Bussin' With The Boys: Predicting The 2025 NFL Season

With Clay Matthews, Delanie Walker, Will Compton & Taylor Lewan
Episode Date: August 21, 2025

Episode Overview

The Boys—Taylor Lewan, Will Compton, and Delanie Walker—welcome former Packers star Clay Matthews as a full-time addition for their 2025 NFL season predictions. In this lively, locker-room style roundtable, the crew dives deep into division-by-division forecasts, shares personal team stories and rivalry banter, and makes bold picks for MVP and Super Bowl champion. The tone is rowdy and fun, blending sharp NFL insights with trash talk and player experiences.

Main Segments & Key Insights

1. Introducing Clay Matthews to the Squad

[03:45–09:20]

• Clay Matthews joins the show as a permanent member, bringing his championship pedigree and Packers perspective.
• He gifts each host playful locker-room tokens (e.g., a signed “Band of Brothers” SI issue to Will, a Bud Light and Wheaties Fuel to Delanie, a dolls-for-the-kids joke for Taylor), setting a warm, jocular tone:
  • “You talk about your escapades when you’re by yourself. So I brought you a little alone material: the 2009 Band of Brothers Sports Illustrated…” — Clay Matthews [05:23]
• They reminisce about playoff matchups, rivalries and Super Bowl mindsets, touching on the unpredictability and pressure after winning it all.
  • “We weren’t the best team, but we were the hottest team.” — Clay Matthews on the Packers’ Super Bowl run [09:53]

2. Division-by-Division Breakdown: AFC

AFC East

[13:59–22:24]

• Bills: Taylor, Will, and Clay are bullish—Josh Allen’s upside, defensive improvements, Joey Bosa’s addition, but lingering questions around the WR room.
  • “At some point in Josh Allen's career, he has to get over the hump of Patrick Mahomes.” — Taylor Lewan [14:00]
• Patriots (Dark Horse): Delanie predicts Pats to win the East, citing Vrabel’s culture and Stephon Diggs as a potential late-season addition.
  • “With Mike Vrabel… just with his mindset, the culture, the leadership.” — Delanie Walker [17:06]
• Dolphins/Jets: Both teams generate skepticism over culture and quarterback stability, with Miami seen as having the highest downside.
  • “It just never shows up… I need to see something before I say something.” — Taylor Lewan on the Jets [21:31]

AFC West

[27:16–32:35]

• Chiefs: Still the class of the division, but questions linger regarding the aging roster and thin receiving corps.
  • “As long as you got Kelsey and Mahomes, the Chiefs are the Chiefs.” — Clay Matthews [27:30]
• Broncos & Chargers: Noted as playoff contenders; high on Harbaugh’s impact and Sean Payton’s “peanut butter and jelly” fit with Bo Nix.
• Raiders: Acknowledge the optimism but see it as a ‘first year’ for coaching changes.
• General note: The division is loaded with elite coaching talent and “aliens at QB.”

AFC North

[32:39–42:43]

• Ravens: Favored by Clay and others; Lamar Jackson’s leadership and a strong defense.
• Bengals: Wild card potential, but plagued by O-line and defensive question marks.
• Steelers: Viewed as a sneaky pick—strong leadership, Arthur Smith with Aaron Rodgers, underrated talent like DK Metcalf acquisition.
• Browns: Not deeply discussed, focus remains on top contenders.

AFC South

[42:43–52:22]

• Texans: All hosts seem to lean Houston due to C.J. Stroud’s continued development, while the Titans get an underdog nod for culture and toughness.
• Colts: Major discussion on the QB shakeup—Anthony Richardson benched in favor of Daniel Jones; focus on organizational self-preservation and locker room frustration over instability.

