Dan Orlovsky Breaking Down Super Wild Card Weekend, Notre Dame Advances, Picks And Preview + Fyre Fest Of The Week

Summary

Pardon My Take: Episode Summary

Title: Dan Orlovsky Breaking Down Super Wild Card Weekend, Notre Dame Advances, Picks And Preview + Fyre Fest Of The Week
Release Date: January 10, 2025

Hosted by Big Cat & PFT Commenter from Barstool Sports, this episode dives deep into the NFL and College Football playoffs, providing insightful analyses, picks, and engaging banter.

---

1. Notre Dame vs. Penn State Game Recap

The episode kicks off with a detailed discussion of the thrilling matchup between Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Penn State. Both hosts express their initial underestimation of the game, which turned out to be an instant classic.

• Big Cat highlights Penn State's first-half performance:
  "Penn State went into halftime up 10, 3. Whatever Marcus Freeman did at halftime, he deserves all the credit because that game was won in the third quarter." [03:25]

• PFT Commenter emphasizes Drew Aller's critical errors:
  "Drew Aller was horrific... three interceptions today. And only one of them counted because the other two, Phantom." [04:12]

The discussion delves into how Tyler Warren's concussion significantly impacted Penn State's offensive threat, questioning the team's ability to capitalize without their key running back.

• Big Cat remarks on Tyler Warren's absence:
  "Tyler Warren is so much fun to watch because he is like, if you need three yards, he's going to get you seven. He's after contact." [05:14]

2. Super Wild Card Weekend Preview

Transitioning to the NFL playoffs, Big Cat and PFT Commenter, along with guest Dan Orlovsky, break down the Super Wild Card Weekend matchups, offering their predictions and strategic insights.

Chargers vs. Texans

• Big Cat analyzes the Texans' defensive prowess versus their struggling offense:
  "The Texans offense is not good. It has proven to be not good all year. They are 31st in early down success rate." [30:07]

• PFT Commenter discusses the defensive matchups:
  "It's strength for strength. All around." [30:17]

Steelers vs. Ravens

• Big Cat expresses confidence in the Ravens despite stellar defenses:
  "I think the Ravens are going to win." [37:02]

• PFT Commenter points out the cold weather and defensive strategies:
  "It’s a slippery slope. Freedom of speech, Roger." [22:30]

Bills vs. Broncos

• Big Cat favors the Bills' explosive offense despite defensive concerns:
  "The Bills rush defense is pretty good. And Josh Allen has been playing out of his mind." [43:36]

• Dan Orlovsky supports the Bills' over-heavy offense:
  "I love the over in this game. I love it." [43:32]

Packers vs. Eagles

• PFT Commenter raises concerns about Jordan Love's performance:
  "Do not correct. Nobody show George Pickens the community notes on this." [40:40]

• Big Cat emphasizes the importance of a strong start for the Eagles:
  "The Eagles cannot start slow. They are 21st in first quarter scoring." [47:10]

Commanders vs. Bucks

• Dan Orlovsky highlights the Commanders' improved defense:
  "Kyle Hamilton saved their season. So there's the butterfly effect to it." [78:27]

• PFT Commenter is optimistic about the Commanders overcoming defensive pressures:
  "If your QB is hitting his long balls and running well, I think we win the game." [62:35]

3. Picks and Predictions

The trio shares their playoff picks, combining statistical analysis with personal insights.

• Big Cat & PFT Commenter place combined parlays on key performances:

  • "Eagles moneyline Devonte Smith 70 yards receiving and Devontae Smith touchdown and Saquon Barkley 80 plus yards rushing." [66:30]
  • "Terry McLaurin anytime touchdown Terry McLaurin 60 plus receiving yards, Jaden Daniels 40 plus rushing yards, and Baker Mayfield over 18 and a half rushing yards." [66:55]

• Dan Orlovsky provides his predictions:

  • "I’m taking the Chargers in that game. I think game two is going to be Baltimore." [69:08]
  • "I think the Eagles come out strong and control the game early." [82:58]

4. Special Guest: Dan Orlovsky's Insights

Dan Orlovsky, a seasoned sports analyst, offers expert breakdowns on the playoff games, emphasizing defensive strategies and quarterback performances.

• Orlovsky discusses the importance of tailored game plans in playoffs:
  "The playoffs become so game plan specific. You know, the regular season is so week to week, week to week." [74:43]

• He analyzes specific player matchups, such as Puka Nakua's impact against the Packers:
  "He reminds me of TJ Hushman. He has a really good feel for space and understanding of where defenders are." [95:09]

5. Fyre Fest of the Week

While the episode primarily focuses on football, the hosts briefly touch on personal anecdotes and light-hearted segments, such as Fire Fest, where they share humorous personal stories and engage in playful banter about topics like Christmas trees and tattoos.

• Big Cat shares a personal story about his Christmas tree:
  "I'm keeping them up till after the Super Bowl. Christmas tree season." [108:32]

---

Conclusion

This episode of Pardon My Take provides listeners with comprehensive analyses of pivotal playoff games, expert predictions, and entertaining discussions. With insights from Dan Orlovsky and the dynamic chemistry between Big Cat and PFT Commenter, fans are well-equipped to navigate the Super Wild Card Weekend with informed picks and a good dose of humor.

Notable Quotes:

• "Drew Aller was horrific... three interceptions today." — PFT Commenter [04:12]
• "Tyler Warren is so much fun to watch because he is like, if you need three yards, he's going to get you seven." — Big Cat [05:14]
• "I think the Ravens are going to win." — PFT Commenter [37:02]
• "The Bills rush defense is pretty good. And Josh Allen has been playing out of his mind." — Big Cat [43:36]
• "Kyle Hamilton saved their season. So there's the butterfly effect to it." — Dan Orlovsky [78:27]

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Listeners can catch every episode of "Pardon My Take" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or Amazon Music (ad-free for Prime Members). For more information, visit barstool.link/pardon-my-take.

