it. Obviously, the best two teams have made it to the national championship.

It's been very obvious. Cannot wait for next Monday night as we'll be standing on the sideline on ESPN 2 yet again. Number one headline, easy. It was a super duper wild card weekend. The record was broke for amount of lead changes in a fourth quarter. Need say anything else? No. Shout out football.

Shout out you. We're back on the other side. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice. Might change your life.