NFL Cover Zero: It's Conference Championship Time!

Podcast: NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin
Episode Date: January 23, 2026
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Focus: Previewing the NFL Conference Championships, discussing major league news, and having fun with quirky football banter.

Overview

This episode of NFL Cover Zero is all about the build-up to the NFL’s Conference Championship weekend. Hosts Matt Jones and Drew Franklin, joined by Billy, deliver lively football talk covering the unexpected quarterback matchups, coaching changes, major team news, and some humorous digressions (featuring city-naming games, coach “hotness” rankings, and reminiscing about sports pop culture). The tone is casual, sharp, and full of insider football knowledge—mixed with plenty of friendly ribbing and Kentucky-flavored wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Conference Championship Quarterback Situations

• NFC vs AFC Excitement:

  • Billy says he’s unexpectedly more excited for the NFC game due to the AFC’s “weirdness,” thanks to Denver’s starting quarterback situation:
    • "Having Stidham respectfully, a guy hasn't thrown a pass in two years, start an AFC Championship game. Feels weird." (03:12)
  • The hosts lament Bo Nix’s injury, which shifts the narrative.

• Jared Stidham Deep Dive:

  • Matt hands out rapid-fire trivia and quirky facts about Stidham, including his Kentucky roots and unusual career trajectory.
  • They riff on the Corbin, KY “Nibrock” festival, inventing reversed city-name festivals for comic effect—like “Dallas Salad” and “Sagiv Sal” for Vegas (04:22–06:09).
  • “Jared Stidham was born in 1996 in Corbin, Kentucky….They have a festival there which is just the word Corbin spelled backwards that they call the Nibrock.” –Matt Jones (04:12)

2. Odd Aversion to Patriots (and Bill Simmons)

• Matt admits rooting for Stidham just to see Boston (and specifically Bill Simmons) suffer:
  • “I listen to Bill Simmons every week and like him, I have such an odd relationship with this person in the sense I don't miss his podcast, but also wish he wouldn't talk.” (07:11)
• Extended personal anecdotes about hating Boston sports happiness and Simmons’s influence.

3. Jared Stidham’s Football Journey

• Career Arc:

  • Stidham’s path: Kentucky → Texas → Texas Tech (initial commit) → Baylor (then transferred) → Auburn (noted for being 2018 Music City Bowl MVP) → Denver.
  • Notable tidbits: “He was picked in the fourth round, and he selected the number four as his jersey for the Patriots because he was picked in the fourth round. It was an honor because he was the first Patriots player since Adam Vinatieri to wear the number four.” –Matt Jones (13:11)

• QB Mystery Element:

  • Since Stidham hasn’t played meaningful snaps in years, the Patriots “can’t prepare” for him, and “there’s no tape.” (15:25)
  • Jokes about him potentially being left-handed now, just to confound the defense.

4. Major NFL Team & Coaching News

a. Buffalo Bills Fire Sean McDermott (17:01)

• Drew and Billy are mystified by the move, arguing McDermott was unfairly scapegoated.

• The hosts debate the owner’s claim he saw “visible distress” on Josh Allen’s face.

  • “I was a little surprised by this. He's had such a good run. It’s not his fault McDermott that they lost the game...I actually thought this was not a smart decision.” –Matt Jones (17:31)

• General Manager Blame Game:

  • Confusion over the “Keon Coleman” pick, with management passing the buck and viral videos undercutting public statements.
  • “Even if the coach did force him into it, if you're a GM, you can't admit that the coach is pushing you around in the call.” – Billy (23:34)

b. Catch Rule “Simplification” (26:56)

• The NFL’s decision NOT to change the catch rule, but maybe to “hire a PR team” to better explain it, inspires a round of mockery.
  • “They're going to hire a PR team teaching children in schools? Here’s how you complete a catch.” –Matt Jones (27:12)
  • Extended riffing on the bizarre logic of the “football move” standard.

c. Offensive Coordinator Carousel (29:44)

• Mike McDaniel to Chargers:
  • Jokes that McDaniel may just want to party in LA; question if he’s avoiding “bad” head coaching gigs.
  • “I mean, there's something to it. It's Harbaugh, there's a quarterback, I can win with. It's LA. All I gotta do is go make this offense look good. My phone's going to ring again pretty quickly.” –Billy (32:20)
• Eric Bieniemy Returns to Kansas City:
  • Perennial head coaching candidate with near-mythic “bad interview” speculation, leading Matt to call out NFL overreliance on interviews:
    • “Do you think maybe people overreact to the interviews? I mean ... they're calling plays and coaching plays.” (33:54)

d. Robert Saleh Hired by Titans (37:57–38:51)