3. Division-by-Division Breakdown: NFC

NFC South

[54:22–56:26]

• Bucs: Consensus favorite; Baker Mayfield’s resurgence, Mike Evans' consistency, and Bucky Irving’s emergence at RB called out.
  • “Baker Mayfield, I love his story. I love his attitude.” — Taylor Lewan [54:42]

NFC North

[56:41–63:00]

• Packers vs Lions: Clay the homer picks Packers, citing schedule advantage and Jordan Love’s growth. Taylor and Delanie cast their lot with the Lions, praising Dan Campbell’s culture and Aiden Hutchinson’s leadership.
  • “I think that’s gonna be the deepest division, the NFC North, the black and blue division.” — Clay Matthews [57:35]

NFC West

[63:00–70:15]

• 49ers: Popular pick despite free agent losses—locker room nucleus and sense of urgency noted.
• Rams & Seahawks: Rams lauded if Stafford is healthy. Seahawks noted as wild card threats with Sam Darnold at QB.
  • “They run the ball, don’t turn it over, play great defense. I could see [the Seahawks] getting in the playoffs.” — Clay Matthews [64:45]
• Cardinals: Out of contention.

NFC East

[71:17–76:47]

• Eagles: Consensus pick for division winner due to stacked, deep roster; Jayden Daniels’ Commanders seen as fun and frisky but potentially suffering 2nd-year regression.
  • “I think it’s the Eagles. As long as that team's put together, they have aliens everywhere.” — Will Compton [71:20]
• Commanders: Exciting on offense, but concerns about defensive run-stopping linger.

4. Playoff & Super Bowl Predictions

[76:19–80:05]

• AFC Champions Picks

  • Taylor: Ravens
  • Delanie: Ravens
  • Will: Bills
  • Clay: Ravens

• NFC Champions Picks

  • Taylor: Lions
  • Will: Packers or Rams (fluctuates), sometimes Lions
  • Delanie: Eagles
  • Clay: Eagles

• Super Bowl Winners

  • Taylor: Bills over Lions
  • Will: Bills over Packers
  • Clay: Ravens over Eagles (also mentions over Texans/Dolphins as a joke)
  • Delanie: Ravens over Eagles

5. NFL MVP Predictions

[77:19–78:19]

• Taylor: Josh Allen
  • “Your boy’s gonna be at the parade. I’m be diving through tables, pouring mustard on myself… Josh Allen is cool, calm and confident.” [77:20]
• Delanie: Jalen Hurts
• Will: Joe Burrow
• Clay: Lamar Jackson (with a nod to Super Bowl MVP, “He should have won it last year.” [78:07])

6. Futures, Parlays & Prop Bets

[80:44–84:04]

• Each host suggests a prop/futures bet for FanDuel:
  • Clay: Derrick Henry 10+ rushing TDs (-600)
  • Will: Aaron Rodgers 4,000+ passing yds (+370)
  • Delanie: Jahmyr Gibbs 1,000+ rushing yds (-220)
  • Taylor: CeeDee Lamb 1,000+ receiving yds (-220)
• Four-leg parlay pays +1024; “That’s exactly where you want to be.” — Taylor Lewan [84:00]

Notable Quotes & Banter

• “I was showing him my special team game trophies like, hey, this is what we collect when you join the boys.” — Will Compton, on recruiting Clay Matthews [04:18]
• “Every single time [the Jets] have a new coaching staff … they’re gonna steal the culture. It just never shows up … I need to see something before I say something.” — Taylor Lewan [21:31]
• “Culture, culture, culture. Gotta have it.” — Taylor Lewan [76:30]
• “Once Derrick [Henry] figured out how to be Derrick in the league, it’s over.” — Taylor Lewan [83:39]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Clay’s Introduction & Gifts: [03:45–09:20]
• AFC East predictions: [13:59–22:24]
• AFC West breakdown: [27:16–32:35]
• AFC North/Narratives: [32:39–42:43]
• Colts QB controversy: [43:02–49:22]
• NFC South: [54:22–56:26]
• NFC North: [56:41–63:00]
• NFC West: [63:00–70:15]
• NFC East: [71:17–76:47]
• Super Bowl Picks & MVPs: [76:19–80:19]
• Prop Bets & Parlay: [80:44–84:19]

Wrap-Up

This episode is a snapshot of friends talking ball at the highest level—equal parts astute NFL analysis and hilarious player trash talk. The addition of Clay Matthews adds both gravitas and playful energy, and the hosts’ own NFL experience grounds the group’s sometimes wild speculation. If you love real locker room debate, deep-dive division previews, and bold, passionate NFL futures, this episode delivers.

Bussin’ With The Boys drops new episodes every Thursday at 6AM (ET).