NFL Cover Zero: Week 1 Surprises and Reactions to Every Game!

Podcast: KSR’s NFL Cover Zero
Hosts: Matt Jones & Drew Franklin (with Billy and Mario)
Date: September 8, 2025

Episode Overview

NFL Cover Zero kicks off its new season of Sunday night NFL recaps with an energetic look back at a wild Week 1. Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, and the crew break down every game, spotlighting upsets, big performances, unforgettable moments, and “peak NFL weirdness”—from dramatic comebacks to pregame weddings outside stadiums. Their signature blend of honest analysis, banter, and deep NFL fandom serves both die-hard fans and casual listeners.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Sunday Night Thriller: Bills Stun Ravens

• Buffalo Bills come back to defeat the Baltimore Ravens in a game that looked all but over.
  • "With 10 minutes and 25 seconds to go... the Ravens were up 40–25. ...All of a sudden, we look up and the Bills ... are going to drive and take the lead." – Matt Jones (01:00)
• Derrick Henry’s costly late fumble ("that's a mistake you just can't make," 02:43); emotional scenes on the sideline as Henry stares into the distance after an otherwise dominant 169-yard performance.
• Zay Flowers’ career-high 143 yards and Lamar Jackson’s sharp night—both wasted in defeat ("If you're a Baltimore fan, that has got to hurt," 03:47).
• Ravens’ fourth-quarter decisions debated: should they have gone for it instead of punting, risking giving Josh Allen short field?
• Matt Prater’s improbable heroics:
  • 41-year-old kicker was called off his couch days before due to Tyler Bass’ injury.
  • "I thought retired in 1997...looks like he’s in a Marlboro ad...He comes in and gets the kick." – Matt Jones (04:08)
  • Prater didn’t even know all his teammates’ names (05:05).

2. Lamar Jackson vs. The Fan Incident

• Ravens QB Lamar Jackson was involved in an altercation with an overzealous fan post-game. Debate ensues about player-fan boundaries:
  • "It's just, I'm all in for Lamar. I would have been fine with whatever he did. You can't go up into the stands if you're a player, but if the fan comes to you, then you get to respond." – Matt Jones (08:10)
• Bills Mafia runs "a little hot tonight" with fans throwing drinks and shoving players after scores (08:50).

3. Steelers vs. Jets: Aaron Rodgers’ Revenge

• Aaron Rodgers (now a Steeler at age 41) throws 4 TDs in a dramatic comeback win over his former team, the Jets.
  • Rodgers: "I'm happy to beat everyone associated with the Jets... janitors, parking attendants." – recounted by Matt Jones (12:23)
• Justin Fields shines for the Jets, but his strong night gets overshadowed by the finish (11:41).
• Jalen Ramsey seals the game with a huge hit (13:38).

4. Packers Dominate Lions: Jordan Love Breaks Out

• Packers destroy the Lions; Jordan Love looks like an early MVP candidate.
• Micah Parsons makes a disruptive debut as a Packer after coming from Dallas.
  • "Jordan Love looked really good. ...if you had MVP today, after week one, Lamar would win, but Jordan Love would probably come in second." – Matt Jones (20:31)
• Teddy Bruski’s (bad) preseason prediction that Parsons would "ruin Green Bay" is mocked (22:24).

5. Daniel Jones: Colts' Resurgent Hero

• Daniel Jones leads the Colts to a blowout win over the Dolphins, scoring on every drive.
  • "He has scored on every drive this season...Undefeated." – Matt Jones (26:47)
  • Drew Franklin admits he was wrong to write off Jones: "I was very wrong about Daniel Jones...I got to shut up." (26:58)
• Dolphins look disorganized and fade late—Mike McDaniel already rumored to be on the hot seat (28:53).

6. 49ers Survive in Seattle, Thanks to Brock Purdy

• Brock Purdy’s late touchdown, rated by Next Gen Stats as the "least likely completion of the weekend," saves the day for San Francisco (31:27).
  • "That play looked so dead...when the ball was released, he had a 14% chance of completing it." – Drew Franklin (31:27)

7. Cleveland Browns: Perennial Suffering

• Browns lose another heartbreaker to the Bengals due to missed kicks and dropped interceptions.
  • "The consonant to vowel ratio suggests failure." – Matt Jones on kicker Andre Szmyt (33:25)
• Browns TE situation: Drew’s pick of David Njoku as a TD scorer is upstaged by rookie Harold Fannin Jr. from Bowling Green ("He got most of the targets on offense." 35:38).
• Cleveland fans’ dedication noted, highlighted by a Browns-Bengals pregame wedding ("Brown Spider and First Lady," 36:45).

