NFL Cover Zero: Heading to Buffalo for NFL Week 11!

Podcast: KSR (iHeartPodcasts & Sports Talk 790)
Date: November 14, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Billy Rutledge, Laquan Jones, Michael F. Florio

Episode Overview

This midweek edition of NFL Cover Zero is as much a pregame show for the crew's upcoming road trip to Buffalo as it is a recap and discussion of the week's top NFL headlines. The hosts bring their signature banter and humor as they chart plans for tailgating, press box adventures, and meeting Bills Mafia, all while breaking down the biggest news stories in the league, including coaching changes, player trades, MVP hopefuls, fantasy ups and downs, international games, and more.

Trip to Buffalo: On the Road with Cover Zero

• The Adventure

  • The hosts are excited for their first on-the-road NFL Cover Zero episode, traveling from Kentucky through Ohio and Pennsylvania to Buffalo for the Bills vs. Bucs game. (02:10)
  • Billy: “A Bills game has been high on my sports bucket list for a long time...I want to see Mafia in full speed." (03:09)

• Travel Banter & Credentials

  • The crew teases those lacking passports, foiled plans for a hop into Canada, and border crossing misadventures. (04:10–04:44)
  • It’s their first time with actual NFL press credentials, and Matt notes, “They approve your credentials a lot faster when you’re with the NFL…Thirty seconds, you’re in." (05:35)

• Hopes for the Trip

  • They hope to run into (and possibly prank) broadcaster Ian Eagle in the booth. (06:23)
  • Anticipate tailgating, legendary wings ("media room wings"), and locating a Buffalo bar to host the show after the game. (07:17, 46:30)
  • On the experience: "We’re not gonna fit in with these people...we’re gonna be trying to break into Ian Eagle and J.J. Watt's booth." (71:10)

Top NFL Stories & Crew Commentary

Billy brings a "top 10" list of big stories from around the league, sparking wide-ranging (and hilarious) conversations.

1. Giants Fire Brian Daboll [10:03]

• Giants let go of coach Daboll (2022 Coach of the Year), keep GM Joe Schoen after a 20-40-1 record and a disastrous season following QB injuries.
• Matt: “Not a shock...the only reason you would have kept Day Ball is...he helped develop Josh Allen.”
• The group debates how hands-on owners should be, referencing Jim Irsay and the Bears' owner as examples of too much vs. too little involvement. (11:06–15:44)

Notable Exchange [15:44]

• Billy: “If I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m just removing myself and then blaming everyone.”
• Matt: “I think I’d be very involved, but I would not pick the seventh round pick.”
  This leads into a broader discussion on choosing QBs in the draft, owners meddling, and fan perception.

2. Player Diva Drama: A.J. Brown (Eagles) Speaks Out [20:06]

• A.J. Brown, while playing Madden on Twitch, calls the Eagles offense "a bleep show" and tells fantasy owners to "get rid of me." (20:35)
• Billy: "He has to be the NFL’s leading diva right now. And I say that with love." (21:41)
• The hosts riff on the phenomenon of player podcasts/streams causing more headlines than actual media interviews.
  Matt: “Does anyone ever say anything intellectual on a Twitch stream?” (20:15)

3. Matthew Stafford Reaches .500 Record in 17th Year [28:26]

• Stafford finally evens his career record at 115-115-1 as he becomes an MVP contender. (28:30)
• The crew riffs on his longevity and career arc: “Has he ever won the MVP before?...there might be kind of a lifetime achievement award to this a little bit.” (29:57)
• Long-running bits about milk, 90s teen idols, and the secret to Stafford's marriage add comic relief. (29:34–35:56)

4. Drew Brees Joins Fox, NFL Announcer Rankings [36:13]

• Brees makes his Fox debut, joins the broadcast crew with Tom Brady.
• Matt: "He's an example of why you can't just completely dismiss an announcer when they start..." (36:31)
• Spirited debate about the best NFL color commentators: Greg Olsen, Chris Collinsworth, J.J. Watt, Troy Aikman, and Tony Romo get shout-outs and some gentle roasting. (37:40–39:56)

5. CJ Stroud Out, Davis Mills In (Texans) [41:24]

• Stroud is concussed, so former starter Davis Mills gets the nod against the Titans.
• The hosts, especially Billy, darkly joke Mills will probably have a big game: "I think they're going to win." (42:05)

