Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: NFL Conference Championship Preview (Jan 23, 2026)

Episode Theme & Purpose

This episode focuses on an in-depth preview of NFL Conference Championship Weekend, with the trio—Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—breaking down both games: Patriots vs. Broncos (AFC) and Rams vs. Seahawks (NFC). The group dives into matchup analysis, betting line movement, quarterback situations, coaching decisions, and broader ramifications for teams and players. The second half of the episode features a detailed winter weather advisory with meteorologist Rich Hoffman, as well as some signature banter and friendly ribbing among the hosts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. AFC Championship: Patriots vs. Broncos

• Betting Line Movements & Quarterback Uncertainty
  • Initial line opened with Denver as slight favorites (Broncos -1.5) but swung drastically towards the Patriots after the Bo Nix injury before creeping back as "pros bought the Broncos" at +5.5.
  • As of the broadcast, the line moves rapidly—from 3.5 to 4.5—showing market uncertainty.
    • "Wait, already? ... Are they listening to this show?" – Alan Hahn on the rapid shift in the spread. (14:57)
• Bo Nix Injury and Jared Stidham's Opportunity
  • Jared Stidham steps in for Bo Nix, who is out. There's discussion about the challenge of having so little NFL tape on Stidham and if this could help or hinder Denver.
    • “You don’t know what they’re going to do now. At least with Nix you have a whole season ... but what tape do you have really on Stidham?” – Peter Rosenberg (7:57)
  • Sean Payton praised Stidham’s calm demeanor and preparedness:
    • "He's got this calm demeanor that I think suits him well … I felt like our two [backup QB] was inside the best 32." – Sean Payton (via Don, 10:57)
• Coaching Chess Match
  • Heavy emphasis on Sean Payton’s strategic acumen vs. Mike Vrabel and the Patriots’ playoff-tested defense.
  • Denver’s defensive prowess spotlighted: 71 sacks on the year, second-highest QB pressure rate.
    • “Denver's defense ... 71 sacks so far on the entire season. Second highest quarterback pressure as well.” – Alan Hahn (9:13)
  • Turnover issues loom large for both QBs, with Denver hoping to capitalize on Drake May’s postseason struggles (down to 59% completion, 6 fumbles in playoffs).
• Atmosphere and Psychological Pressure
  • Discussion of psychological factors for Stidham: with low expectations comes less pressure, but high stakes still exist.
    • “I don't feel a lot of pressure ... what do you really honestly expect him to go out there and do?” – Don La Greca (10:02)
    • “As an athlete, you're always going to feel that pressure because ... I want to give us a chance.” – Alan Hahn (10:06)

2. NFC Championship: Rams vs. Seahawks

• Sam Darnold's Legacy Game
  • Emphasis on what a win means for Darnold’s career trajectory and Seattle’s opportunity after a long Super Bowl drought.
    • “If Sam were to lose... it is very easy in this league to never get back to championship games.” – Peter Rosenberg (19:00)
• Stafford Debate—System or Skills?
  • Conversation about whether Matt Stafford’s monster season (46 TDs) is inflated by a loaded receiving corps (Davante Adams, Puka Nacua), with comparisons to other QBs in loaded offenses.
    • “Stafford’s a great quarterback, but how could you not be great in this offense with Davante Adams and Puka Nacua?” – Peter Rosenberg (20:44)
  • Hahn and Don argue that other teams with weapons failed, giving Stafford his due for maximizing talent.
• Preview & Pick Tensions
  • Hosts hesitate between rooting for underdog narratives and picking based on logic; Alan and Peter lean Seattle, Don stands by the Rams’ experience.
  • “You gotta be a man about it. You can't be dishonest.” – Don La Greca on making genuine picks (49:20)

3. Super Bowl Lookahead & Odds

• The NFC champion is expected to be favored—possibly heavily—in the Super Bowl regardless of the AFC outcome.
  • “If it’s Seattle and the Broncos, it would be Seattle ... nine and a half. Damn.” – Peter Rosenberg (23:50)
• Seattle and New England are considered comparable teams, both defensively stout with coaches and QBs looking to prove themselves.

