Pardon My Take – NFL Week 18, Playoff Picture Set, Steelers Win Thriller Over Ravens, Seahawks Take 1 Seed, Panthers Back In, and Who's Back of the Week

Date: January 5, 2026
Hosts: Big Cat, PFT Commenter, Hank, Max
Podcast: Pardon My Take – Barstool Sports

Episode Overview

The last regular season NFL Monday podcast of the year delivers the signature, high-energy “Pardon My Take” NFL recap. The hosts break down Week 18’s wild playoff clinches, call out dramatic coaching changes, and inject their signature blend of jokes, nostalgia, and hot takes into every segment. They debate MVP candidates, celebrate unlikely playoff entries (hello, Panthers), and give flowers (and a few barbs) to the teams heading home. The show closes with the celebratory and ever-chaotic “Who’s Back of the Week.”

Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

1. Fastest Two Minutes – Week 18 Recap (03:07–10:08)

• Highlight Reel:
  • Baker Mayfield and the Bucs hold off the Panthers 16–14, but Carolina "loses their way into the playoffs."
  • Seahawks dominate the 49ers to clinch the NFC #1 seed. “Seattle’s defense was on fire… Seahawks roll on to a dominant win and the number one seed. Get those fish ready at Pike Place!” (03:35)
  • Eagles-Commanders: Commanders and Josh Johnson spoil the Eagles’ home finale.
  • Jags annihilate Titans to clinch AFC South.
  • Bills blow out Jets. Patriots hammer Dolphins.
  • Giants close their season with a surprise win over Cowboys.
• Signature Banter: The crew alternates between recap and signature musical/ridiculous summaries. “You had a fat ass, 2025.” (00:42, PFT)
• Timestamps:
  • NFC & AFC clinches discussed: 05:05–11:00

2. Steelers-Ravens: The Final Playoff Ticket (12:30–17:00)

• Steelers win a classic over Ravens to nab last AFC Wild Card
  • “Thrilling, thrilling game and it went from an all-time gut punch loss for the Steelers ... to a reverse gut punch for the Ravens.” (13:06, Big Cat)
  • Chris Boswell's missed extra point, Ravens’ back-up kicker Tyler Loop misses a 44-yarder after a priest blesses the field ("...pretty sure where he sprinkled the holy water is where that kick landed.” (13:51, PFT))
  • Mike Tomlin’s aggressive play-calling lauded.
  • Impact of Kyle Hamilton’s concussion: “With Kyle Hamilton off the field, Steelers could stretch it.” (15:02, Big Cat)
  • Ravens fans now meme: “Spin zone for Lamar: He can’t choke in the playoffs this year.” (14:43, PFT)
• Playoff Picture Lock-In: All games except Rams-Panthers have spreads within 3.5 points.
• Notable Exchanges:
  • “It was an entire season of Mike Tomlin distilled into one game.” (13:59, PFT)
  • Steelers vs Texans: hosts predict playoff lines live (16:37–16:49)
  • “All these games are incredible… it’s going to be an awesome playoff.” (16:46, Big Cat)

3. Playoff Clinchers, Chaos, and Coaches: The NFC South Soap Opera (18:10–25:16)

• Panthers “lose into” playoffs amid bad calls.
  • “This game could have been an NFL rig game, calls were atrocious… Panthers lost their way into the playoffs.” (18:52, Big Cat)
  • NFC South Triumvirate: All teams finish 8–9.
  • “Only three teams ever under .500 in playoffs; Panthers are the first team to do it twice.” (20:16, Big Cat)
  • “October 1, 2025, is maybe the most important day in Panthers history. Meow Mix retires from podcasting, Panthers make the playoffs.” (21:31, PFT)
• Bad division, great drama: “It almost became a celebration of the entire division.” (24:30, Big Cat)
• Todd Bowles hot seat: Discussion about his future after the Bucs’ mediocre finish.

4. Highs, Lows, and “Crystallized Moments” for Failed Playoff Teams (27:36–43:45, scattered)

For every eliminated team, hosts highlight “that one moment where shit was really good.”

