KSR – NFL Cover Zero: NFL Week 1 and Playoff Picks!

Hosts: Matt Jones & Drew Franklin
Date: September 4, 2025
Podcast: KSR (iHeartPodcasts & Sports Talk 790 WKRD-AM)
Episode Theme: Previewing the 2025 NFL Season: Week 1 matchups, playoff predictions, betting angles, and the unique blend of football banter Matt and Drew bring to every episode.

Overview of Episode

The KSR crew returns for episode two of NFL Cover Zero with a high-energy breakdown of the 2025 NFL Week 1 games and their official playoff picks. Along the way, they mix in personal stories, irreverent humor, betting tips, and offbeat cultural commentary (from Taylor Swift to the NFL’s international media circus). The show is for serious football fans who appreciate an entertaining, personality-driven spin on standard analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Preseason Wrap-Up & Fantasy Football Aversion

[00:56–04:10]

• Both watched more preseason than usual; excitement is high for "real" football.
• Matt and Drew both abstain from playing fantasy football due to bad prior experiences, with Drew burned by unpaid league dues.
• Quote:
  "The two things I never want to hear anybody talk about: their fantasy team or a hand in poker. Any time anybody talks about the two of them, I punch them in the face." – Matt Jones [04:10]

2. Thursday Night Football: Eagles vs. Cowboys

[04:10–09:06]

• Eagles host the Cowboys in Philly: Matt expects an easy Philly win, given Dallas’ dysfunction and bad PR.
• Spread is 8.5; Drew thinks the rivalry factor could make it closer but agrees Philly should win.
• Entertaining postgame radio shows after Cowboys losses are a highlight for Matt.
• Drew, a former Cowboys fan, reminisces about his childhood fanhood.
• Brief nostalgia for the removed Al Michaels–Chris Collinsworth broadcast duo.
• Quote:
  "Nothing is more entertaining than a Cowboys postgame show... One [radio] is like, ‘If Dak starts seeing the receiver better,’ the other is ‘Jerry Jones needs to be set off on a raft.’" – Matt [06:42]

3. Friday Night NFL: Chiefs vs. Chargers in Brazil (International Game)

[09:06–15:28]

• Lots of playful banter about how to watch on YouTube and the involvement of influencers (MrBeast, IShowSpeed, Kai Cenat, etc.)
• Announcers: Rich Eisen & Kurt Warner will call the main broadcast, but there are YouTube “creator streams.”
• Discussion about the NFL’s globalization efforts, and logistical challenges of foreign games.
• Drew and Matt question how time zones will affect viewing and joke about YouTube confusion.
• Both lean toward picking Chargers against the spread (+3.5), but Matt expects Chiefs to narrowly win.
  • Quote:
    "If I were going to bet, I'd bet the Chargers. But when the world is watching, the Chiefs usually step up." – Matt [14:21]

4. NFL News Breaks [By Producer Billy]

Repeat segment throughout]

• Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl?
  Roger Goodell confirms he's a "Swiftie" and drops hints about a possible Taylor Swift halftime show.
  "If you're going to do it, this is the year she should do it. If Travis is playing, he wins the game, they go off into the sunset..." – Matt [17:12]
• Discussion about Swift’s rumored “Easter eggs” and numerology.
• Whimsical debate about unique answers to "what do you do for fun?" (Taylor’s answer: sourdough bread).

5. Sunday Night Football: Ravens at Bills

[19:43–24:43]

• Drew won’t bet on the Ravens again after last season’s heartbreak.
• Bills are “set up” for a Super Bowl run; both hosts pick Buffalo at home, despite Vegas making Baltimore a 1.5-point road favorite.
• Musings on Josh Allen’s first “married game” (now married to Hailee Steinfeld).
• Quote:
  "If the Bills don't win this year, it's never going to happen... This is the year.” – Matt [21:53]

6. Lions vs. Packers: Key NFC North Clash

[24:43–28:41]

• Uncertainty if Micah Parsons plays (recent injury), impacting the division race.
• Drew is bullish on Detroit despite loss of top coordinators.
• Classic Dan Campbell “meathead motivation” impersonation by Matt.
• Both hosts disagree on winner; Matt picks Packers, Drew goes with the Lions.

7. Around the League: Other Big Week 1 Games

[36:08–47:36]

• Steelers–Jets:
  Matt will not root for Steelers with Aaron Rodgers; Drew hesitant but picks Pittsburgh because he thinks "the Jets are that bad."
• Raiders–Patriots:
  Drew supports Vrabel’s Patriots homecoming, Matt likes the Raiders as “weird 1 o’clock upset.”
• Bengals–Browns:
  Both call it a must-win for Cincy, who’s struggled in recent openers.
• 49ers–Seahawks:
  Drew: 49ers "need to win"; Matt expects a good record but likes Seattle in the opener.
• Dolphins–Colts:
  Both favor Miami, unsure about Colts’ new QB.