Transcript

[Big Cat]

Hey, pardon my take listeners. You can find every episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify or YouTube Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. On today's part of my Take Super Wild Card Weekend, we're still saying it. We're going to talk about every game Saturday and Sunday preview. We also have an instant classic Notre Dame Penn State that we're going to recap at the top of the show. We got a good friend, Dan Orlovsky on the show to break down the matchups for the Super Wild Card Weekend. And then we have Fyre Fest to finish us off. And we're brought to you by our friends at DraftKings NFL Playoffs. Playoffs. We're talking playoffs. You bet we are. Because getting on the action at DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL. Scoring touchdowns is key to winning in the NFL playoffs. And the key to you scoring big is betting on them at DraftKings, the number one place to bet touchdowns. Ready to place your first bet? Try betting on something simple like a player to score six. Go to the DraftKings sportsbook app. Make your pick. Here's another reason to watch your favorite players crush it in the playoffs. New customers bet $5 to get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Score big during the NFL playoffs. The DraftKings sportsbook download the DraftKings sportsbook app. Use code TAKE. That's code TAKE for new customers. Get $200 in bonus bets instantly when you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings sportsbook. The crown is yours.

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[Big Cat]

Okay, let's go. Welcome to part of my take presented by DraftKings. Score big during the NFL playoffs. DraftKings sportsbook download the DraftKings sportsbook app and use code take. That's code take for new customers to get 200 in bonus bets instantly when you bet just five bucks only on the DraftKings sportsbook. The crown is yours. Today is Friday, January 10th, and wake up the echoes. PFT because the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are in the College Football national championship.

[PFT Commenter]

What's that sound, Big Cat?

[Big Cat]

It's the echoes.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes, it's the Echoes. But also there's another. There's a second sound.

[Big Cat]

What's the sound?

[PFT Commenter]

That's Lou Holtz putting in his biting teeth.

[Big Cat]

Ah.

[PFT Commenter]

Licking his lips.

[Big Cat]

And it was an instant classic.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[Big Cat]

Like, such a great game. We. I thought it was going to be a snoozer. First half was. Neither offense really did anything. Penn State went into halftime up 10, 3. Whatever Marcus Freeman did at halftime, he deserves all the credit because that game was won in the third quarter and how Notre Dame came out and they took it right to. Penn State took the lead. Obviously there was, you know, Penn State came back, they traded some drives and the big story. As much as I would like to do the narrative that James Franklin can't win a big game. Drew Aller was horrific.

[PFT Commenter]

I agree. But I disagree on one point. I think the game was won in the late second quarter.

[Big Cat]

Oh.

[PFT Commenter]

When Angeli came in, Steven Jelly and.

[Big Cat]

Jelly and Jelly did get him a quick three.

[PFT Commenter]

Angeli got in and the whole vibe changed.

[Big Cat]

It's true.

[PFT Commenter]

Entire vibe flipped. Max got taken out by an Italian sub.

[Big Cat]

People were saying, man. And it was, I mean, listen, that game back and forth, Riley Leonard made a huge mistake. Penn State takes the lead. And then Drew Aller makes like, Drew out through three. Three interceptions today. And only one of them counted because the other two, Phantom. Well, the first one actually was a real hold, but the second one was just. It was such a bad throw. They shouldn't have thrown a flag because it had no impact on the play.

[PFT Commenter]

It's bad throw. It's a bad call, too.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it's a bad call.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean, I get that he didn't turn his head around.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And then the fans had a little University of Texas moment.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

You know how mad you have to be to make an Irish guy throw his beer.

[Big Cat]

Seriously, like, pretty give up on it.

[PFT Commenter]

That's a bad call. Yeah, that's a really bad call. And so. But yeah, he, he came back and he, he had some really bad interceptions, really bad intercept. The last one was just 40 seconds left.

[Big Cat]

Why can't. The one thing you can't do in that situation is make a throw like that. And he was so bad that even the last lateral of the game, he overthrew and threw out of bounds. But I like Drew Aller was. Was horrific, pet. And, and by the way, do we have a little DO to do with Brandon Walker? Because I think on this show on Wednesday, he said, drew Aller doesn't turn the ball over. And that's why Penn State's going to win the game. That's our college football expert. We apologize on behalf of our college. He's embarrassed us one, one day into being our college football expert.

[PFT Commenter]

And he didn't show his face here to be on this show to take responsibility for that mistake either.

[Big Cat]

It's crazy.

[PFT Commenter]

He's ducking it. Yeah. Very, very bad interception at the end. They got the ball back and it's like, okay, you have a chance, but the one thing that you can't do is turn the ball over and try to push too hard because then they're going to be in field goal range. And that's exactly what he goes out and he does. I actually think that a big impact on this game was when Tyler Warren got taken out. You remember that on the sidelines from the concussion. So they kept him out for a little bit and he looked like he was very concussed just from what you saw in the clip. And then he comes back on the field. He didn't look like the same guy when he came back.

[Big Cat]

Right? He didn't.

[PFT Commenter]

And, and he told the, the team doctor they're trying to do the concussion test. That's a HIPAA violation. Yeah, like, good point. Get back in there, son. Yeah, play ball. And then he goes back in. He seemed like he was out of sorts around the line of scrimmage. He didn't look right. He wasn't running fast. He wasn't making heads up plays. I think that there was that, that to me, when you take Tyler Warren away from Penn State, then you take away all the threat of their, their physical passing because their wide receivers can't catch a ball.