4. Friendly Banter & Personal Anecdotes

• Extended riffing on Stidham’s family connections to Tad Brown (CEO of Harris Group, Devils/Sixers) and “money finds money.”
  • “Stitty could basically tell Don to get lost if he wanted to … CEO of the ownership group.” – Peter Rosenberg (16:33)
• Inside jokes about group texts, wives, and the unique world of sports radio camaraderie.
  • “He’s a bad guy. He’s your friend, but he's a bad guy.” – Peter Rosenberg on Rick (41:22)

5. Winter Storm Preview with Meteorologist Rich Hoffman (27:33–36:15)

• Storm Timing & Impact
  • Heavy snow expected Sunday, making travel hazardous—especially 8AM onward.
    • “Around a foot of snow ... Hudson Valley, maybe 15 to 18 inches.” – Rich Hoffman (28:39)
  • Cold before and after the storm means snow will linger, with sub-zero temperatures forecast late next week.
    • “This snow’s not going anywhere anytime fast.” – Rich Hoffman (29:36)
• Advice for Listeners
  • Urged to stay home Sunday, plan for slow cleanup, expect potential school delays/virtual days on Monday and Tuesday.
  • Ground will freeze, making the first inch dangerous for travel (“1 inch of snow could be much worse than 6 inches when it’s that cold.” – 31:08)
• Aviation Questions
  • Don and Peter ask about their chances to fly back Monday; personal travel plans at the mercy of snow/airlines.
  • “You're probably going to be leaving Monday ... they're going to try to keep [planes] out of the Tri-State…” – Rich Hoffman (32:52)
• Hockey Sidebar
  • Excitement about “pond hockey” with extended cold spell: “By the middle of next week, we'll be out on the ponds playing a little hockey with the kids.” – Rich Hoffman (36:04)

6. Hosts’ Championship Picks (44:11–52:03)

• General Standings:
  • Don is running away with the picks standings; Alan in second; Peter in third.
• Picks Breakdown:
  • All hosts see Denver covering against New England for varying point values, with Peter and Alan taking Seattle and Don choosing the Rams (leaning on Stafford’s experience).
    • “Give me Sean Payton to keep it close ... Seahawks as my 2 and the Broncos my 3.” – Peter Rosenberg (47:12)
    • “This is going to be a low scoring game. May has been shaky in the playoffs. This is a tough defense. … Give me Denver for three point play at four and a half.” – Alan Hahn (49:34)
    • “My two point play will be the Broncos ... my 3 point play [is] Rams and the experience of Stafford.” – Don La Greca (50:54)

Memorable Quotes & Fun Moments

• On betting line volatility:
  “Wait, already? ... Are they listening to this show?”
  — Alan Hahn (14:57)
• On unknowns at QB:
  “What tape do you have really on Stidham to know what they're going to do?”
  — Peter Rosenberg (7:57)
• On Super Bowl favoritism:
  “Stephen A. said the Super Bowl is the NFC Championship game. Are we buying that?”
  — Alan Hahn (22:58)
• Riff on Stidham’s family ties:
  “Money finds money, Don. And no matter what happens ... old Stitty's going to be just fine.”
  — Peter Rosenberg (17:09)
• Meteorological wisdom:
  “1 inch of snow could be much worse than 6 inches when it's that cold.”
  — Rich Hoffman (31:08)
• On making honest picks versus "playing defense":
  “You gotta be a man about it. You can't be dishonest.”
  — Don La Greca (49:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• AFC Championship Betting Line Analysis: 02:01–16:00
• NFC Championship Darnold/Stafford Legacies: 18:40–23:45
• Super Bowl Odds & Steven A. Take: 22:51–24:23
• Stidham’s Family Connection & Ownership: 16:22–17:36
• Winter Storm Deep Dive with Rich Hoffman: 27:33–36:15
• Hosts’ Championship Picks Segment: 44:11–52:03
• Best Banter Group Chat Segment: 37:17–41:22

Tone & Character

The episode balances earnest sports analysis with sharp New York wit, laid-back ribbing, and plenty of real-world asides (travel, weather, inside stories), making it as much community hangout as expert preview. The trio’s chemistry is on full display—mixing detail-rich assessments, betting lingo, and classic “locker room” humor.

For Listeners: Main Takeaways

• Expect defensive, close AFC title game—Denver’s a live dog even with a backup QB.
• NFC features a legacy-defining moment for Sam Darnold, but Stafford’s seasoned experience looms.
• Betting lines may keep shifting up to kickoff due to QB uncertainties.
• Super Bowl will likely see NFC favorites regardless of pairing.
• If you’re in the NY/NJ area—get your snow shovels and streaming setup ready. Sunday is for staying in and watching football!
• Classic banter and group humor rounds out an engaging, insider-minded hour.