KSR – NFL Cover Zero: Celebrating National Tight End Day?

Release Date: October 27, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Billy
Podcast: KSR – iHeartPodcasts / Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)

Episode Overview

This episode of "NFL Cover Zero" recaps a lopsided NFL Sunday, where only one game was close. The hosts, Matt Jones and Drew Franklin (with Billy), use the week's relative lack of on-field drama to explore quirky highlights, key moments, and random NFL news—with a special focus (and much debate) on "National Tight End Day". The show flows between high-level analysis and lighthearted, irreverent banter fitting their established KSR community style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Week of Blowouts: Setting the Stage

• NFL Sunday Recap: Almost all games were lopsided, with only one real one-possession contest.
  • "Only one game even kind of was exciting… it was a good time, I think, to focus on other things." (Matt Jones, 02:15)
• Survivor League Update: Matt and Billy (theoretically) still alive; Drew knocked out long ago; detailed banter about strategies and picks.

2. Packers vs. Steelers: Aaron Rodgers’ “Homecoming” Spoiled

• Rodgers’ Sentimentality: Rodgers tried to win over Green Bay fans, but his return was “ruined” by the Steelers.
• Uniforms Debacle:
  • “Those are the ugliest uniforms of all time… looked obscene…just leave the past in the past.” (Matt, 05:34–05:58)
• Rodgers Showing His Age:
  • “This was really the first game in this iteration of Aaron Rodgers…the Steelers win where he looked like age had hit him.” (Matt, 06:28)
• Jordan Love’s Stellar Game:
  • 20 straight completions—questioning why the NFL doesn't track completion streaks more carefully.

3. National Tight End Day: Sincere Celebration or Manufactured Hype?

• Overexposure?
  • “I heard the phrase National Tight End Day today 150 times. I think Chris Hansen was paid by the mention by big tight end.” (Matt, 08:08)
• Origin: George Kittle created it about five years ago; hosts riff on why tight ends have their own day.
• Impact?
  • Discussion on whether QBs force more passes to tight ends because of the day.
  • “Tight ends have way too much attention…Gronk is on every commercial…George Kittle is everywhere.” (Matt, 09:13)
• Memorable Moment:
  • “Did you see [Tucker Kraft] did a headbutt except the other guy had a helmet on and he did.” (Matt, 10:07)
• Recurring Joke: The hosts roast the idea of tight ends being “underappreciated”.

4. Bengals Epic Collapse vs. Jets, and Justin Fields’ Emotional Turnaround

• Bengals Blow 14-point Lead to Jets:
  • “Bengals were up 38:24… they found a way to blow it… the jets win 39, 38.” (Matt, 13:33)
• Jets Coach Aaron Glenn’s First Win:
  • Shared celebratory vibes—hosts appreciate seeing genuine joy from hard-luck teams.
• Justin Fields’ Vulnerability:
  • “He said he cried in the closet…was in a dark place… Now I like it even more. That is amazing that he would admit that.” (Matt, 15:19)
  • Hosts praise Fields for opening up about mental health struggles.
• Analytics/Coaching Decision:
  • When to go for two when down eight: first time hosts recall strategy working (16:23–17:49).
• Bengals Woes:
  • Fifth time in 2 seasons they’ve scored 33+ points and lost—defense in question.
  • Zach Taylor's postgame comments scrutinized.

5. Giants vs. Eagles: Cam Scadaboo’s Injury and Tush Push Controversy

• Cam Scadaboo’s Gruesome Injury:
  • Hosts liken his brief star run to “Jeremy Lin-sanity”.
  • “You talk about a guy that had just taken over the league in a few weeks…makes everybody really sad.” (Matt, 23:45)
• Tush Push Drama:
  • Refs botch a key call, blow a likely game-changing fumble dead—leading to speculation that the infamous play will finally get banned.
  • Hosts complain both about officiating confusion and the play’s lack of entertainment value.

6. Broncos vs. Cowboys: Bo Nix Hype (and Simpsons Curse)

• Broncos Roll:
  • Bo Nix with back-to-back big games, but skepticism remains: “He giveth and he taketh away.” (Matt, 30:48)
• Strange Streak:
  • “The Cowboys have not beaten the Broncos since 1995. 0 and 8.” (Drew, 31:25)
• Simpsons Curse Fun Fact:
  • “Since the episode where Homer wanted to own the Cowboys and got the Broncos, the Cowboys have never beaten the Broncos.” (Drew, 31:54)

7. Rapid-Fire Game Recaps & Notable Stats

• Bills 40, Panthers 9:
  • Huge day for James Cook (216 yards) and Josh Allen (2 rushing TDs)—now 2nd all-time for QB rush TDs.
  • Andy Dalton may have played (and lost) his final NFL game.
• Bears Collapse Against Ravens:
  • Caleb Williams throws a crushing INT; Huntley, filling in for Lamar Jackson, is sharp.
  • Questions about teams’ honesty in injury reports after Lamar was a late scratch.
• Field Goal Oddities:
  • Three “emergency kicks” all missed—discussion of how ball prep (not using a kicker's preferred ball in emergencies) is a possible cause.
• Greg Olsen’s Coaching Insight:
  • “Coaches now say, if you’re inside the 15…never a reason to kick a field goal…it’s better to fail than take 3 and give up field position.” (Matt, 48:34)
• Simpsons Character Detour:
  • Extended segment discussing favorite Simpsons characters in typical KSR digressive style.