[Big Cat]

No, they can't catch the ball. They can't get open. I mean, yeah, Tyler Warren is so much fun to watch because he is like, if you need three yards, he's going to get you seven. He's after contact, but so Marcus Freeman was incredible. I thought he coached a great game. I thought that play at the end of the game where they had third in whatever it was, five, and the conservative thing would be to just run the ball again with Riley Leonard. And they ran, they rolled out Riley Leonard, he hit that perfect pass to Fison, I believe, who ended up getting like 15 yards. And Riley Leonard, he wasn't great, but he made big plays at big moments. Like he made that throw, he made a couple big runs, eluded a couple big time sacks that would have been like, you know, very detrimental. And it, I don't know. Like I. Marcus Freeman, I'm a believer. Like he last game when he. When he pants. Kirby Smart. This game, how they came out of halftime, because I think we all agree, like halftime, it looked like Penn State was going to win this game easily because they were just bullying Notre Dame on both lines.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, it took him a second to figure out the fact that they could get their linemen shoving people over.

[Big Cat]

Right. And they were. And they were in the backfield when they were on defense and they were just running the ball down Notre Dame's throat. And then Notre Dame came out, shot out of a cannon and oh, we got to mention Jeremiah Love. One of the. One of the best. Like second effort, third effort touchdown runs.

[PFT Commenter]

Three dudes hanging up. Maybe even four or five. That was a great run. Also, Penn State's running backs, all of them.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Had some great runs too. It was a really good football game.

[Big Cat]

It came down to the quarterback. It was. And now it makes sense that Drew Aller is staying in school. Like, I think people scratch their head. They're like that, man. That's not. That doesn't make any sense. He's. He would be a first round pick. He's got some things to work on.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Who said he would be a first round pick?

[Big Cat]

I think there are people that were saying. I've heard people say that in this quarterback class especially.

[PFT Commenter]

I've heard people say he's like consensus the best NFL prospect remaining.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. It's like a Christian Hackenberg.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Hey, second round pick, right?

[Big Cat]

Cannon arm. Canon arm. So we should talk to Max. Oh, by the way, I wanted to mention Colin Coward. So I said this to you right before we started. He tweeted, you see Riley Leonard? I see Josh Allen.

[PFT Commenter]

That sounds racist. I was like, okay, the only. I guess for that is that he is. He's a virulent racist.

[Big Cat]

The running style, I guess, but like, I don't know.

[PFT Commenter]

There's literally nothing about it.

[Big Cat]

I don't. I. I think it's so. I think it's bowling people over running the football.

[PFT Commenter]

I guess maybe.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

And maybe. I guess if you gave.

[PFT Commenter]

But Josh is a little. He's way more elusive.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, he is. But I. I think that might be the only thing. But he sees. He sees Josh Allen. So.

[PFT Commenter]

Max, I muted Colin Coward a long time ago. I actually blocked him. Fake soup.

[Big Cat]

Hell yes. That was. That was a bad one.

[Memes]

Yeah. No, Drew Aller just can't play it like that. The defense made enough plays to keep you in that game. You get that sack When Notre Dame is driving to kick the field goal to take the lead, and that play was so long developing and there was nothing there. Just throw the ball out of bounds. You don't need to be a hero. There's 20 seconds left. The chances of you going down and actually winning that game are so slim. Just take the stack. But that's just like a college quarterback who doesn't know what he's doing yet. Like, he's still a dumb kid.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Memes]

Like I. I felt EDS was un. Like that. That pick that, that.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Memes]

He had in the third or third quarter.

[Big Cat]

It was a fourth quarter when. When Riley Leonard just didn't see him. Yeah.

[Memes]

Notre Dame looked like they were taking control of the game. We put together a nice drive, tie it up. I don't know. I'm all over the place, but it's. It's disappointing.

[Hank]

But.

[Memes]

I don't know.

[PFT Commenter]

That last kick was kind of weird too, wasn't it?

[Memes]

That last kick was crazy. It was going right the whole time.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Memes]

And then right before the upright, it just came back left.

[PFT Commenter]

It was very, very strange.

[Big Cat]

And Mitch.

[PFT Commenter]

Mason Crosby type.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, he's been bad this year. He was injured, but he's been nails in the playoffs. I think he's 7 for 8 now in the playoffs. And Notre Dame, listen, I don't know if they can beat Texas or Ohio State, but he. Okay, you're shaking your head, Max. Notre Dame's just coached really well and they've like. I don't know. They, they. Riley Leonard did make some mistakes tonight, but if he doesn't throw any interceptions, like their team that can just kind of hang around, I think they're good. Yeah. I mean, I mean, it's going to be. They're going to be like eight and a half point underdogs, probably to Ohio State. If Ohio State.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't know that they can hang around.

[Big Cat]

We'll see. We'll see. I just give a lot of credit to Notre Dame tonight. Marcus Freeman has. He's coached an incredible playoffs.

[Memes]

James Frank.

[Dan Orlovsky]

They.

[Memes]

They went up 10 nothing and took their foot off the gas. Yeah, they were dominating the game. And then. I don't.

[Big Cat]

It was that first drive in this. In the third quarter. It was the first drive to start the second half. Notre Dame just went right down the field and it was like all the juice they needed was in that. And then they got a three and out.

[Memes]

And then Penn State went three and out.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah. And it was just like this game has just flipped on its head. Whatever. Marcus Freeman Just decided to adjust or do at halftime. It worked because they came out a completely different team.

[Memes]

I think Penn State had seven plays in the third. They went three and out. Then Tyler Warren got like a 20 yard catch and then they went. And then they were the fourth down on the next three plays.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. And now James Franklin. I mean, we're not doing the narrative, but should we. He can't win the big one because they. Although, is it not the big one?

[PFT Commenter]

I think this was a big one.

[Big Cat]

But hold on.

[PFT Commenter]

It's not his fault.

[Big Cat]

They went from underdogs to favorites right before kickoff.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. That was weird. That was weird. Well, it's Drew Aller being on a yacht, which was a fake rumor that was put out there. We think we had Notre Dame flu. Yeah, we had Notre Dame flu. We also had Penn State having diarrhea.

[Big Cat]

And then Drew Aller on a yacht.

