Bussin' With The Boys: NFL Week 17 Reaction

Episode Date: December 29, 2025

Hosts: Will Compton & Taylor Lewan

Guest: Greg Olson

Overview

This episode dives into the closing moments of the NFL regular season, with in-depth talk on:

• The new Michigan football coaching hire
• The intricacies of playoff momentum vs. analytics
• Debates on Coach of the Year
• Playoff predictions and the importance (and myth) of momentum
• Personal NFL experiences and locker room culture

Will Compton, Taylor Lewan, and Greg Olson analyze coaching moves, playoff scenarios, and share candid stories about life in the NFL, all with the show’s trademark humor and laid-back camaraderie.

Main Topics & Key Discussions

1. Michigan Football Hire: Kyle Whittingham (03:56–12:17)

• Will Compton expresses cautious optimism about Michigan hiring Kyle Whittingham as head coach, praising his leadership and integrity:

  “We got a leader of men with integrity... If we could just keep this roster intact, which is a big if...” (05:58)

• Taylor Rapp highlights the cultural merging between Michigan and Utah fans.
• Greg Olson and Will Compton discuss Whittingham’s loyalty and why he stayed at Utah so long.
• The hosts reflect on Michigan’s recent program reputation and the need for stability and humility.

Notable Quote:

"You will become us. We will not become you." — Kyle Whittingham, as recited by Will Compton (04:13)

2. College Nostalgia, Uniforms & Equipment Memories (12:18–23:57)

• The group shares memories of Miami football and nostalgia around old school gear, especially iconic helmets.
• Greg Olson reminisces about his time at Miami:

  "All those legendary Miami games, those Hall of Fame players, all had the white helmet with the U on the side. That was the helmet." (17:33)

• Fun banter about crop tops, equipment discomfort, and football body image.

3. Momentum vs. Analytics: The Ongoing Debate (24:03–44:48)

• The crew unpacks the controversial decision for the Bills (and others) to go for 2-point conversions, analyzing it from both an "analytics" and "momentum" standpoint.
• Greg Olson questions if emotional "momentum" is overrated compared to solid statistical analysis:

  "We have programmed the anti-analytics, anti-2 crowd to believe PATs are always made and two-point plays are always failures… and it's just obviously not true." (33:39)

• Will, Taylor, and Greg debate analytics-driven decisions, drawing on their in-game experiences.
• Taylor Rapp raises self-scouting questions about a team’s own 2-point conversion success rate versus general models.
• The group collectively mocks social media "hot takes" that only react to results.

4. NFL War Stories: Sacks, Records, and Role Conflicts (45:40–59:53)

• Discussion on whether teams try to prevent opposing players (like Myles Garrett) from setting records against them.
• Greg Olson compares it to high school basketball's "nobody dunks on us" mentality:

  “We could lose by 50. You cannot let anyone dunk.” (46:37)

• Debates on the role of tight ends and linemen in protecting QBs against top pass rushers.
• Tactical chats—how to chip block, line up on the line, and manage the psychology (and ego) of elite defensive ends.

5. Playoff Predictions & Coach of the Year Debate (63:17–83:34)

Coach of the Year Race (66:06, 71:22)

• Major candidates discussed: Kyle Shanahan, Mike Vrabel, Liam Cohen, Ben Johnson, Mike McDonald.
• Shanahan, despite injuries and expectations, is the betting favorite:

  "Maybe we don’t appreciate because we just assume the 49ers should always be good, but... they've had some really interesting roster situations.” — Greg Olson (69:57)

• The crew discusses how market size, media narratives, and name recognition affect Coach of the Year voting.

Playoff Matchups & Dark Horses (81:13–88:48)

• The AFC is “wide open”—hosts can make a case for nearly every team.
• Greg touts the Houston Texans as a “sneaky” postseason team due to their dominant defense (82:08).
• Patriots and Jaguars are seen as well-coached but lacking roster stars.
• The importance (or myth) of “momentum” heading into the playoffs is hotly (and playfully) debated.

6. The Momentum Rabbit Hole (86:07–112:24)

• Debate: What is momentum? Does it matter?
  • Will and Taylor: "Momentum is real, but impossible to measure."
  • Greg: skeptical, sees it as an emotional narrative more than a real factor.
  • Legendary banter about momentum “sweet spots,” losing and gaining momentum, and how coaches and teams sell these narratives (especially to the media).
• Greg shares the 2015 Panthers’ 14-0 run as an example of a team with "all the momentum" that didn’t win it all:

  "Were we good because we had vibes? Or were we just good? Then did we lose the momentum or just play shitty?" (107:50)

• Discussion ends with some of the best banter of the episode on whether Greg will mention "momentum" in his next broadcast.

Notable Quotes:

"Momentum can be held in the hand, but it can't be owned just off one play..." — Will Compton (97:33)

"That's my point. If the momentum was so high, why did we lose the Super Bowl?" — Greg Olson (108:40)

7. Year-End Reflection & Resolutions (112:28–End)

• Greg Olson’s New Year’s Resolution: “Get back in shape, but not heroically—just healthy, 41-year-old dad baseline.” (112:32)
• Lighthearted, relatable banter about middle-age fitness, body image, and “dad bod goals.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Will Compton (on Michigan’s new coach):
  “We got a leader of men with integrity.” (05:58)
• Greg Olson (analytics skepticism):
  “We have programmed the anti-analytics, anti-two crowd… and it’s just obviously not true.” (33:03)
• Taylor Rapp (on momentum):
  "You're always going to hear about momentum from me after the result happens." (86:46)
• Greg Olson (on Super Bowl loss):
  "Did we lose momentum or just play shitty?" (108:40)
• Greg Olson (on coach decision-making):
  "If these are emotional decisions and you value that as a person, the conversation should end." (36:42)

Key Timestamps

• Michigan coaching discussion: 03:56–12:17
• Old football gear nostalgia/locker room stories: 12:18–23:57
• Momentum vs Analytics debate: 24:03–44:48
• Sack record and anti-record strategy: 45:40–59:53
• Coach of the Year pool & playoff preview: 63:17–83:34
• Momentum deep dive and play-calling challenges: 86:07–112:24
• Resolutions and Year-End Reflection: 112:28–End

Tone & Style

Casual, hilarious, and self-deprecating. The hosts balance their deep NFL knowledge with a willingness to poke fun at themselves and each other. The episode is heavy on insightful football talk, but never takes itself too seriously—a perfect “boys on the bus” vibe for NFL diehards and casual fans alike.

Summary Takeaway

This episode of Bussin’ With The Boys is a can’t-miss look at the playoff mindset, the real (and overblown) role of momentum, and the NFL’s coaching landscape—punctuated by brilliant banter and authentic player perspective. Whether you believe in analytics, vibes, or both, you’ll walk away laughing, learning, and questioning just how much “momentum” matters in football and in life.