8. National & NFL News and Moments

• Nick Mangold’s Passing:
  • A deeply emotional Rex Ryan segment and game-day tribute as the Jets win in Cincinnati.
• Monday Night Preview:
  • Chiefs expected to rout Commanders; hosts speculate on Manning Cast guests.
• Dolphins Roll Falcons:
  • Tua’s mysterious swollen eyes, Mike McDaniel’s unique sideline style, and Miami’s turnaround.
• Texans Beat 49ers; CJ Stroud Stays Hot:
  • Both Kittle and backup tight end score (on “their” day).
• Patriots Top Browns; Miles Garrett Dominates:
  • “Wasting” a generational talent on a bad team; Five-sack day in a loss.
• Tradition Debate:
  • Mike Vrabel ends Patriots’ long-standing 'team intros' tradition—hosts compare it to stopping “God Bless America” at ballparks.

9. Quick Hits & Humorous Sidebars

• Mouthguard Observations: George Pickens’ creative (and nonsensical) mouthpiece routine.
• Kickers and Ball Prep: Theory that emergency field goals are harder due to inferior "game balls" being used.
• Vandy Now Nashville’s Team over Titans: Lamentations about the Titans’ fall from grace.
• Simpsons at Universal: Anecdote about Moe’s Bar, repeating episodes, and potential madness of forced repetition.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On National Tight End Day:
  “I heard the phrase National Tight End Day today 150 times. I think Chris Hansen was paid by the mention by big tight end.” — Matt Jones [08:08]

• On Ugly Steelers Uniforms:
  “Looked obscene to the naked eye. I think sometimes you should just leave the past in the past. And those Steelers uniforms—they do them every couple of years and I hate them.” — Matt Jones [05:34]

• On Justin Fields owning up to his struggles:
  “He said he cried in the closet…was in a dark place… Now I like it even more. That is amazing that he would admit that.” — Matt Jones [15:19]

• On the Tush Push controversy:
  “Isn't it also bad just because it's not entertaining?... I'm doing it because I don't like watching it. It's boring.” — Matt Jones [28:02]

• Cowboys-Broncos Simpsons curse:
  “The Cowboys have not beaten the Broncos since 1995…There’s a Simpsons curse here.” — Drew Franklin [31:25]

• On Packers’ Quiet Success:
  “I think they're the least talked about really good team in the league.” — Matt Jones [11:06]

• On sad Saints fans:
  “Sad shots of the crowd for the Saints…all these people were dressed in not just beads, they were like fluorescent…they just look so sad during the game. It made me sad.” — Matt Jones [68:16]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:15] — Overview of "chalky" NFL week and Survivor League update
• [05:13] — Packers-Steelers, Rodgers’ return, uniforms rant
• [08:08] — National Tight End Day, media saturation
• [13:33] — Bengals collapse vs. Jets, Justin Fields’ postgame emotion
• [23:19] — Giants-Eagles, Cam Scadaboo injury discussion
• [27:08] — Tush Push controversy, officiating woes
• [31:25] — Cowboys-Broncos “Simpsons curse” and historic losing streak
• [38:21] — George Pickens’ mouthguard routine
• [48:34] — Greg Olsen's field goal inside the 15 insight
• [53:28] — Remembering Nick Mangold
• [56:51] — Manningcast popularity, NFL media personalities
• [61:08] — Texans-49ers recap & Kittle shoutout
• [66:41] — Tradition talk: Patriots’ team announcement and “God Bless America”

Tone & Style

The episode maintains KSR’s signature tone: informal, irreverent, full of left-field asides and pop culture references, but with a deep well of NFL knowledge and genuine fan passion. There’s sharp (often good-natured) needling between hosts, especially around their favorite teams and recurring NFL themes.

For Those Who Missed the Episode

This installment is a perfect capsule of how KSR’s "NFL Cover Zero" can turn a low-drama football week into an entertaining, unpredictable NFL talk show. The crew’s blend of sarcasm, stats, sports culture, and media quirks makes even blowout Sundays and “made up” holidays like National Tight End Day a thread through the entire show. If you want analysis with personality, random trivia, fan grievances, and a celebration (or mockery) of football’s oddities—this is it.

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