Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Conference Championship Recap
Date: January 26, 2026
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg (Don La Greca absent)
Episode Overview
This hour centers on recapping the NFL Conference Championships, dissecting key coaching decisions, and reflecting on the implications for the Super Bowl. The discussion is seasoned with classic New York banter, personal anecdotes about surviving a major snowstorm, and a humorous sidebar about musical tastes.
1. Major NYC Snowstorm: Surviving & Complaining
Timestamps: 00:15–07:14
- The show opens with light-hearted banter and updates about Don La Greca, who is stuck in Seattle/Detroit due to weather.
- Both hosts share their personal experiences digging out from a record-setting blizzard that blanketed New York and the suburbs.
- Rosenberg (02:59): “Whatever gross ideas you have in your mind about New York City after a blizzard, this is what it’s like.”
- Issues include frozen slush, dangerous roads, and impossible street parking.
- Family moments: Alan recounts ice skating with his daughter despite bitter cold, and Peter predicts having the same fatherhood struggles as his children grow.
- Hahn (06:16): “You don’t want to end the moment because it was a snow globe kind of memory... but man, I couldn’t feel my feet!”
2. NFC & AFC Championship Game Recaps
Timestamps: 07:14–22:41
AFC: Patriots at Broncos (Foxborough Weather Bowl)
- The Patriots prevailed in a blizzard over the Broncos; hosts scrutinize Denver coach Sean Payton’s failed 4th-down gamble.
- Rosenberg (09:06): “I can’t...understand what the logic was... maybe Sean Payton is feeling high because [Stidham and the offense] just moved the ball 75 yards...”
- Crucial decision: Broncos bypassed a field goal to go up 14-0, failed, and immediately lost momentum.
- Hahn (10:32): (Imitating Payton) “Man, we had momentum...let’s be aggressive...Let’s get up 14.”
- Hosts agree: Take the points, especially with changing weather.
- The storm became a bigger factor as the game wore on, creating unpredictable conditions.
- Hahn (13:30): “It started looking like a video game at that point...they had to have the graphic yard lines because you couldn’t see it.”
Patriots’ Playoff Run: Good or Lucky?
- Hosts discuss how unimpressive—but opportunistic—the Patriots have been, especially considering a defensive, turnover-prone Drake May.
- Rosenberg (16:23): “Not only are the Patriots back, but they’re back with like one of the most unimpressive looking football teams.”
- Hahn (18:14): “All you can do is play who’s in front of you...when the road is as clearly paved as it was...you gotta run through it.”
- Discussion of AFC power shifts with the Bills’ recent failures; Patriots are once again “the evil empire.”
- Hahn (18:54): “They didn’t trip when the door was open.”
- Seattle opens early as the betting favorite for the Super Bowl (lines move quickly from 3.5 to 4.5).
- Rosenberg (19:37): “Guess the public pounding Seattle moved pretty quick.”
NFC: Seahawks vs. Rams — Drama, Mistakes, and Sam Darnold
- Recap of a wild, mistake-filled back-and-forth game.
- Discussion about an unsportsmanlike penalty that nearly doomed a defender:
- Hahn (21:56): “It’s one of those moments...I’ll never forget it…right as Stafford took the ball...Tom Brady, calling the game, you hear him chuckle...like he knew [Stafford] was going right at [the penalized defender].”
- Critical taunt penalty: hosts argue about whether it should be called in such a moment, admitting the letter of the law was enforced.
- Hahn (28:10): “What happens here, this is why there’s a rule...someone steps in, now you got a big altercation...officials lost control of the game.”
- Debate over more officiating decisions, especially confusion on what constitutes a catch, and the controversial Cooper Kupp play.
- Rosenberg (29:53): “They didn’t even really...I mean, it was another quick decision. Nope, that’s a catch. Well, hold on.”
- Hahn (30:23): “You’re right about that...That’s not a catch. I don’t understand it.”
3. Super Bowl Reaction: Patriots vs. Seahawks
Timestamps: 31:34–36:31
- Hosts bemoan the matchup as underwhelming, with neither team playing especially well.
- Rosenberg (31:59): “I’m disgusted by the Super Bowl matchup. I get no movement. Seattle-New England...”
