NFL Cover Zero: The Playoff Hunt Begins!

Podcast: KSR — iHeartPodcasts & Sports Talk 790
Date: November 20, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Billy Van Dyke

Episode Overview

With Week 12 approaching, Matt Jones and the KSR crew dive into the emerging playoff picture, analyze the latest player news, and provide their trademark humorous takes and banter. Set against the backdrop of a gloomy Kentucky day, the discussion is sharp and lighthearted, moving from the NFL’s biggest stories and stranger sideplots to game picks and playoff scenarios. The hosts also reflect on quirky stats, player drama, and what really matters to fans as the postseason hunt heats up.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Buffalo Trip Recap (02:09–06:23)

• The team returns from a lively trip to Buffalo, sharing laughs at Drew's conflicted loyalties between his Titans and the Bills.
  • Matt: “…at some point, I think you’re gonna…you’re either out of the house and go live with your new girlfriend or you’re gonna have to make a decision.” (02:13)
  • Drew confesses: “The house that I’m trying to stay in is on fire.” (03:23)
• Billy gets mocked for his generic NFL logo hat—dubbed “Rob Lowe style”—sparking jokes about corporate fandom.

2. Reactions to Last Week’s Games (07:03–08:53)

• Analysis of the dull Eagles-Lions game (“atrocious,” “boring to tears"), with their defense praised for shutting teams down.
  • Drew: "They do seem like they’re just a defensive team now...but that was a big win for the Eagles." (07:52)
• Quick review of the Cowboys’ blowout, emphasizing the impact of Pickens and Lamb, and poking fun at casino card games like War and Pai Gow as metaphors for NFL unpredictability.
  • Matt: “Is that just to attract the stupidest people?...Hey, look, eight’s higher than five.” (09:53)

3. Top NFL News & Stories

Jamar Chase Suspension — The Spitting Incident (11:01–13:36)

• Jamar Chase suspended after spitting on Jalen Ramsey; his defense “If I would have spit on him, it would have been in his face, not his jersey.”
  • Matt: “So his argument was, I don’t miss when I spit.” (11:23)
  • Drew: “You can see his lips come together and spit…he can’t deny that he spit.” (11:39)
  • The crew debates if a one-game suspension fits (all agree — yes).
  • Mike Tomlin’s response gets praise: “If someone spits on you, do whatever feels natural.” (12:42)

Aaron Rodgers Injury & The Steelers QB Carousel (14:23–18:55)

• Rodgers avoids surgery on his wrist, tries to play through it—skepticism and jokes about his “differences” with medical science.
  • Matt: “Who am I to say that modern medicine applies to him? He was awful last week.” (15:27)
• Extended riff on Mason Rudolph’s seemingly permanent backup role in Pittsburgh.
  • Matt: “Mason Rudolph…he just keeps coming back. Like Mason Rudolph is like…it’s like a girlfriend, you just can’t quit her.” (16:41)
• Conspiracy chatter around Rodgers’ secretive marital status: “Do you believe he’s married?... He doesn’t wear a wedding ring.” (18:55–19:08)

The “Break-In” and Shedeur Sanders’ Trial by Fire (24:48–28:32)

• Cleveland lets Shedeur Sanders start after his house was burglarized mid-game.
  • Matt: “What do you do about people breaking in your house when you’re playing?” (25:09)
  • Drew: “It’s crazy that they’ve targeted athletes knowing they’re busy.” (25:13)
• The crew debates if Shedeur ever got a fair shake—Drew: “I just think they know what they have and don’t have any confidence in him.” (27:09)
• Billy shares Shedeur’s quote on the break-in: “I didn’t get robbed. My house did.” (27:28)

Falcons’ Michael Penix Out & Panthers’ Coin Toss Oddity (29:40–31:14)

• Penix injury leaves Atlanta uncertain about their future.
• Panthers are “6–0 when they win the coin toss, 0–5 when they lose”—hosts discuss if coin toss outcomes matter.
  • Matt: "What a fascinating statistic. What do you make of that?" (31:03)

Receiving vs. Deferring at the Coin Toss (31:20–35:15)

• Extended analysis of whether deferring is statistically smarter—historical note: pre-2008, 99% of teams received first.
  • Billy: “…strategy has drastically changed since then.” (34:10)

Scandals & Social Media — Cam Scatterboo at Monday Night Raw (38:45–43:39)

• Giants’ Scatterboo, out injured, gets heat for interacting with WWE stars at a live event.
  • Matt: “Normally, I would not care. I'm with you...But he gets pushed and falls backwards.” (42:15–42:26)
  • Drew: "If he plants on that and furthers the injury, what do the Giants have to say?" (42:26)

Josh Allen Nears Rushing TD Record for QBs (45:18–47:53)

• Allen ties Cam Newton (75) for all-time QB rushing TDs; expectations that he’ll shatter the record.
  • Matt: "He's going to obliterate that record, right? ... He's going to set it where nobody ever gets it." (45:38)
  • Quick debate: Will mobile QBs age well? Consensus: probably not as well as pocket passers.