8. NFL Red Zone Adds… Commercials!

[28:53–32:07]

• Red Zone will now include “some commercials” for the first time.
• Mixed feelings: Matt thinks it was one of the best products in sports; Drew prefers Sunday Ticket’s multiview.
• Stories about the endurance of hosts Scott Hanson and Andrew Siciliano.
• Quote:
  "It's kind of the last thing where commercials hadn't [taken over]... It's a little bit of a bummer." – Matt [30:54]

9. Hot Quarterbacks & Right Guards: The Lighter Side

[53:23–55:23]

• Humorous debate on whether a QB needs to be “handsome”: “Think about the great quarterbacks… Peyton’s the only ugly one, right?” – Matt
• Attempt (failed) to name current right guards by face; realization no one could pick any out of a lineup.

10. Final Segment: Playoff Picks & Weekly Competitions

[61:18–70:50]

NFC Playoff Picks

• Matt
  • East: Eagles
  • North: Packers
  • South: Falcons
  • West: 49ers
  • Wild Cards: Commanders, Bears, Rams
  • "Lions miss the playoffs."
• Drew
  • East: Eagles
  • North: Lions
  • South: Buccaneers
  • West: Rams
  • Wild Cards: Packers, 49ers, Commanders

AFC Playoff Picks

• Matt
  • East: Bills
  • North: Ravens
  • South: Jaguars
  • West: Chiefs
  • Wild Cards: Broncos, Bengals, Texans
• Drew
  • East: Bills
  • North: Ravens
  • South: Jaguars
  • West: Chiefs
  • Wild Cards: Chargers, Broncos, Bengals

11. Survivor & Guaranteed Touchdown Picks

[65:50–70:13]

• Survivor Pool Week 1

  • Matt: Broncos over Titans
  • Drew: Commanders over Giants
  • Billy: Jaguars over Panthers

• Guaranteed TD

  • Drew: Njoku (Browns TE) vs. Bengals, his “favorite bet of week one” [68:04]
  • Billy: Christian McCaffrey (49ers)
  • Matt: Jalen Hurts (Eagles, for a rushing TD)

Notable Quotes

• On Red Zone adding commercials:
  "It's kind of the last thing where commercials hadn't [taken over]... It's a little bit of a bummer." – Matt [30:54]
• On the parody of Dan Campbell’s coaching style:
  "That was paraphrased – stare into the soul of the sea, of the depths of the abyss...tackle it in the ass." – Matt (Dan Campbell impression) [28:09]
• On the Eagles–Cowboys rivalry:
  "Whatever you think of it, that's one of the better rivalries in the league." – Drew [05:05]
• On Taylor Swift as the Super Bowl halftime performer:
  "This is the year she should do it ... and if Travis is playing, he wins the game, they go off into the sunset..." – Matt [17:12]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:56] – Preseason recap; fantasy football gripes
• [04:10] – Eagles–Cowboys preview
• [09:06] – Chiefs–Chargers Brazil YouTube game / influencer broadcast
• [14:12] – Week 1 picks (Chiefs–Chargers)
• [15:28] – NFL news: Taylor Swift, halftime show rumors
• [19:43] – Sunday Night (Ravens–Bills) + Lamar/Josh Allen discussion
• [24:43] – Lions–Packers, Micah Parsons injury
• [28:53] – Red Zone: first-ever commercials
• [36:08] – Steelers–Jets, MetLife Stadium tales
• [43:49] – Bengals–Browns
• [46:35] – 49ers–Seahawks
• [61:18] – Playoff picks revealed (NFC/AFC)
• [65:50] – Survivor pool & guaranteed touchdown picks
• [70:13] – Parlay, touchdown picks wrap-up

Memorable Moments

• Matt’s “two things never to talk about” rant (fantasy football & poker hands) [04:10]
• Extended, tongue-in-cheek breakdown of how to watch the Brazil game via YouTube influencers [09:06–12:29]
• The hot quarterback beauty contest and who counts as ugly (hint: Peyton Manning) [53:23]
• The detailed tangent about right guards and the inability to name/recognize them [49:07–51:37]
• Dan Campbell “tough guy” parody (“tackle it in the ass”) [28:09]
• Drew’s specificity on anytime TD bets, picking Njoku as his first official Cover Zero choice [68:04]

Tone & Style

Lighthearted, irreverent, and full of personal anecdotes and pop culture asides. The analysis is thorough but always filtered through the hosts’ unique personalities—making even deep NFL roster talk fun and approachable for diehard and casual fans alike.

Conclusion

Episode two of NFL Cover Zero is a one-stop shop for Week 1 NFL preview, betting angles, playoff predictions, and classic KSR-style football banter. The show combines sharp insights, comedic tangents, and inside jokes, making it an engaging primer for the 2025 NFL season. Whether you want actionable picks or just to hear the latest in “handsome quarterback” rankings, this episode delivers.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow Matt Jones and Drew Franklin for more NFL Cover Zero all season long!