• Falcons: Week 5 MNF win vs Bills, “Penx, Bijan, London—this is the Falcons.” (40:12)
• Saints: Week 14 win vs Bucs, Tyler Schuck’s game-winning TD. (40:39)
• Browns/Bengals: Thanksgiving night & sack record for Myles Garrett (54:43–55:26)

5. Seahawks Take #1 Seed, Niners’ Flaws Exposed (28:22–32:51)

• Seattle’s D-line dominates, run game controls clock:
  • “Seahawks had Brock Purdy in absolute hell.” (28:54)
  • “Defensive line for Seahawks is a problem for anybody. I now trust the Seahawks.” (29:58, PFT)
  • “The Seahawks now having the road go through Seattle, the 49ers going to Philadelphia—most consequential game for Super Bowl picture.” (32:17, Big Cat)
• Kyle Shanahan’s comeback stat: “1–31 trailing in the fourth quarter.” (32:09, hosts)

6. AFC South Plot Twists: Jags, Texans, and the Colts Collapse (55:45–68:49)

• Jags clinch AFC South with a historic turnaround:
  • “Third team in history to go from 13+ losses to 13+ wins… Trevor Lawrence: 19 pass TD, 5 rush TD last 8 games, only Lamar and Cam have done that.” (56:43, Big Cat)
  • “Pool looked awesome today—maybe a kid drowning in it, but it looked awesome.” (57:44, Big Cat)
• Texans’ playoff berth almost anticlimactic after Jags win:
  • “Texans took their foot off the gas early… still won.” (62:24–62:32, PFT)
  • Phillip Rivers interviews coming up for HC jobs: “Player-coach, player-coach.”
• Colts’ historic crash: “First team ever to start 8–2, finish with a losing record.” (68:27)
  • “Everything was in front of you at that moment…very short-lived.” (64:00, hosts)
  • “Chris Ballard, nine years as GM—never won the division. AFC South!” (64:48, Big Cat)
• Daniel Jones’ future is questioned; QB carousel ahead.

7. Giants Self-Sabotage & Cowboys’ Hollow Win (70:14–74:15)

• Giants win another meaningless Week 18 game, wasting draft pick for third straight year.
  • “They only win games to hurt their draft pick… It’s insane what they keep doing every year.” (71:26, Big Cat)
  • “In week 17 and 18, Giants are 4–2; all other weeks, they’re 9–36.” (72:51)
• Best “Super Bowl” moments: For Giants, possibly firing Joe Schoen; for Cowboys, tying Packers “right after Micah Parsons trade.”
• QB improv: “Don’t beat the crazy weird Brett Favre improv out of him [Jackson Dart] ... that’s when he makes serious magic happen.” (70:38, PFT)

8. Bears Limp into Playoffs, Lions Miss Opportunity (80:45–92:54)

• Bears lose to Lions, stumble into playoff matchup vs Packers.
  • “If the Bears lose this game, it erases the 2025 season.” (85:18, Big Cat)
  • Defensive playoff concern: “It's going to be very hard if you don't turn the ball over to get a deep playoff run with this defense.” (83:09, Big Cat)
  • Oddity: “Bears’ last win was against the Packers, and the Packers’ last win was against the Bears.” (82:59)
  • “Playoffs are a privilege. Pressure is a privilege.” (93:25, PFT)
• Lions’ rock bottom is… 9-8: “If this is rock bottom for the Lions, what a great job Dan Campbell has done…” (84:07, PFT)
• Playoff preview: Unapologetic about 11-win division crown with 2-4 record in the North.

9. Eagles Rest Starters, Commanders Play Spoiler (94:00–104:44)

• Commanders beat Eagles’ backups as Philly drops to #3 seed.
  • “We wanted to take it as a bye week, get everyone healthy… We’re fine with playing any team.” (96:10, Max)
  • “If the Niners beat you, and the Bears beat the Packers, there will be a lot of angry Philly fans tomorrow…” (97:29, PFT)
• Debate over 2-seed importance and approach to resting players.
• Commanders “Who's Back” moment: Signing Terry McLaurin (99:19–100:06)

10. Rams, MVP Battles, and The Cardboard Cupcake Argument (107:45–130:00)

• Rams cakewalk Cardinals, lock up easier matchup.
• MVP Debate: Matthew Stafford vs Drake May
  • “One-yard touchdowns gang vs. ‘strength of schedule’ gang; both sides weaponized.” (108:40)
  • “This is a young award. 25 under 25.” (111:38, PFT)
  • “You came with all these guns and they all just say BANG on them with a little flag.” (111:23, Big Cat) – After Hank fumbles MVP arguments.
  • “Rams third easiest schedule by a 13-win team in NFL history.” (128:46, PFT)
• Cardinals’ Silver Linings: Michael Wilson’s late-season surge.

