Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: DHR Pro Picks (September 5, 2025)
Overview
This episode of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast centers on one of listeners’ favorite features: the trio’s weekly NFL “Pro Picks.” As the NFL season is about to kick off, Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg each reveal their picks and insights for the first week’s slate of games, diving into point spreads, survivor pool choices, player matchups, and season outlooks for New York’s teams. The segment is filled with camaraderie, competitive banter, and colorful New York sports talk, all delivered in the cast’s trademark mix of humor and analysis.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The "Cover Five" System & How the Pro Picks Work
- Each host picks five games, but only three are their “big” picks for the on-air contest.
- Survivor picks—chosen teams they believe are guaranteed to win that week—are also included.
- Banter sets the tone as Alan comes prepared and Peter and Don jockey for order, teasing Don about his last-minute app technicalities.
- Notable quote: “Don’s not prepared.” – Alan Hahn [01:25]
Alan Hahn’s Picks & Breakdown
His Five (with emphasis on the main three):
- Chiefs -3.5 vs. Lions (Thursday Night Game)
- “Kansas City has won 17 straight games decided by one possession. This is probably going to be a close game...so I’m going there.” [01:41]
- Bengals -5.5 at Browns
- “Yes, I know the Bengals are notoriously bad starters...but Joe Burrow has a different kind of swagger to him right now. And the Browns are a disaster.” [02:00]
- Patriots -2.5 vs. Raiders (1-point play)
- Broncos -8.5 vs. Titans (2-point play)
- “Quarterbacks taken number one overall are 4-15-1 in their season openers as a rookie.” [02:29]
- Cardinals -6.5 vs. Saints (3-point play & Survivor pick)
- “Saints are usually good in home openers but again, this is not your father’s Saints...they’re 0-7 when Derek Carr didn’t start last season... Kyler Murray’s fantasy gold, but the question is – can he lead this Cardinals team to the playoffs? I think it starts on that game.” [02:59]
Summary quote:
"Say it with your chest." – Alan Hahn [03:53]
Peter Rosenberg’s Picks & Breakdown
Breaking Down the Five (with Survivor)
- Commanders -6.5 vs. Giants
- “If this is a year when the Commanders are special guys, and I kind of believe it is, maybe it’s a year when they finally do things like beat the Giants by more than six and a half points.” [04:27]
- Ravens +1.5 at Bills
- “The Ravens owe the Bills one and I’ll take Lamar Jackson in an opener to start. He doesn’t finish strong but they seem to start strong.” [04:39]
- Dolphins -1.5 at Colts (1-point play)
- “It is a filthy, dirty, nasty, repulsive game if we’re being completely honest… but I do not expect anything from this Colts team.” [05:08]
- Bears +3.5 vs. Vikings (Monday Night) (2-point play)
- “I think we’re finally getting to the place where the Bears take that step forward. I don’t think they’ll be great, but I think they could win an opener with Caleb Williams at the helm Monday night.” [05:38]
- Lions +1.5 at Packers (3-point play)
- “Give me the team that’s been dominant all over the NFC for the last couple of years. The Lions is my three-point play.” [06:38]
Survivor Pick
- Broncos over Titans
- “Give me a rookie quarterback going up in the air now.”
- Rosenberg is less high on Denver long-term but loves the matchup this week. [12:02]
Don La Greca’s Picks & Breakdown
His Five (emphasizing the big three and survivor)
- Jets -2.5 vs. Steelers
- Giants +6.5 at Commanders
- “They played the Commanders very well twice last year and again the line didn’t move with the possibility of Thomas not being in.” [08:20]
- Cowboys -8.5 vs. Opponent (already won this pick, making it his 3-point play)
- Broncos -8.5 vs. Titans (1-point play)
- “It’s a hefty number...In the draft era, quarterbacks taken first overall in their debut are 4-15-1 and it’s a difficult place to play...I think the Broncos will take care of business.” [09:43]
- Bengals -5.5 at Browns (2-point play)
- “The Browns have lost six straight games against the spread. It’s the longest active streak in the NFL. So I like the Bengals.” [09:51]
Survivor Pick
- Broncos over Titans
- “If I’m taking Denver favorite, eight and a half, that is my survivor pick as well, the Denver Broncos.” [12:20]
Summary quote:
“That rookie quarterback stat really got a lot of mileage.” – Don La Greca [10:31]
Insights and Banter: Week One NFL Pick Strategies
- Hosts emphasize that Week One is largely a guessing game, given roster turnover, lack of preseason snaps for starters, and the unpredictability of new coaches and rookies.
- “You probably guess for the first few weeks and then we’ll get it figured out.” – Don [11:31]
- “Week one, I really am [pulling picks out of my you-know-what].” – Peter [11:09]
- All three align on Denver as a strong survivor pick, citing the struggles of rookie quarterbacks in their debuts, especially on the road and at altitude.
Evaluating the Broncos
- Don: “Are they Raven good? Are they Bills good? Are they Chiefs good?” [12:47]
- Alan: “That team is going to be formidable…They do play in probably the toughest, if not the toughest, division.” [13:08]
- The group debates whether Bo Nix or Sean Payton can unlock Denver’s upside this season.
Miscellaneous Analysis
- Discussion of the Giants’ prospects if they start 0-4 and timing for rookie QB Dart to take over. [20:43]
- Alan praises the Yankees’ recent lineup and postseason push, briefly touching on their playoff hopes. [19:24]
- Brief advice to pessimistic Giants fans hoping for a win, with Don and Alan dissecting early-season matchups against Washington, Dallas, and Kansas City. [21:05–21:57]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:25 | Alan Hahn | “Don’s not prepared.” | | 03:53 | Alan Hahn | “Say it with your chest.” | | 04:27 | Peter Rosenberg| “If this is a year when the Commanders are special guys…and I kind of believe it is…” | | 09:43 | Don La Greca | “It’s a hefty number…but the Broncos will take care of business.” | | 10:31 | Don La Greca | “That rookie quarterback stat really got a lot of mileage.” | | 11:31 | Don La Greca | “You’re just kind of guessing for the first few weeks…then we'll get it figured out.” | | 13:08 | Alan Hahn | “That team is going to be formidable. I mean, they do play in…the toughest divisions.” | | 19:24 | Alan Hahn | “Tonight’s lineup…might be their best lineup and this might be the playoff lineup.” |
Important Segments & Timestamps
- [00:42] – Start of DHR Pro Picks
- [01:29–03:45] – Alan Hahn’s picks in detail
- [04:04–06:51] – Peter Rosenberg’s picks in detail
- [08:18–10:43] – Don La Greca’s picks in detail
- [11:03–12:40] – Reflections on Week One unpredictability and survivor picks
- [13:08–14:37] – Broncos/Debate on team upside and rookie impact
- [19:24–22:23] – Yankees’ playoff hopes and Giants’ fan call-in on early season outlook
Tone and Language
The hosts remain brash, knowledgeable, and playful:
- Peter’s self-deprecation about “filthy, dirty, nasty, repulsive games.”
- Alan’s statistical approach with punchy delivery: “Say it with your chest.”
- Don’s avuncular advice and dry skepticism about betting strategies and hunches.
Summary
Hour 3: DHR Pro Picks offers NFL Week 1 picks, survivor strategies, and New York sports opinions with vintage banter, sharp insights, and the occasional stat-driven mic drop. For listeners looking for betting angles, fantasy tips, or just infectious New York sports talk, this episode packs a punch!
For details on each host’s picks and their rationales, jump to the 01:29 (Alan), 04:04 (Peter), and 08:18 (Don) marks in the episode.