Bussin' With The Boys – Episode Summary

Episode: Chiefs WON’T Make The Playoffs & CFP Chaos: Miami Over Notre Dame?! + How To Fix The Playoff
Hosts: Will Compton & Taylor Lewan
Guest: Greg Olsen
Date: December 8, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the NFL and college football weekend, breaking down critical games, playoff pictures, coaching decisions, and the controversial college football playoff (CFP) selection process. The Boys are joined by NFL analyst and former player Greg Olsen, and the conversation is lively, opinionated, and loaded with both humor and insight. Core topics include the Chiefs’ playoff chances, debates over NFL fourth down decisions and momentum, the Bills-Bengals showdown, AFC/NFC power rankings, and a passionate examination of the CFP selection chaos—with a special focus on Miami, Notre Dame, and the G5 teams. The crew also shares veteran “war stories,” discussing the real toll of injuries and the sometimes harsh business of football.

Major Discussion Points

1. NFL Game Analysis & Chiefs’ Playoff Prospects

• Chiefs Playoff Doubts: Will maintains his bold stance that the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs won’t make the playoffs, citing issues with offensive consistency and tough AFC competition. (79:06)
• NFL Decision-Making & Analytics:
  • In-depth debate on fourth-down decisions, the use of analytics, momentum vs. context, and head coach psychology. Andy Reid’s controversial call is dissected (see quote below).
  • “If it was my game… if that ball was at the 40 instead of the 30, I’m going for it. But my general rule of thumb, especially when the offenses are struggling… I think I punt.” – Greg Olsen (11:08)
  • The impact of failed conversions on team momentum vs. pure game math is a recurring theme, with Olsen often playing the “cold analyst,” while Lewan and Compton argue for the emotional, “momentum” side of football.

2. Key Game Recaps

• Bills vs. Bengals (Snow Game)

  • An electric, high-stakes shootout hailed “as playoff football in December.” Both Josh Allen and Joe Burrow “played at the highest level.” Allen is described as “the best player on the field,” sealing the win with a crucial late scramble. (32:21–35:19)
  • "Josh Allen was the best player on the field. And that's the Buffalo Bills we’re accustomed to seeing." – Greg Olsen (34:53)
  • The Bills’ inconsistent defense and path to Super Bowl contention are discussed at length (35:19–37:21).

• Dallas vs. Detroit Debate

  • Olsen uses the Dallas-Detroit field goal decision to prove that “cutting it to one score” and playing for momentum often backfires, citing Detroit's immediate response with a TD. (16:13–19:35)
  • “Momentum is a factor. But we saw last night… Detroit went right down and scored a touchdown. You’re back down 10, for what?” – Greg Olsen (17:42)

3. AFC/NFC Playoff Landscape Breakdown

• AFC:
  • Wide open this year—“no team truly scares you,” with Houston and Denver’s defenses earning special mention.
  • “All seven AFC teams that end up making it this year—I would not be scared to play any of them.” – Greg Olsen (36:51)
  • Buffalo’s strengths and weaknesses are dissected; questions remain about whether they can make a Super Bowl run.
• NFC:
  • Described as a “juggernaut,” with the 49ers, Rams, Seahawks, and Packers all “playing high-level football.” Packers are noted as especially scary for their playoff style (38:01 ff).
  • Defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs are “the sixth option out of the NFC right now on paper.” (38:03)

4. College Football Playoff Chaos

Selection Controversy (Miami vs. Notre Dame)

• The show pivots to a heated breakdown of the playoff bracket, emphasizing how G5 teams Miami and JMU snuck in, bumping out Notre Dame. The Boys, especially Will, are frustrated by what they see as a flawed system reliant on arbitrary at-large spots and conference representation rules.
• Many animated opinions:
  • “They knew they had to manipulate the system… That’s all they were trying to do because the way my man was breaking down each conference game… was unreal.” – Will Compton (115:55)
  • “You can’t put the better football team over the more deserving football team. Can’t do it.” – Taylor Lewan (116:38)
• Discussion of Notre Dame’s unique challenges as an Independent and their “pulling out” of a bowl game in protest. (136:55, 138:02)

Structural Solutions for the CFP

• Multiple ideas proposed:
  • Limit at-large to top 15 teams to filter out uncompetitive G5 squads.
  • Use "conference championship weekend" as a direct playoff play-in round.
  • Abolish or reform bowl games and the current committee selection process.
  • “The only way for real change to take place is when catastrophic things happen, and this would qualify as a catastrophic thing.” – Taylor Lewan (121:14)
• The group is adamant that chaos (undeserving teams, mass opt-outs, bowl irrelevance) is needed to force legislative change for a more competitive, viewer-friendly playoff.