8. Other Notable Games, Performances, and Sidelights

• Eagles vs. Cowboys (Thurs): Jalen Carter’s pregame spit and ejection dominates discourse. "Can't be in a society where we accept spitting in people's faces." – Drew Franklin (42:34).
• Chiefs lose to Chargers (Fri, Brazil): Justin Herbert delivers, Super Bowl hangover for KC? Makai Becton hospitalized after “bad Brazilian beans and rice” (45:14).
• Raiders upset Patriots: Pats lack offensive identity, Vegas brings attitude (47:28). Brock Bowers shines before injury.
• Kyler Murray’s one-handed running and the Saints’ "generic high school" uniforms lambasted (54:08).
• Malik Nabers already "done" with Russell Wilson for the Giants; Jackson Dart time looms (57:13).
• Commanders’ new RB, Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt, scores and confuses everyone with his nickname (59:01).
• Liam Coen guides the Jaguars to a win; owner delivers “we win forever” speech (60:21).
• Titans flop in Denver; Cam Ward’s debut is promising but marred by drops (63:10).
• Texans-Rams: "Worst game of the day," Drew: "I fell asleep during my own team’s game" (64:01).
• Bleeding eye scare for Puka Nacua (65:51).
• Touchdown/Sportsbook Picks: Jalen Hurts delivers for Matt, while Drew’s "bad beat" with Harold Fannin Jr. is a running joke (68:24).

Most Memorable Quotes

• On the Bills-Ravens finish:
  • "What an amazing comeback by the Buffalo Bills." – Matt Jones (01:00)
• On Matt Prater’s late-game winning field goal:
  • "He looked like he'd been rough. And then he comes in and gets the kick." – Matt Jones (04:08)
• On Lamar Jackson mixing it up with a fan:
  • "You can't go up into the stands if you're a player, but if the fan comes to you, then you get to respond." – Matt Jones (08:10)
• On Aaron Rodgers' pettiness:
  • "Stick those hot dogs up your nose. You are the worst. That is a level of pettiness I do have to respect." – Matt Jones (12:50)
• On Browns’ kicker:
  • "The consonant to vowel ratio suggests failure." – Matt Jones (33:25)
• On the emotional toll of Browns fandom:
  • "It's the hope that kills you. ...That's what makes today." – Matt Jones (33:42)
• On spitting vs. punching:
  • "It's one of the lowest things you can do to someone, especially directly in the face." – Drew Franklin (43:33)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Bills-Ravens game breakdown: 00:37–06:53
• Lamar Jackson–fan incident: 06:53–09:13
• Steelers-Jets recap (Rodgers' revenge): 10:04–14:05
• Packers-Lions, Jordan Love & Micah Parsons: 19:19–23:13
• Colts-Dolphins, Daniel Jones redemption: 26:17–29:49
• 49ers-Seahawks, Next Gen Stats TD: 31:07–32:26
• Browns-Bengals heartbreak, Cleveland wedding: 33:05–38:15
• Eagles-Cowboys (Week 1), spitting ejection: 41:51–44:01
• Chiefs-Chargers (Brazil), Makai Becton's 'beans and rice': 44:48–46:05
• Raiders-Patriots upset, Max Crosby taunts: 47:28–48:43
• Saints-Cardinals uniforms mocked: 54:45–55:16
• Titans-Broncos, Cam Ward, Drew’s nap: 63:10–64:07

Fun & Off-Field Moment Highlights

• Flag mishap: Spectator crawls out on top of the giant on-field American flag during anthem—recalls previous "flag incidents" (15:36).
• Cover Zero ‘investigation’: Why do NFL kickers suddenly all hit 60+ yarders? ("Torque? Is it torque?" – Drew Franklin, 17:55)
• “Brown Spider & First Lady” wedding: Host ambitions to get this Browns couple on the show, calling it the biggest event of the day (36:45–40:27).
• Drew’s Sam Goody “crime ring” confession: "It was part of a bigger effort of stealing." (52:02–53:27)

Tone & Language

Authentic, knowledgeable, and irreverently passionate. Hosts blend sharp football insight with self-deprecating humor, local color, and ongoing inside jokes (e.g., Drew’s obsession with obscure touchdown picks and Matt’s run-ins at ESPN). Player nicknames, "hey guy" stories, and playful NFL investigative “assignments” create a fun, conversational energy.

Concluding Note

From last-second heroics and questionable fandom to deep dives on league trends and jersey critiques, NFL Cover Zero’s Week 1 episode sets the tone for an engaging season of NFL recaps. The blend of analysis, storytelling, and humor ensures fans get more than just box scores—they get the spirit, oddities, and subplots that make football “peak NFL.”