[PFT Commenter]

Drew out on a yacht. I don't know if any of those were true, but I would say, big cat, it is a fact that this was a big one.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it was a big one.

[PFT Commenter]

Did he win it?

[Big Cat]

No, they didn't beat anyone good this year.

[PFT Commenter]

It's not his fault. But it is a fact.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I mean, they. They beat. They didn't beat anyone on their level.

[Memes]

In terms of like Illinois beat South Carolina. If they beat South Carolina, would Illinois.

[Big Cat]

Should have been in the playoffs? Yeah. Yeah, that's. But you know, you know that, like, they didn't. I mean, they had.

[Memes]

I don't blame.

[Big Cat]

This is their second big test and they. Or they. Their third because they played Oregon, Ohio State and Notre Dame and they lost all three.

[PFT Commenter]

It would be nice to have wide receivers.

[Memes]

Penn State's wide receivers are atrocious.

[PFT Commenter]

In the modern era.

[Memes]

Zero catches.

[PFT Commenter]

In the modern era of football, you typically want a wide receiver to catch the ball.

[Memes]

Zero catches. And like, I'm not gonna go back and watch the film. But if you were to go back and watch the film, I don't think there were any, like, missed wide open wide receivers.

[PFT Commenter]

No, no.

[Memes]

Like, they. Every time that you. They did that little replay where you can look out on the field, he had nothing out there except for Tyler Warren.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Nobody's rooting.

[Big Cat]

What are you gonna say?

[PFT Commenter]

What are you gonna say in iu?

[Hank]

No, I just said you're not gonna watch the film.

[Memes]

Yeah, I'm not gonna watch.

[Big Cat]

You got to get better.

[Memes]

Know how to watch film, Hank, what.

[PFT Commenter]

Are your thoughts on.

[Memes]

Hank, do you know how to watch film?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Memes]

Tell me how to watch a film. If I wanted to go back and watch y'all 22 tell me how I would do.

[Big Cat]

Ask Rudin.

[Hank]

Google.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[Hank]

Film. PSU film.

[Memes]

I'll look into that.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, I'm gonna Google that right now and just see psu. Hank, seriously though, what are your thoughts on the game?

[Hank]

I had Penn State. They choked at the end. They choked at the end. That was an absolute choke job. Like, there's no world where that shouldn't have gone to overtime.

[Big Cat]

Did you listen to our college football expert? Is that why he took Penn State? Yeah. Oh, no. He's ruining us.

[Hank]

Brandon Walker. That I should have known right then.

[Memes]

My parlay wasn't that bad.

[Hank]

No, I know. And if went to overtime. If it went to overtime, all we needed was Tyler Warren.

[Big Cat]

Touchdown.

[Hank]

And touchdown.

[Big Cat]

Drew Aller.

[Hank]

Oh, if we go to. And it goes to 2, 3, 4 overtimes, he's going to get one true hour. So I was. I was. I was mentally like in overtime already.

[Big Cat]

I don't know.

[PFT Commenter]

When you look up PSU football film, the first thing that comes up is Paterno, the film.

[Big Cat]

Oh, no.

[PFT Commenter]

Have you seen that film?

[Memes]

I don't think you should.

[PFT Commenter]

You should watch that one.

[Hank]

Not great.

[Big Cat]

No.

[PFT Commenter]

You watched it?

[Big Cat]

I actually did, yeah. Wait, the.

[Hank]

The Cheeto.

[Big Cat]

The. Yeah, Pacino one. Yeah. D Lo's in it.

[Hank]

Is he?

[Big Cat]

Yeah, he's in the opening scene. He's like. He's like in the front row. They use like footage from a game. It actually wasn't terrible. I'll watch anything with Pachink.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Big Cat]

All right, so two other things. Not college football related. Do you guys. Ohio State tomorrow night? You bet. In Ohio State.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm. I think I'm gonna take Ohio State.

[Hank]

Yeah, I like strictly it's going to be Ohio State, but I think the Texas Notre Dame championship is more fun for vibes.

[PFT Commenter]

Why is that?

[Hank]

I don't know. Just. Just is. I never really liked Ohio State as a non college football fan, but I just. Ohio State's just not never been my favorite.

[Big Cat]

This is the Scarlet Texas.

[PFT Commenter]

I think it's the gray more than anything.

[Big Cat]

Scarlet and the gray.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, mostly the gray. It just.

[Hank]

I feel like they're always really good. They're never really fun, but this team's more fun.

[Big Cat]

Cardell was fun. Yeah. But it went 59 nothing against Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I was there.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

Was it the one we were at?

[Big Cat]

No, the one we're at. Wisconsin only lost like seven, so two. Two other things. One is we already taped our preview. We obviously didn't know because they reported it later in the day. But the game in LA is being moved to Arizona. Obviously. We hope everyone's okay that. Oh, actually we didn't talk about that game. So we'll talk about that game on Sunday.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, but we do hope everybody's okay.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah, we do hope everyone's game, but. Yeah, that's. I don't know. It's gonna be weird. I. I don't know if there's enough. I mean, there's got to be.

[PFT Commenter]

It's the first game, first playoff game that has changed location since like the 1930s. Oh, there was a game. It was. I forget who was playing against Boston at the time because Boston had a football team. But then they moved that game to the Polo Grounds because. Favorite stadium because there weren't enough tickets sold.

[Big Cat]

Polo Grounds is such a fun stadium. Just to look at.

[Memes]

Yeah, they should have played that game in St. Louis.

[PFT Commenter]

What?

[Big Cat]

Oh, they should have. That would have rock for the Rams fans. That would have rocked.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[Big Cat]

Yep, you're right. They should have played that game in St. Louis. Fuck, that would have been cool.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, that is weird. Like, you think a bunch of people from LA are going to be able to go to that game? They're probably all just worried about their homes and figuring out what to do.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I don't know. And there's probably a decent amount of Vikings fans down in Arizona, maybe for the winter. I don't know. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Or retirees.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Right. So weird. Weird setup. The other one was a stat that came from ZANB21 and we should have, we should have seen this because it should have been in the Preview. But since 2017, Sean Payton is 30 and 12 against Bald Head coaches.

