KSR: NFL Cover Zero – NFL in Ireland, Cam Ward Frustrated, and Ravens Concern

Podcast: KSR | Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin (with Billy “Mister Four O’Clock”)
Date: September 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This spirited episode brings unique NFL analysis from an exotic location: host Matt Jones reports from a safari tent in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, while Drew Franklin holds down the studio in Lexington. The discussion centers around a historic NFL game in Dublin, unusual moments for players and fans, and emerging storylines on the field. The episode seamlessly weaves in Drew’s biting wit and Matt’s global adventures with lively observations about NFL teams, key games, player mishaps, and a bit of life in the African bush.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Matt Jones Safari Dispatch ([02:30]–[09:41])

• Matt records from South Africa: He shares stories of electric fences, midnight podcasting with hyenas nearby, and the exhaustion after an 11-hour safari.
• Wildlife encounters: Lions, hippos (noted as the most dangerous!), giraffes, rhinos, elephants (“I saw two elephants fight each other”).
• On the novelty fading: "After like seven or eight hours, you're flying by elephants like singing show tunes…and you're like all right, I've had it." ([05:33])
• Tourist faux pas: Describes being with "eight women who get very excited and sometimes just scream," much to the chagrin of the safari guide and nearby animals.

2. Personal Sports Highlights ([09:48]–[10:48])

• Reds in the playoffs: Matt celebrates the Cincinnati Reds clinching a playoff berth, humorously noting they made it by losing—while he’s on the other side of the world.

3. NFL Dublin Game – Steelers vs. Vikings ([10:48]–[15:59])

• First NFL game in Ireland: Steelers beat Vikings 24-21, defense delivers (6 sacks, 2 INTs).
• **Kenneth Gainwell fills in admirably for missing Jalen Warren.
• Skylar Thompson saga ([12:28]–[14:36]): Backup QB was robbed in Dublin pregame night.
  • "Have you ever heard of a player being part of a felony the night before the game and not committing it?" – Matt ([13:43])
  • They joke that locals surely didn’t recognize Skylar: “He could actually walk in wearing a Skylar Thompson jersey and I would not even know who he is.” – Drew ([14:36])
• Irish fan culture: "We've counted 22 NFL jerseys from different teams..." – not about loyalty to the teams playing, but the fun of the global NFL crowd.
• Steelers claim on Ireland: Mike Tomlin’s speech about Rooney family’s Irish heritage aims to make Pittsburgh the “team of Ireland.” Drew is skeptical but amused.

4. Cultural Tangents ([17:07]–[19:26])

• Team names and mascots: Banter about picking teams for the oddest reasons.
  • “Browns… I just like the color brown.” – Drew ([17:24])
• Inventing new mascots: The Louisville Leopards as an expansion NFL team.

5. Aaron Rodgers’ Most Aaron Rodgers Quote ([19:26]–[21:56])

• On being in Dublin:

  “I have a family history here… as folks may know I’m an historian so I kind of know the history, both geopolitically and other things in the area… I don’t really drink beer but if I did I’d drink Guinness.” – Matt quoting Aaron Rodgers ([19:26])

• Matt: “Who says that… Historian is someone who… is an expert on history, is Aaron Rodgers just anointing himself that?”
• Drew: “Has anyone ever thought of Aaron Rodgers as a historian?”

6. Early NFL Games Recap ([21:56]–[32:47])

- Eagles vs. Bucs:

- Eagles dominate early, win 4-0 after beating a real contender.
- Baker Mayfield nearly leads a comeback; "He’s just got a little swagger and a little juice where you can’t look away..." – Drew ([23:38])
- Tush push/rugby scrum comparisons and debate about offsides/false starts on the play. Matt’s safari guide Lee, a rugby fan, tries to “convert” him.

- Giants upset Chargers (Jackson Dart’s debut):

- Drew eliminated from survivor league for picking the Chargers.
- Crowd energized for rookie QB Jackson Dart; jokes about his mother’s TV time: “I think... we're gonna have Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce vibes in terms of amount shown of Jackson Dart’s mom.” – Matt ([32:19])

- Texans rout Titans (Cam Ward):

- "If I'm keeping it a buck, we ass." – Cam Ward on a shutout loss ([33:41])
- Titans are “so bad,” Drew laments.