11. Final Dominoes: Black Monday, Coaching Carousel, and Who’s Back of the Week (143:49–end)

• Best “Who’s Back” candidates:
  • Jalen Brown’s player of the month snub and Boston sports angst.
  • “This Venezuelan guy” who looks like Big Cat goes viral. “I’ve opted out of all political discussion, I just know I’ve been tagged in it.” (148:18, Big Cat)
  • Luke Littler: 18-year-old darts world champion: “He’s just mowing people down – Luke the Nuke is what they call him.”
• Black Monday Predictions:
  • Cardinals, Browns, Bowles (Bucs), and possibly Pete Carroll expected on the hot seat.
• **Ongoing banter about who’s most due to win the “lottery ball” segment.

Best Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Steelers-Ravens Gut Punch:
  “It was an entire season of Mike Tomlin distilled into one game.”
  — PFT, 13:59

• Blessing the Field, Cursed Kick:
  “The Steelers had a priest go onto the field. Bless the field with holy water. I’m pretty sure where he sprinkled the holy water is where that kick landed.”
  — PFT, 13:51

• On Carolina's Ugly Playoff Entry:
  “Doesn’t matter how you get in, Panthers fans should be pumped…they beat the Rams in Carolina what, a month ago…drag them to deep water again.”
  — Big Cat, 23:10

• On the Lions’ “Rock Bottom”
  “If this is rock bottom for the Lions, what a great job Dan Campbell has done for that franchise.”
  — PFT, 84:07

• Best “Super Bowl” for a Bad Team:
  “Best moment for the Saints? Week 14, Tyler Schuck beats the Bucs, and he had that touchdown run…that was the first time we’re like ‘oh shit, this is a guy.’”
  — Big Cat, 40:39

• On Coaching Searches:
  “I want to start a company called Vibesology…we don’t even know sports, we can just tell you – ‘that guy rocks, that guy kind of sucks.’”
  — Big Cat, 41:10

• Hank’s MVP Fumble as Segment (“I botched that”)
  “You just went. Every single door you opened was ... it wasn’t even shut, it was like another clown popped out.”
  — Big Cat, 125:32

Structured Timeline Key Timestamps

• 00:42 – “Fat ass 2025” season intro banter
• 03:07 – Week 18 Fastest Two Minutes
• 12:30 – Steelers clinch last playoff spot with Ravens thriller
• 18:10 – NFC South playoff chaos (Bucs, Panthers, Falcons)
• 28:22 – Seahawks seize #1 seed, Niners exposed
• 43:45 – Coaching changes, off-field comedy (sportsology, vibesology)
• 55:45 – Jags AFC South clinch, Texans anticlimax, Colts crash
• 70:14 – Giants screw themselves, Cowboys coast
• 80:45 – Bears’ playoff concerns, Lions moral victories
• 94:00 – Eagles-Commanders, rest-starters debate, Commanders’ “best moment”
• 107:45 – Rams, Cardinals, the MVP “cupcake” debate, and Hot MVP Takes
• 130:40 – Broncos-Chargers, AFC seeding, Harbaugh variable
• 143:49 – Who’s Back of the Week and Black Monday firings
• 151:55 – Tracks NYC jewelry drama
• 159:01 – Outro/lottery ball banter

The Takeaway & Tone

• Language & Tone: Classic PMT – raucous, irreverent, honest, with inside jokes, zingers, and deep NFL nerdery. There's an embrace of both goofiness (“Mike Tomlin distilled into one game”; “Zach, are we firing Todd Bowls?”), sharp in-the-moment analysis, and a unique dedication to finding the “crystallized” fan emotions of every NFL squad—win or lose.
• For New Listeners: This episode perfectly embodies why Pardon My Take is a go-to for NFL fans wanting a recap that’s both deeply informed and endlessly entertaining. Even if you missed Week 18, you’ll know exactly what mattered, who’s angry, who’s hopeful, and which teams blew it for their tortured fans. And you’ll laugh.

If You Only Listen to a Few Parts, Check Out:

• 13:06–16:46: Steelers-Ravens instant classic + playoff line predictions, priest/holy water story
• 28:22–31:04: Seahawks-Niners’ playoff impact and Seattle’s run game stats
• 62:24–68:49: Colts’ historic collapse and the groaning fate of AFC South
• 125:26–126:26: Hank’s MVP take, as the crew slowly dismantle his arguments – a running joke through the last hour

Summary written by an expert podcast summarizer. All key segments, quotes, and timestamps reflect the original tone and language of the episode.