[PFT Commenter]

It's a pretty big sample size.

[Big Cat]

He's going up against Sean McDermott on Sunday. That makes me very nervous because I love the Bills in that game.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. So you read them off earlier. A number of those were Dan Quinn games.

[Big Cat]

A lot of them were Dan Quinn.

[PFT Commenter]

A lot of them were Dan Quinn games. Games. Yeah, there was a. Was there a Caldwell in there?

[Big Cat]

There's a Cobble. He only. So Zan B. 21 only showed. He, he basically everyone's like this and he's like, you don't think I did my work? So he showed 2017 through 2019. There was a Caldwell, There was. There was a Sean McDermott. There was a Todd Bowles. There's four. Dan Quinn wins.

[PFT Commenter]

You also mentioned Mike Tomlin. I don't think Mike Tomlin is bald. Or at least I don't think that he was bald. Like, he's. He's definitely thinning, but I don't think he was bald at the time.

[Big Cat]

Ah, he's pretty bald.

[PFT Commenter]

He might. I think he shaved his head recently, but if you go back, like, two years ago. Okay, I think Mike Tomlin had hair.

[Big Cat]

But Mike Tomlin, 2017. Can you even find that coach's photo? 2017. Yeah, you're right. He had a little more hair there, if this is correct. So maybe Zan B. 21. Maybe we shouldn't trust the stat.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't. I like the stat, though.

[Big Cat]

It's great.

[PFT Commenter]

I appreciate the legwork that he did.

[Big Cat]

The kind of stat you need. Okay, let's kick it to ourselves for more football talk. We're going to preview every game for Saturday. Sunday. Max, are you okay? Birds. Now. Birds.

[Memes]

Yeah, Birds.

[PFT Commenter]

Birds.

[Big Cat]

Birds.

[Memes]

I like I'm a Penn State fan, but I'm.

[Big Cat]

This isn't Eagles.

[Memes]

This isn't Eagles.

[Big Cat]

Connor Griffin.

[Memes]

I feel bad for Connor that he's devastated. That was one that I felt bad. I feel bad for Connor Griffin. I feel bad for my older brother.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, that's.

[Memes]

That's basically how Jeff D. Low. Jeff D. Low feel bad for Jeff D. Lowe. I feel bad for myself a little bit, but I feel more bad for them.

[PFT Commenter]

What's that, like, feeling.

[Hank]

Do you feel bad for yourself like you should. You feel bad for yourself because you rooted for the same team as them is what you feel bad for?

[Big Cat]

Like, it wasn't Hank's calling you a loser.

[Memes]

I am a loser.

[Hank]

Like, if you weren't rooting for Penn State, then Connor Griffin and Jeff D. Lo might have won that game.

[Memes]

Yeah. Yeah. But if I had to lose this game to win on Sunday, I. I will take that trade.

[PFT Commenter]

Is that what the trade is, though? That's not how it works.

[Memes]

It could be. You don't know that.

[PFT Commenter]

If you're such a loser that your mere presence made other people lose a game, then. Do you think rooting for your own team is going to be better?

[Memes]

You can't help it.

[PFT Commenter]

You guys are going to win it.

[Memes]

I don't know what you want me to say.

[PFT Commenter]

Eagles.

[Big Cat]

You shouldn't laugh like that. Drew Aller is going to be your next quarterback.

[Memes]

Meme just kept saying he wants Tyler Warren to be his next.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean, he's the next Josh Allen, according to Coward.

[Big Cat]

No, that's Riley Leonard.

[Memes]

Riley?

[Dan Orlovsky]

Oh, yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I could actually imagine Riley Leonard running a Browns offense better than dtr.

[Big Cat]

Oh, well, anyone could.

[Memes]

Yeah, I think Tyler Warren could run a better offseason.

[Big Cat]

That's a low bar. All right, let's kick it to ourselves for some weekend preview then. Dan Orlovsky Talking more football. Okay, let's get to our weekend preview. It's brought to you by our friends at Game Time. It is football season. It's football playoff season and we can't wait to get out to some games with the help of Game Time, the official ticketing partner of Barstool Sports. You know how much we love Game Time. Now with the brand new Game Time Picks feature, they're making it even easier to get to a game. Game Time Picks filters out the fluff to show you only incredible deals on great seats so you don't have to waste time searching through thousands of tickets. We're looking at the Eagles packers game. What do we got, Hank?

[Hank]

You can get into the link for as little as $141.

[Big Cat]

Ooh. Okay. Links can be rocking. So go hit the Game Time Picks deal for great seats only on Game Time. Just pull up your chosen event and turn on the GT Pick setting at the top of the screen or browse the best local Game Time Picks deal near you on your GameTime app homepage. What are you waiting for? Buy those seats the Eagles packers Tickets now with GameTime Picks. Download the Game Time app today. Use code PMT to easily score great deals with new Game Time Picks. What time is it? It's Game Time. We're also brought to you by our friends at Netflix. They've got an all new show out. It's a gripping series, new limited series coming called American Primeval. Starring Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin. American Primeval is about one of the most beautiful, brutal in isolated parts of America in 1857 as men and women violently clash over land, culture, religion and community. American Primeval is very violent story of rebellion, pain, hatred, fear and ultimate survival as one woman fights to save her son as they try to get through the land. American Primeval is brought to you by Peter Berg, Mark L. Smith and Eric Newman. And American Primeval is now playing only on Netflix. Okay boys, we got some bad news. We are not allowed to call it Super Wild Card Weekend. The NFL has nerfed Super Wild Card Weekend. It is just back to Wild Card Weekend.

