KSR: NFL Cover Zero

Episode: How many teams are capable of winning the Super Bowl?
Date: January 5, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones & Drew Franklin, joined by Billy
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the dramatic close of the NFL regular season, offers spirited recaps of chaotic games (especially Ravens-Steelers), and sets the stage for the most wide-open NFL playoff field in recent memory. The hosts, Matt Jones and Drew Franklin, with contributions from Billy, combine sharp analysis with their signature humor and banter, dissecting key moments, coaching controversies, quirky traditions, and the prospects of every playoff contender.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Ravens vs. Steelers: A Classic Finale

Main Takeaways:

• The final regular season Sunday Night Football game between the Ravens and Steelers delivered maximum chaos and heartbreak.
  • Both teams' usually reliable kickers missed crucial attempts.
  • The game was decided on a missed 44-yarder by Ravens replacement kicker Tyler Loop, and a rare missed PAT by Steelers' Chris Boswell.
• Emotional fallout included Loop crying immediately after the miss, and discussion on the pressures unique to NFL kickers.
• The crew reflected on how a single play shaped futures — for kickers, coaches (John Harbaugh mentioned as a potential firing candidate), and franchise records.

Memorable Quotes:

• "Kickers, man. Nothing better than starting with people's failures." — Drew Franklin (03:20)
• "Really, they both robbed all of us of maybe more football. Maybe we're not even talking right now. We're watching Lamar and Aaron Rodgers just seeing who's the least washed right now." — Matt Jones (05:49)

Timestamps:

• Recap and analysis begin at [02:24]
• Kicker talk and aftermath [03:09]–[05:56]

Coaching Carousel and Steelers’ Future

• Mike Tomlin’s fluctuating public sentiment—famously booed by Steelers fans recently, kissed the camera post-victory.
• Speculation: If Tomlin left, he’d be “the most wanted coach in the league”, with potential landing spots (including rivals).
• Tomlin’s streak of nine-win seasons continues to amaze.

Noteworthy:

• “He would be if he's a free agent. Anyone would want him, right?” — Drew Franklin [08:23]

Group Chats & NFL Fandom Humor

• The hosts’ group chats provide fodder and running jokes. They admit many of their best lines are crowd-sourced from these threads (cue “Tyler Poop”).
• Discussion of group chat etiquette, iPhone vs Android banter (“green people are going to be like Tyler Loop in terms of their ability to go anywhere”).
• Reflection on the emotional minefield for failed kickers — especially being young, likable, and outmatched in a locker room.

Timestamps: [09:30]–[12:21]
Quote: “If we're going to throw me under the bus here, I'm going to throw my group chat.” — Matt Jones (10:34)

AFC South Drama: Texans, Jags, Colts, and Kicker Oddities

• Texans pulled Davis Mills in the second half after Jags-Titans game outcome made their result moot.
• Bill notes Davis Mills’ unexpected QB success this year and speculates on his offseason value ("could be a guy you'd look at").
• Noting Jaguars kicker Cam Little’s record-breaking kicking distances, sparking tongue-in-cheek calls to change kicking rules.
• Inside jokes about “specialists' group chats” and the secret fraternity of long snappers.

Timestamps: [13:23]–[18:04]
Quote: “Long snappers have to hug each other and go, we are pulling one on the world, right? We are using a roster spot and we don't do anything." — Drew Franklin (17:53)

Jaguars’ Culture, Grills, and Newfound Respect

• Trevor Lawrence received "grills" post-game, explained as a Duval County/Jacksonville thing.
• The Jags are described as "the most disrespected good team" despite Lawrence's performance surge.

Timestamps: [18:52]–[20:05]

Browns vs. Bengals, Miles Garrett, and Disappointments

• Browns win, hit the season win over. Coaching future (Stefanski) in question.
• Miles Garrett celebrates breaking the sack record—draws Bengals coach Zach Taylor’s ire for the mid-game celebration.
• Who's the NFL's most disappointing: Bengals or Chiefs?

Timestamps: [23:56]–[27:06]
Quote: “If I'm an Eagles fan, I'm livid ... just play our guys, get a comfortable league, then bench them.” — Matt Jones (45:50)

NFC South Shenanigans & Carolina Mike

• Buffoonery of the division: Panthers win the division despite a “depressing” end to Billy’s Bucs season.
• The phenomenon of “Carolina Mike” and his one-hit Panthers anthem at sporting events.
• Observations on fans’ confusion when faced with Panthers lore out of context.

Timestamps: [32:37]–[35:12]

Packers, Vikings, Bears, and the Playoff Landscape

• Some games received no Red Zone coverage; the impact on team morale and season retrospectives.
• Injury reports and uncertain futures for key QBs (including notes on J.J. McCarthy and Davis Mills).