5. Veteran War Stories & Injury Culture in Football

• Greg Olsen, Will, and Taylor open up about the physical costs and career logic of playing through pain—injecting humor but also “real talk” about how football culture both glamorizes and punishes toughness. (55:54–65:00)
  • “Learning how to play hurt… that’s a learned skill… There is an art to playing for long periods of time.” – Greg Olsen (56:02)
  • The hosts reflect on when playing through injury pays off (sometimes it never does), and how much football is luck, skill, business, and sacrifice.

6. Locker Room Culture, Equipment Staff Appreciation & Broadcast Stories

• Humorous and heartfelt thanks to the equipment staff and behind-the-scenes crew (96:08).
• The boys reminisce about calling the SEC Championship alternate broadcast, discussing nerves, memorable fan moments, and the gift of interacting with players and coaches on the biggest stage. Taylor’s impression of the energy:
  • “It was awesome. Surreal. Never even thought I’d do something like this.” – Taylor Lewan (85:26)
• Several inside jokes and “all-white team/special teams porn” references give a flavor of the podcast’s irreverent tone.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Will Compton (04:36): “At the end of the day, no matter what, Indiana is just going to need a field goal to win the game. I’m thinking, is this one of those situations where you don’t tie the game, you try to go for it...”
• Greg Olsen (11:17): “I would have said the numbers, the analytics, the models… that is a go situation. If I’m calling that game, I’m saying, hey, the numbers tell you to go… But in that moment, I think I punt.”
• Taylor Lewan (14:47): “The minute they don’t get that fourth and one, they run the ball five times and score a touchdown. That is what we talk about last week, where the defense, they converted the third down, they stop fourth and one, and the juice that enters that football team—boom.”
• Greg Olsen (25:44): “Andy Reid did not make that decision in a vacuum… This guy’s forgotten more about football than pretty much the vast majority of people… People are just so excited to crush him this morning for that decision.”
• Taylor Lewan (38:48, on Denver): “From a playoff standpoint, the most built to play in the playoffs.”
• Will Compton (115:55, on Notre Dame/CFP): “I would be livid if I was Notre Dame, because if Bama does the same thing, Bama is still in the playoff at ten. But now Notre Dame, you have to flip them. Notre Dame has to be nine…”
• Greg Olsen (121:14): “If you want to change, these types of things need to happen for it to change.”
• Taylor Lewan (143:32, committee age): “The average age of the College Football Playoff committee is 61. I don’t think that’s bad… some dudes are sickos.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:53 – Opening NFL playoff and divisional race discussion
• 10:03 – Chiefs fourth-down analytics and decision-making debate
• 16:13 – Field goal vs. touchdown debates, momentum’s role in outcomes
• 32:21 – Bills vs. Bengals showdown, Allen vs. Burrow, breakdown
• 35:19 – Bills’ Super Bowl case and AFC playoff gauntlet discussion
• 38:48 – NFC power rankings, Denver playoff talk
• 55:54 – War stories: playing through major injuries, NFL career sacrifices
• 79:06 – Will’s “Chiefs won’t make the playoffs” prophecy
• 82:12 – College Football Playoff segment begins (after ad break)
• 103:02–113:10 – Chaos of CFP selection, Notre Dame vs. Miami debate, G5 issues, structural CFP reform proposals
• 121:14 – Solutions for the future CFP, ideas to fix the system
• 136:55 – Notre Dame’s bowl game protest and scheduling talk
• 143:32 – Committee membership, selection process critique

Tone & Style

• The Boys’ classic blend: irreverent, direct, and playful, but also insightful and critical—constantly mixing personal stories from the locker room with tactical breakdowns, and never shying away from controversy or a well-aimed hot take.
• Lots of crosstalk, friendly jabs, and self-deprecating humor (“Don’t google me in a Notre Dame hoodie!”).
• Frequent use of football lingo, inside jokes (“A-gap! piss and vinegar!”), and show references.

Useful for Listeners Who Missed It

• NFL fans receive a smart, in-depth look at evolving analytics, AFC/NFC playoff landscapes, and how momentum vs. math plays out in real games.
• College football sickos get an uncensored take on the CFP chaos, with pragmatic solutions and a deep understanding of the system’s flaws—in classic Bussin’ style.
• Players and ex-athletes will appreciate the candid stories on injury, business decisions, and what real life in the league means.
• Everyone else gets a window into locker room culture, the business of football, and why what happens off the field—whether in committee rooms or on the trainer’s table—matters as much as any touchdown.

For More:

• Full CFP/CFB talk begins here: [82:12]
• Injury/war stories & NFL player culture: [55:54–65:00 & 65:00–73:55]
• Chiefs hot take, playoff predictions: [79:06]
• Favorite inside jokes & broadcast stories: [85:00–94:00]

Don’t forget:

“Leave your comments. Keep leaving comments. We love and appreciate you. And for the love of God, subscribe!” – Taylor Lewan (03:23)

End of summary.