Cursed Fans—Ted Cruz as the New “Drake Curse” (49:29–50:29)

• The hosts joke about Ted Cruz's attendance record bringing bad luck to Texas teams.

4. Playoff Picture Breakdown (54:05–59:41)

• AFC: Chiefs outside looking in; Bills, KC, Jags, Houston, Chargers, Pittsburgh, Baltimore—crew debates who actually sneaks in.
  • Matt: "Buffalo makes it, Kansas City makes it...Kansas City and Jacksonville and Buffalo are the three that make it." (56:12–56:43)
• NFC North: Bears, Packers, Lions all have hard schedules. Detroit’s rough stretch makes them a possible playoff miss despite preseason hype.
• New England’s easy schedule ("New England patsies") sees them in the mix despite lackluster performances.

5. International Expansion: Saints in Paris (60:10–62:28)

• Saints expected to play in Paris by 2026, the NFL’s eighth international market.
  • Matt: “They do not care about football in Paris at all…” (60:54)
• The hosts poke fun at the likely “French-themed” Saints uniforms, joke about players running plays with easels and berets.

6. Picks and Predictions (63:05–68:38)

• "Liberty Mutual Bundle" picks:
  • Texans +6
  • Bears +2.5
  • Eagles -3.5
• Survivor League strategy: Billy rides the “pick against the Titans” formula.
• Touchdown parlay: JSN (Seahawks), Josh Allen (Bills), Derrick Henry (Titans).
  • Drew: “This is the week we are all hitting it. Think so. I like all three of those picks.” (67:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On conflict of fandoms:
  • “It’s the kind of thing that happens when somebody, you know, has a new girlfriend. But is she gonna be there for you? To quote Chris Rock, is she gonna be there for you when it gets cold?” — Matt Jones, 03:36
• On Mason Rudolph:
  • “He just keeps coming back. Like Mason Rudolph is like…a girlfriend, you just can’t quit her.” — Matt Jones, 16:41
• On the spitting punishment:
  • “If someone spits on you, do whatever feels natural.” — Mike Tomlin, relayed by Drew Franklin, 12:42
• On fan curses:
  • “If I knew the president was my fan and he was causing me to lose, I would say, stay away, sir.” — Matt Jones, 49:48
• On Paris NFL game:
  • “They do not care about football in Paris at all…I don’t know that having the Saints will. Will matter...” — Matt Jones, 60:54
• On Drew’s Bills enthusiasm:
  • “You picked against the Bills, though. I thought this was a Bills podcast now.” — Billy Van Dyke, 68:19

Important Segment Timestamps

• Opening Banter & Buffalo Trip – 02:09–06:23
• NFL Weekly Game Recap – 07:03–08:53
• Jamar Chase Suspension: 11:01–13:36
• Aaron Rodgers/Pittsburgh QB Talk: 14:23–18:55
• Shedeur Sanders & Home Burglary: 24:48–28:32
• Penix Injury & Panthers Coin Toss: 29:40–31:14
• Coin Toss Philosophy: 31:20–35:15
• Scatterboo WWE Incident: 38:45–43:39
• Josh Allen Rushing TD Record: 45:18–47:53
• Ted Cruz Curse: 49:29–50:29
• Playoff Picture Breakdown: 54:05–59:41
• Saints in Paris: 60:10–62:28
• Liberty Mutual Bundle / Picks: 63:05–68:38

Tone & Style

Informal, quick-witted, playful ribbing among friends who love football and refuse to take themselves too seriously. Deep NFL analysis is peppered with personal stories, pop culture jokes, and cheeky asides (e.g., about coin toss luck, fan curses, and player fashion).

For Those Who Missed It:

This episode of NFL Cover Zero delivers a sharp, irreverent look at the NFL’s tightening playoff race, with recurring jabs on player drama, fan juju, and the quirks of football culture. Especially strong are the segments questioning traditions (coin tosses, backup QBs, playoff odds), as well as their lighthearted take on international games and the blurred lines between fanhood and "football tourism."

You’ll finish feeling smarter about the NFL’s playoff outlook—and a lot more entertained.