- Unique Fan Engagement:

- Actual wedding on the field before a winless Titans-Texans match (“Nothing says love like Titans-Texans…” – Drew) ([34:17])

- Falcons unpredictable, Mariota’s gray hair/YA Tittle reference:

- Falcons always do the opposite of expectations.
- “He ages you… our new YA Tittle.” – Matt ([36:05])

- Saints (Spencer Rattler 0-10) vs. Bills:

- Long list of QBs who started 0-10: Warren Moon, Troy Aikman among them—so, hope remains for Rattler.

7. Later NFL Games / 4:00 Slate ([51:47]–[64:03])

- Chiefs destroy Ravens:

- “That looked like the Chiefs team of the last few years really... their offense wasn't great last year but that... they looked amazing." – Matt ([52:30])
- Ravens “tapped out,” weirdly using Derrick Henry just 8 times. Cooper Rush plays.

- Colts lose to Rams, costly mistake:

- AD Mitchell drops ball before crossing the goal line, costing a TD:
    > “This happens once a season and it is crazy to me…run to the back of the end zone before you do it!” – Matt ([54:49])

- Jaguars beat 49ers, SF injuries mount:

- San Francisco's injury curse: "At some point you start to go, there's got to be some commonality here…” – Matt ([58:33])
- Jaguars’ stock rising; division theirs to lose.

- Bears block game-winning kick vs. Raiders:

- Creative special teams play; “I'm actually becoming into yes, Caleb Williams can be good in the NFL.” – Matt ([62:00])
- Drew: “If Williams does pan out you’ve got a good offensive coach, already… could end up being a really fun team moving forward.” ([62:51])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On seeing dangerous animals while podcasting:
  • “There are people literally in the tents not very far away and they are trying to sleep because they have a 5 a.m. wake up call for a safari journey…I can literally hear hyenas in the background.” – Matt ([02:30])
• Wildlife excitement fading:
  • “After like seven or eight hours, you’re flying by elephants like singing show tunes…” – Matt ([05:33])
• Hippos:
  • “Apparently it's like the deadliest — it will kill you for even saying a cross word about it…” – Matt ([08:38])
• Skylar Thompson robbed in Dublin:
  • “Have you ever heard of a player being part of a felony the night before the game and not committing it?” – Matt ([13:43])
• Aaron Rodgers waxing poetic:
  • “As folks may know I’m an historian so I kind of know the history, both geopolitically and other things in the area…” ([19:26])
• NFL Fan Rituals Abroad:
  • “...there's no team on earth in any sport that you can predict less the results of their games than the Falcons…” – Matt ([37:17])
• On Cam Ward and Titans’ loss:
  • “‘If I'm keeping it a buck, we ass.’ That's, like, a thousand bucks. They're so terrible though.” – Matt ([33:41])
• On Taylor Swift camera-time parallels:
  • “I think the new... I’m not saying they're in the same league... but she's gonna be the new ‘why is she on my TV during football.’” – Matt on Jackson Dart’s mom coverage ([32:42])
• Drew on Baker Mayfield:
  • “[He’s] just got a little swagger and a little juice where you can't look away…” ([23:38])
• Matt on the Colts’ AD Mitchell’s error:
  • “Can you not wait two more yards to celebrate? ...I can't believe there's so many examples of this happening every season...” ([55:11])
• Drew sums up Titans-Texans:
  • “...we had an ‘I do’ and a ‘we ass’ at the Titans-Texans game.” ([34:54])

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |--------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Matt in Safari (Opening, wild animals) | 02:30–09:41 | | Reds’ Playoff Clinch | 09:48–10:48 | | NFL Ireland Game / Robbery Story | 10:48–15:59 | | Jersey Counting / Fan stuff | 15:59–19:14 | | Aaron Rodgers’ “historian” quote | 19:26–21:56 | | Eagles-Bucs, Tush Push & Rugby | 21:56–25:41 | | Chargers-Giants: Survivor League, Dart Mom | 29:05–32:47 | | Texans-Titans: Cam Ward candor, field wedding | 32:55–34:54 | | Old QBs, Falcons unpredictability | 35:02–37:53 | | Saints-Bills: Rattler 0-10, QB rundown | 37:53–44:05 | | 4:00 Games Recap (Chiefs-Ravens+more) | 51:47–64:03 | | Bears’ Win, Blocked kicks surge | 61:00–62:51 | | Young QBs Talent Pool | 63:04–63:48 |

Final Thoughts

• Matt wraps up from Africa, noting the next episode will return to Kentucky.
• The show maintains KSR’s irreverent, pop-culture-infused sports analysis, seamlessly combining global adventures, fan weirdness, obscure facts, and honest NFL talk.
• Subtle pleas for more “five-star reviews” bookend the episode.