[PFT Commenter]

Fuck that. I'm going to call it Super Wild Card Weekend.

[Big Cat]

Insane.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm going to do it.

[Big Cat]

Do it.

[PFT Commenter]

Stop Me is the biggest wild Card weekend of them all.

[Big Cat]

Do it.

[PFT Commenter]

How do I say it? It's Super Wild Card.

[Big Cat]

Thank you. We're not going to let them Take the Super out of wild card weekend.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. What is it just the bowl now?

[Big Cat]

That's the. Listen, they take the super out of wild card weekend, the next thing is going to happen. It's going to be just the ball.

[PFT Commenter]

It's a slippery slope. Freedom of speech, Roger.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. So that that news that was also brought to you by our good friend Mike Florio, which I love that he was on the beat for that. He was like, the NFL is slowly taking away the super word in wild card weekend without anyone knowing.

[PFT Commenter]

Wait, did they slowly take it away or have they taken away.

[Big Cat]

I'm pulling it up. Super Wild Card is no more. This is from Florio. Wild card weekend is no longer super in name at least. After noticing on Tuesday the conspicuous absence of the name that emerged when the NFL added two more playoff person created a six game opening round. We asked the league if super has been sixth. Super debuted during the 2020 season playoffs when the NFL introduced a new wild card format and the addition of a team from each conference making the playoffs. The first change since 1990. The league said via email. I just love that Florio emailed the league about this. Super was used the last four seasons to help differentiate from the previous 30 years of the Saturday Sunday schedule and the further drive awareness of the three days of wild card games. It served its purpose as fans have responded well, while it has been retired, there's no doubt the wild card games will continue to be super. This is the best story ever.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Big Cat]

I mean, Florio just saying, hey, where the fuck is the Super? I got to email the league.

[PFT Commenter]

That's. That's a eagle eye that he had right there. He noticed.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Floor is the king and noticing shit like that. I. What do you think the NFL is taking it away because they're going to move the word super to something else that they're planning on innovating.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And that was confusing.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Like the 18 game season, is that going to be the super season?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Because you can't have the mega season. Mega this. How about mega wild card weekend?

[Big Cat]

I'm in for mega wild card weekend.

[PFT Commenter]

Let's get mega with it.

[Big Cat]

Do you think they're ever going to go to eight teams? I hope not. Actually. That would be kind of fun.

[PFT Commenter]

When they put the team in London and they put the team in Brazil. Then I think we might go to. Yeah, yeah.

[Big Cat]

More football. More better. Should we say real quick before we get into the games? It is super Wild card weekend. We still say that on this show. Do we want to do a Real quick, updated. What teams you think can win the super bowl this year? Okay, I have. I have five teams, and it might look stupid.

[PFT Commenter]

I think they all.

[Big Cat]

They all can. Technically, I have five teams and it might look really dumb when one of the. One of those teams is not in it and the other one wins. So. But my five teams are Philadelphia Eagles, the Detroit Lions, the Baltimore Ravens, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Buffalo Bills.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, I got the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills, the Baltimore Ravens, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Detroit Lions. That's five. The Washington Commanders.

[Big Cat]

You got to.

[PFT Commenter]

And the Dallas Cowboys.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Michael Parsons just said that they've got the best team and going into next season, they should be super bowl champions. It just didn't show on paper this season.

[Big Cat]

Just need it. No scoreboards. They're. They're the winners. Also, an update from Dallas. It apparently so the. The Cowboys blocked the interview with Mike McCarthy to the Bears. And then it was a report that Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy spent significant time together Tuesday and Wednesday.

[PFT Commenter]

They're getting shit done.

[Big Cat]

That's great.

[PFT Commenter]

It's a power meeting.

[Big Cat]

That's awesome.

[PFT Commenter]

Do you. Are you happy that they blocked Mike?

[Big Cat]

I am happy they blocked.

[PFT Commenter]

Like, thank you to Dallas.

[Big Cat]

Yes, thank you, Dallas. It's also just, like, kind of fucked up what they're doing where they're putting him in limbo, and if they don't resign him, he might miss his window to get another job.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I don't.

[Big Cat]

At this point, you have to resign.

[PFT Commenter]

If you put Mike McCarthy in limbo, buddy, that floor is going to get broken.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So I think. I think what's going to happen is they're going to resign them. I don't think that they would deny him an opportunity to look for a job and then say, yeah, sorry, we're actually not going to resign you because Dion just agreed to come to town. So good luck out there, Mike.

[Big Cat]

I agree.

[PFT Commenter]

Have fun.

[Big Cat]

Go get a mic.

[PFT Commenter]

Speaking of. Speaking of Dion, I know that he's been connected to the Raiders at some point. Points. The Raiders also reached out to Hank's good friend Bill Belichick. Tom Brady sent out an olive branch to Bill to see if Bill would be interested in joining the Raiders. I don't know if Bill's responded. He is, I guess, busy on the recruiting trail right now. I saw a couple pictures of him meeting with recruits, so he is actually, like, going boots on the ground, meeting with prospects. But, Hank, how would you feel if Tom Brady and Bill got back together? One last ride. But it was for the Raiders.

[Big Cat]

I'd be happy.

[Hank]

I'd be happy to see it.

[Big Cat]

It's.

[Hank]

You know, I was saying it to you yesterday. Pft. It's like parents getting divorced. You know, I'm grown up. It's no longer, you know, my childhood. But I would like to see them come together and. And bring that joy and love to another fan base. That wouldn't bother me.

[PFT Commenter]

That's very big of you.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

To say that.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I think it's actually a up move for the Raiders to do this. Like, embarrassing for the Raiders to do this.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

To have the two guys who are responsible for your saddest moment, your most heartbreaking moment. The tuck rule that you're still angry about. Now you're like, hey, can you just come fix us?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

After you broke us.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. We. Yeah. We need your help.