- But the storyline for Jets fans is positive: root for ex-Jet Sam Darnold, now Seahawks quarterback.
- Hahn (33:41): “A Jets fan can sit back...and easily root for the Seahawks. You would love to see this for Sam Darnold.”
- Praise for Darnold’s perseverance, attitude, and recent hot streak.
- Rosenberg (35:57): “He was such a gentleman, man...Is he the world’s greatest quarterback? Absolutely not. But he is a solid player.”
- Reflection on team-building through coaching and luck; discussion turns to Giants and Jets future potential to ‘do what the Patriots did’: quick turnarounds with good coaching and solid roster.
4. Rapid-Fire: Coaching Carousel & Future Outlooks
Timestamps: 38:10–39:03
- Caller segment: Theme is hope — Patriots’ turnaround serves as inspiration for Giants fans, or any team with a decent roster and good coaching.
- Brief mention Jets are overhauling coaching staff.
5. Sidebar: Music Taste & Show Banter
Timestamps: 39:03–48:19
- Quick detour into musical preferences:
- Extended, playful debate about Don’s “whiteness” in music taste and his refusal to listen to new genres.
- Rosenberg (43:33): “There’s white, and then there’s, ‘I don’t even have a Michael Jackson album.’”
- Alan shows off his eclectic CD/vinyl collection (Wu Tang, Mary J, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Beatles).
- Extended, playful debate about Don’s “whiteness” in music taste and his refusal to listen to new genres.
- Concludes with reflections on how “yacht rock” unites the trio, and a promise to return to Jets offseason discussion next.
6. Notable and Memorable Quotes
- Rosenberg [02:59]: “Whatever gross ideas you have in your mind about New York City after a blizzard, this is what it’s like.”
- Hahn [06:16]: “You don’t want to end the moment because it was a snow globe kind of memory...but man, I couldn’t feel my feet!”
- Rosenberg [09:06]: “I can’t for the life of me understand what the logic was in that moment.”
- Sean Payton (as recounted by Hahn) [10:32]: “Man, we had momentum get up 14...let's be aggressive...Let's get up 14.”
- Hahn [13:30]: “It started looking like a video game at that point...they had to have the graphic yard lines because you couldn’t see it.”
- Rosenberg [16:23]: “Not only are the Patriots back, but they’re back with like one of the most unimpressive looking football teams.”
- Hahn [18:54]: “They didn’t trip when the door was open.”
- Hahn [21:56]: “Tom Brady, calling the game, you hear him chuckle...like he knew [Stafford] was going right at [the penalized defender].”
- Hahn [28:10]: “What happens here, this is why there’s a rule...someone steps in, now you got a big altercation...officials lost control of the game.”
- Rosenberg [31:59]: “I’m disgusted by the Super Bowl matchup. I get no movement. Seattle-New England...”
- Hahn [33:41]: “A Jets fan can sit back...and easily root for the Seahawks. You would love to see this for Sam Darnold.”
- Rosenberg [43:33]: “There’s white, and then there’s, ‘I don’t even have a Michael Jackson album.’”
7. Segment Timestamps for Key Topics
| Segment | Timestamps | |:-------------------------------------|:--------------| | Snowstorm banter & family moments | 00:15–07:14 | | AFC Championship recap | 07:14–14:51 | | NFC Championship recap/Officiating | 21:56–31:34 | | Super Bowl matchup & Darnold story | 31:34–36:31 | | Coaching turnover & team futures | 38:10–39:03 | | Music sidebar | 39:03–48:19 |
Summary Takeaways
- AFC/NFC Championships featured high drama, tough conditions, and pivotal coaching choices—especially Sean Payton’s much-criticized aggressiveness.
- Patriots advance to yet another Super Bowl, eliciting frustration and begrudging respect from the hosts.
- NFC’s big story is Sam Darnold’s redemption; Jets fans have reason to cheer for him against their ancient rival.
- Hosts display hallmark New York skepticism, humor, and nostalgia—on football, fatherhood, and the eternal argument over musical taste.
- The show maintains insider energy and conversational flow, mixing smart football breakdowns with broader life and pop culture musings.
Next up: Listener calls and a deep dive into the Jets’ staff overhaul, in Hour 2!