6. NFL Goes Global – International Series & Halftime Star [47:56]

• The last international game of 2025 is in Madrid: Commanders vs. Dolphins, with Daddy Yankee performing at halftime.
• Matt: “I’m not calling anyone Daddy Yankee.” After some research, they realize Daddy Yankee is a reggaeton legend best known for "Gasolina." (48:06–49:16)
• Brief detour into why Spain would be Matt's dream country: "Spain is my favorite country...just the whole vibe. Take naps in the afternoon." (50:51)

7. 49ers vs Cardinals – Marvin Harrison Jr. Out After Appendicitis [52:57]

• Arizona will miss star rookie Marvin Harrison Jr., who undergoes appendectomy.
• The group ponders the human appendix (“What does your appendix do?”) and why “gut health” became trendy. (53:13–55:03)

8. Jaire Alexander Steps Away from Eagles (Mental/Physical Health) [60:42]

• Eagles recently traded for CB Alexander, but he steps away for health reasons after just one week.
• Matt shows empathy: "If something's happening where you don't feel like you can be at your best, good to step away and go take care of it." (61:01)

9. Jameis Winston to Start for Giants [61:46]

• QB Jackson Dart remains in concussion protocol, so Jameis Winston (noted for his entertaining pressers and unpredictability) gets the start.
• Billy: “He is very entertaining and the video of him at the press conference was excellent. Singing Hamilton!” (62:08–62:14)

10. Playoff Picture & Picks [65:32]

• Laquan and Billy run through the AFC/NFC playoff seedings as of this week (65:37), with the Chiefs on the outside looking in, making for "crazy" implications ("Big game for the Chiefs," says Matt at 66:31).
• Survivor League, Touchdown Game picks, and rules for the crew in the press box in Buffalo are discussed with irreverent predictions and strict limits on fan behavior. (67:17–71:53)
• Matt lays down rules: "You cannot wear team gear in the press box..." (71:16)
• Billy prepares his “Billy Rutledge, NFL” media persona for the locker room. (72:43)

Notable Quotes & Fun Moments

• On being part of the NFL:

  • “They want to make sure you’re looking good on that [press] pass." — Billy (05:52)
  • “That feels very confident to say you are with the NFL…on the organizational chart, I think it’s fairly certain you’re at the very bottom.” — Matt (08:10)

• On owner involvement:

  • "I would want to be liked by my fans...I would not want to be Jerry with my hand on everything." — Billy (13:47)

• On Twitch culture:

  • "Do we need to be twitching, Mario? Should we be twitch streaming this?" — Matt (20:26)

• On stafford's career:

  • “I know they’re good, but he’s got to be careful to get above .500 and stay there. You can’t retire under .500 if you’re Matthew.” — Billy (30:02)

• On player-fan boundaries:

  • "Please, when we walk in, don't cry." — Matt to Billy, a diehard Bucs fan (72:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:10] – Road trip to Buffalo: route and crew excitement
• [10:03] – Giants fire Brian Daboll; owner involvement debate
• [20:06] – A.J. Brown’s critical Twitch comments/fantasy football
• [28:26] – Matthew Stafford reaches career .500
• [36:13] – Drew Brees joins Fox, announcer rankings
• [41:24] – CJ Stroud out for Texans, Mills to start
• [47:56] – NFL’s Madrid game, Daddy Yankee halftime
• [52:57] – Marvin Harrison Jr. out; What does an appendix do?!
• [60:42] – Jaire Alexander steps away from football
• [61:46] – Jameis Winston to start; Russell Wilson’s decline
• [65:32] – Playoff scenarios, Survivor/Touchdown Game picks
• [71:16] – Press box rules, prepping for Bills-Bucs access

Summary & Takeaways

This episode delivers the signature KSR blend of gridiron discussion and levity. While eager for their Buffalo adventure, Matt, Drew, Billy, and friends break down a busy week in the NFL, never straying far from tangents—be it 90s teen idols, gut health, or the trials of Bailey Zappe. The episode is particularly rich in personality-driven NFL takes, fan-access stories, and behind-the-scenes commentary on media coverage and team culture.

Best for:

• Fans interested in a casual but informative NFL roundup
• Listeners wanting a sports podcast with humor and personality
• Anyone curious about the press box experience and fan/media crossover

Next up:
Catch the crew's next episode: a live podcast from Buffalo, full of game day stories, interviews, and their search for the city’s best wings—media room or otherwise!