[PFT Commenter]

Also, if you look at the Raiders coaches, they've had, like, 16 coaches.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

In the last 30 years.

[Big Cat]

I think it was 12 and 20. It's insane.

[PFT Commenter]

So I think they're. They're averaging one and a half years per coach.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Which is absolutely nuts.

[Big Cat]

Not a way to do it.

[PFT Commenter]

No. But, yeah, that would be fun. Now, I obviously be fucked for college football if Belichick was just like, yeah, you know what? I'm going back to the NFL. But as fans of storylines, which we are.

[Big Cat]

Would be incredible.

[PFT Commenter]

It'd be incredible. Maybe you can coach both.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Saturdays and Sundays.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Feeder system.

[Big Cat]

Okay. Let's get some games. I'm excited for these games. I'm excited. This is. This is. I know I have a bunch of top weekends, but in sports, like, while super wild card weekend is. Is very high up there, especially because we have college football playoffs, too. Like, this is a weekend I look forward to all year.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. When you say that, like, feast week is your favorite week. That's one of.

[Big Cat]

I have, like, seven favorite sports weeks. You got feast hand up.

[PFT Commenter]

Feast week feels like the outlier the others are. Conference championship week. Yep. First weekend of March Madness. Second weekend of March Madness, but really first weekend, the Masters Kentucky Derby, and.

[Big Cat]

Usually when there's a big fight and there's the NBA and NHL playoffs.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Wow. Super wild card weekend. Divisional round weekend, Conference championship weekend.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm usually more of a fan of divisional round weekend, but for some reason this year.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

The super. Really. It got to me.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

It is super.

[Big Cat]

And. And then just throw in a random, like, October weekend when the slate is just insane. And it's like, you know, five awesome college football matchups and five awesome NFL matchups.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. No, I'm, I'm very excited for this weekend. The game should be awesome. And, and yeah, this is just, it's exciting time to be alive.

[Big Cat]

It is. All right, so first game up, Chargers at Texans. I updated my lines last night. Let me make sure they're all good. Chargers at Texans, I believe. Sorry, this is bad. Chargers at Texans. I think The Texans are three point. Yes. So three point underdogs at home. Over under is 42 and a half. This is a tough game for me because I. The Chargers should win this game. The Texans offense is not good. It has proven to be not good all year. They are 31st in early down success rate. But the Houston defense is very good and we also have a fun matchup. Lad McConkey is going up against his former teammate Kamari Lassiter. And I think LAD has said that he is the toughest cornerback he ever played in practice at Georgia. But I'm, I'm. I'm believing in the Chargers. I'm just a little hesitant because I do think Houston's defense is that good and they can keep in this game and muck it up.

[PFT Commenter]

So is it going to be against Lassiter or is it going to be against Stingley?

[Big Cat]

It depends on where he goes. I mean, if he's in the slot, it's gonna be last. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I was thinking this, this game is, you know what it is? It's strength for strength.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

All around. Because you got good cornerbacks against LAD and then you've got some other wide receivers who are gonna have to step up. I actually like Josh Palmer in this game a lot. But then you have the two def for Houston. You've got Hunter and Will Anderson going up against Alton Slater.

[Big Cat]

Yep. Strength on strength.

[PFT Commenter]

The anchors strength on strength game. And then there's just a lot of stuff, a lot of cool shit to keep your eye on in this game. The Texans, according to Sports Info Solutions, 25th in the league with a 0.22 EPA per play when opponents are targeting the middle of the field. But they are first in the NFL with negative point 11 EPA per play when opponents target the perimeter of the field. Which would seem to say it will be a tough day for LAD to eat. Yeah, the lad's not going to eat on, on Sunday.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And then kind of why I like.

[Big Cat]

Josh Palmer on the reverse side. The Chargers do play a lot of too high safety. And when Stroud goes up against these eight touchdowns, seven interception and his passer rating is 31st in the NFL against that type of defense. We also Have Jim Harbaugh knowing Nico Collins, which is the only weapon the Texans have.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[Big Cat]

Recruited him, played for him. Here's another one. I had Houston verse top 10 DVOA defenses because the Chargers ranked ninth in DVOA. Minnesota, the second DVOA defense, they lost 34. 7. Baltimore the sixth, they lost 31. 2. Detroit the fifth, they lost 26, 23. And Green Bay, the seventh, they lost 24, 22. So they are.04 against those top 10 DVOA defenses. And like I said, the Chargers are a top 10 DVOA defense. Everything we just have said is just like, you should just take the under.

[PFT Commenter]

I was, I was just going to say, did we become an analytics podcast?

[Big Cat]

A little bit there.

[PFT Commenter]

Listen.

[Big Cat]

Touched on it.

[PFT Commenter]

All right, how about this? Let's. Let's just get anti analytics.

[Big Cat]

I have a. I have a dumb analytics stat for you. It's just looking at game logs. J.K. dobbins, when he's hurt or he left the game against Baltimore, The Chargers are 2 and 3. When he's healthy, they're 9 and 3.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, I like that.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it's just dumb analytics. I literally just looked at the game logs, like, oh, he didn't play there. They lost.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, here's my dumb analytics. Jim Harbaugh hates losing. Hate. I think he hates losing more than D'Amico Ryan's hates losing.

[Big Cat]

Jim Harbaugh also claims that he remembers the day he was born.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah, I remember. Wasn't this a thing? A story that we heard, like, over the summertime, but then Justin Herbert brought it up at a press conference. He's like, when I knew that I liked Jim was when he told me that he remembers being born. Yeah, he's putting his head down, hitting daylight.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Maybe hit the C gap if it was sliced open. But there's. There's a fun thing in this game that we always do every year. It's the MVP game. This is the slime time game on Nickelodeon. We got to give the MVP to Harbaugh if they win. Right. Is that a possibility?