• Praised defensive acumen but concerns over developing young offensive talent.
• “He has to absolutely get a good OC. Now I’ve seen Brian Daboll rumored—if we get a head coach from the Giants as our OC ... very happy.” – Billy

e. Ranking Head Coach “Hotness” (39:05–41:56)

• Extended, very tongue-in-cheek debate over “hot” coaches, with Robert Saleh, Sean McVay, Matt LaFleur, and Dan Campbell in the running.
  • “Robert Sala is one of three people I’ve ever watched a sporting event with a woman and had them go: who’s that?” –Matt Jones (39:51)
  • Dismissal of “consensus” lists from sites like Casino.ca and Us Weekly.

5. Baker Mayfield vs. Kevin Stefanski Social Media Spat (45:26)

• Baker hits back at Falcons HC Stefanski for throwing QBs “under the bus” and not even texting him upon his exit.
  • “Failed is quite the reach, pal. You're still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can't wait to see you twice a year, coach.” –Baker Mayfield (45:26, referenced)
• Hosts agree Stefanski’s lack of communication is “poor form.”
• Quick diversion to critique Billy’s “wrestling pants”—lighthearted, off-topic banter.

6. Iconic Franchise Debates

a. NFL:

• Giants’ new coach Harbaugh claims “most iconic franchise”; hosts rank them Cowboys, Packers, Steelers, Giants, Bears (54:10).
  • “Cowboys have been ... there’s a reason why they have the Thanksgiving game.” –Matt Jones (54:47)

b. MLB, NHL, NBA: (60:39–65:39)

• Fire off rankings for most iconic teams in other sports, reflecting on the nature of sports fandom.
• “With basketball ... only the Celtics, Lakers and Knicks are non player-dependent.” –Matt Jones (65:14)

7. Conference Championship Previews & Picks

• General lack of “fever” for the matchups due to less star-powered quarterbacks, but still some betting excitement and debate.
  • “If we had Seahawks vs. Stidham in the Super Bowl ... I don't know what to say to anyone.” –Matt Jones (69:20)
• Picks for game winners (Rams over Seahawks, Patriots over Broncos), Liberty Mutual bundle pick, and touchdown scorer wagers.
• Good-natured dispute over the season-long points tally for their ongoing pick ‘em competition.

8. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On disliking Boston sports joy:

  • “I want him to lose is the point.” –Matt Jones (09:47)

• On the catch rule:

  • “You have to survive the ground.” –Drew Franklin (28:57)
  • “I have to survive the ground...sometimes they'll make you roll over and bark before.” –Matt Jones (29:21)

• On the Stidham scenario:

  • “Big time players make big time plays in big time games, and he is from the home of Nibrock and there's nothing bigger with brighter lights than Nimrok.” –Billy (16:26)

• On franchise “hotness”:

  • “Robert Sala is one of three people I’ve ever watched a sporting event with a woman and had them go: who’s that?” –Matt Jones (39:51)

• On football viewership:

  • “Buffalo Denver game peaked at 51.3 million viewers in overtime. That's the most watched Saturday telecast on any network since 1994 and the winter Olympics.” –Drew Franklin (50:39)

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• Jared Stidham background/Corbin festival: 04:12 – 06:16
• Boston sports/Bill Simmons riff: 07:06 – 10:35
• Sean McDermott’s Firing: 17:01 – 20:09
• Catch Rule Confusion Rant: 27:11 – 29:41
• Coordinator Hires (McDaniel and Bieniemy): 29:44 – 34:39
• Titans Hire Robert Saleh: 37:47 – 38:49
• Coach Hotness Rankings: 39:05 – 41:56
• Baker/Stefanski Spat: 45:26 – 50:09
• Iconic Franchise Debates (NFL/MLB/NHL/NBA): 54:10 – 65:39
• Championship Game Previews/Picks: 69:10 – 78:17

Tone & Style

• Warm, witty, meandering—mixing sharp football knowledge with small-town humor and relatable gripes.
• Plenty of pop culture and personal anecdotes (e.g., reminiscing about Olympic scandals, clubbing in Miami, wearing “wrestling pants”).
• Open acknowledgment of rooting interests and emotional investment in football outcomes.

Useful for New Listeners?

Absolutely. This episode combines up-to-the-minute football news with the hosts’ trademark banter, making it accessible, engaging, and informative for everyone from casual fans to diehards. The conversational style, cultural asides, and light argumentation keep it lively while ensuring all significant NFL storylines are covered in depth—from the sideline drama to the X’s and O’s.

End of Summary