Timestamps: [36:16]–[37:38]

Red Zone Farewells & Broadcast Nostalgia

• Emotional sign-off by Scott Hansen, sparking speculation: “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened today.”
• Tributes to Andrew Siciliano and the unique role of Red Zone hosts.

Timestamps: [37:38]–[39:27]

Four O’ Clock Games & Playoff Seeding Madness

• Stafford’s MVP race, arguments over stat-padding.
• Raiders secure the #1 pick; Pete Carroll’s possible sendoff after a win over the Chiefs.
• Random tangent: remembering Joe Bugle, NFL coach.

Timestamps: [42:22]–[45:12]

Coaches’ Gambles, Resting Starters, and Risks

• Eagles rest their starters vs. Commanders and lose the No. 2 seed.
• Discussion about playoff seeding’s crucial impact: did Nick Sirianni overthink it?

Timestamps: [45:50]–[47:00]

Playoff Preview & the “Shakey’s Game” Tradition

• Annual nod to Bill Simmons' "Shakey's Pizza" tradition for the first Saturday wild-card game, this year Rams vs. Panthers.
• Texans finally avoid their regular slot as the "Shakey's Game."

Timestamps: [53:21]–[54:34]

Wide-Open Playoff Field: Who Can Win It All?

Key Theme: This may be the most uncertain, "open" playoff field in NFL memory.

• Only Steelers and Panthers are considered true long shots.
• Realistic cases could be made for 11 teams to win the Super Bowl.

Timestamps: [71:01]–[72:32] Quote:

• "For the first time that I can ever remember, you could make a case for the other 12... I genuinely think 11 teams could win the Super Bowl, and I'm not sure that's ever been true." — Drew Franklin (71:40)
• “No One is truly like elite, elite, elite. Most years there's a team where you know somebody's have to knock them off. We don't have that this year.” — Matt Jones (71:40)

Memorable Quotes & Fun Banter

• “If you’re crying immediately... you were like preemptively crying before, like you knew this could happen.” — Drew Franklin, on Tyler Loop’s emotional moment [06:00]
• “Do you think God is like, Tyler Loop, I'm going to make your life miserable for the next…?” — Drew Franklin, on ‘divine intervention’ in sports [67:19]
• “Long snappers have to hug each other and go, we are pulling one on the world, right?” — Drew Franklin [17:53]
• “I think the Chargers weakness has been their offensive line. But the Patriots have not done a great job getting to the passers. So I think that's okay… I just feel like the Patriots had such an easy schedule. It's got to catch up to them at some point.” — Drew Franklin, playoff matchup preview [65:24]
• “I want to congratulate the Texans… This is the first time in their history that they are in Wild Card Weekend and NOT the first 4:30 Saturday game.” — Matt Jones [54:34]

Playoff Matchup Breakdown (with Timestamps)

• Rams vs. Panthers (“The Shakey’s Game”): [54:34]–[55:19]
• Bears vs. Packers: [58:01]–[60:03]
• Bills vs. Jaguars: [61:04]–[62:08]
• 49ers vs. Eagles: [64:38]–[65:05]
• Chargers vs. Patriots: [65:10]–[65:52]
• Texans vs. Steelers: [68:35]–[69:03]

Notable Side Conversations

• The cultural phenomenon of "Carolina Mike" and one-hit sports songs. [32:37]
• AI “predicting” future Super Bowl champions, including ‘Harris Teeter’ grocery store and ‘KISS’ the band, mocking overinflated tech optimism. [49:03]–[51:45]
• Playoff pool parties in Jacksonville—cost, rules, and the mythos (Lucha Libre mask, "one-piece only?"). [62:08]–[64:03]
• Meeting celebrity idols—how to talk to famous people without being a super fan. [29:40]–[31:45]
• Spoilers for “Joker 2” and offhand TV/film discussion. [73:40]–[75:36]

Tone & Style

In classic KSR fashion, the pod interweaves sharp, sometimes self-deprecating analysis, group-chat humor, irreverence about NFL traditions, and quick pivots into pop culture and local sports folklore. The rapport among Matt, Drew, and Billy creates a uniquely relatable, comedic overlay—“just friends talking football, life, and everything in between.”

Conclusion

This episode serves both as a cathartic wrap on the NFL regular season and an energetic launchpad for wild card week. With only a couple of teams seen as true long shots, the playoffs are portrayed as “the most open ever,” setting up an anything-can-happen January.

Teaser for Next Episode:

• Midweek podcast will feature a special “touchdown draft” for playoff games and a breakdown of Black Monday’s coaching carnage. Picks and full brackets are coming up next.

Playoff Field Summary

“11 teams could win the Super Bowl. That’s amazing. It’s going to be arguably the most open playoff of all time. There’s not one team in the playoffs that I think is guaranteed to win their first game.” — Drew Franklin [72:09]