[Big Cat]

He would love it. He would. He would.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

He would earnestly accept that with just so much, like, love in his heart.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. He'd be like, this is what happens when you dedicate yourself. You put your mind to it and you. You fight with a ferocity that no one's ever seen. Yeah, it would be good for kids.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

It would be good for America and America's children if they could see Jim Harbaugh win the mvp.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, he'd probably have it presented to him by spongebob. It would be a dream come true.

[Big Cat]

Would be starstruck.

[PFT Commenter]

He would be like, okay, first I'm gonna move my championship trophy from college football to the side. And the MVP goes right there because spongebob gave it to me.

[Big Cat]

So is everyone. Where's everyone thinking in this game? I do think the Chargers win. I'm a little nervous about three just because it does feel like it's going to be a low scoring kn. Down, drag, out, fight.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. There's a pattern for me this weekend and that is there are a lot of teams that it. It seems like every single analyst out there is picking the Chargers.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

That makes me think, what if the Texans just play like they played last year?

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

That's stupid because we've been waiting for the Texans to do that.

[Big Cat]

That Browns game is kind of a similar spot. I think the, I think the chart. I think the Texans might have been on underdogs in that game. I can't remember, but that was. Yeah, they kicked the shit out of the Browns.

[PFT Commenter]

And I think we thought last year this might be the last time we see the Texans in this time slot.

[Big Cat]

Right. But the Texans also. You kind of are what you are. They have not been a good offense this year. So last year they were a lot better of an offense. I also, we should say. I mean, the, the fires in LA are like horrific. Really, really sad. Hope everyone who's in awl is safe and. And okay. I wonder if there is. Is there a human element? Because like, like the. You're living in a city. If you're a charger and it's burning down right now. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

You're wondering if your house is okay while you're.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I don't know. Just something to throw in there. I. I just more hope that everyone's okay and, And. And all anyone who listens is. Is doing okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Agree with that. I, I do like the Chargers, though. I can't. I can't talk myself into the Texans. I will talk myself into one of these other teams, but I'm not doing it for the Texas Max.

[Big Cat]

We got to win this game and then we can cash out our future.

[Memes]

If we want to cash out. That's what I was just looking at.

[Hank]

It's not.

[Memes]

It's not great.

[Big Cat]

It's even right now or a little less, right.

[Memes]

It. It's a little bit less.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[Memes]

Now The Chargers are 30 to 1.

[Big Cat]

But this was the plan. Chargers win one playoff game.

[Memes]

I'm holding for the Chiefs.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[Memes]

Yeah, I think the Charger. If the Chargers play the Chiefs. Divisional. Divisional opponent. I'm holding for the Chiefs.

[Big Cat]

They got a chance. Okay, next game. Saturday night, Steelers at Ravens. Ravens minus nine and a half over under 43 and a half. I'm very interested to see if Zay Flowers plays. That's a big one because I don't. There's nothing that tells me the Steelers can win this game unless the Ravens have their number one receiver gone. So Zay Flowers has 24% target rate. So a quarter of the targets. And he also has a quarter of the team's total receiving yards. If he doesn't play, maybe it's a. Tomlin muck it up. If he plays. I like. Where's the Steelers offense coming from? They've looked so bad.

[PFT Commenter]

It's non existent. What about this Tomlin surprises? The world starts. Justin Fields. Probably not any better.

[Big Cat]

No, probably not.

[PFT Commenter]

But I do think that if Zay Flowers doesn't play, then that plays obviously into the hands of the Steelers who are very, very good against the run. But the Ravens are different against the run. They're also. The Ravens defense is since making the change.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And since moving Kyle Hamilton back to more of a free safety role or playing him deep, the Ravens defense is like number one in every category.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it's. So we're going to talk more about it with Dan Orlovsky because he breaks it down what they changed, but since week 11 when they made the change, they have the top pass defense in the NFL. So that's pretty crazy. Yeah, they were 30th 1 weeks 1.

[PFT Commenter]

Through 10, I think top pass defense, maybe top scoring defense. Since making that change.

[Big Cat]

There are just a all around sound team and I want like part of me. So. So if I was going to make the case for the Steelers, it's Zay Flowers being out, it's Justin Tucker being a little shaky. Like this is maybe the. This has got to be the first time in the Ravens Justin Tucker history that the other team has the edge and kicking. Chris Boswell has had a better year than Justin Tucker. And then The Ravens are second in the league in penalties. 132 penalties this year and you've. We've seen it. They've had games where they've been right there and that like little, you know, thing will happen. It's like not fully sound, not buttoned up. So that would be my case for the Steelers, but I feel like that's not a very strong case and the Ravens are going to win.

[PFT Commenter]

I think that there's a path for the Steelers, though. And this is me.

[Big Cat]

Give me the path. Let's close our eyes.

[PFT Commenter]

Talking myself into the. Into the Steelers. They play very, very hard against the Ravens. This is not a good first round matchup for the Ravens.

[Big Cat]

How cold is it? Let's do. Let's set it for.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, here's the night game. Night game. It is 27 degrees in Baltimore. Windy. The flags on top of the goal post swirling.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Like accurate stadium.

[Big Cat]

TJ Watt. What's his hair?

[PFT Commenter]

TJ Watt has a fresh bully cut.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

He looks healthy.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Justin Fields is coming in not just on third and short.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

He's coming in on second down.

[Big Cat]

Sometimes I don't know why I still have my eyes closed.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Big Cat]

Lamar may be wearing a little too many undergarments.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Like a little too a Lamar. You're like, you didn't need all those layers.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Mike Tomlin has two hats on. Putting a hat on a hat, two wool caps on. And the opening kickoff return by the Ravens. Mike Tomlin steps onto the field and lays that motherfucker out. Sets the tone. That's Pittsburgh football.

[Big Cat]

And that's it. What's the weather, Max? Cold game too quick for me.

[PFT Commenter]

So I.

[Big Cat]

Also, Rusty, like George Pickens, has to do something.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[Big Cat]

And 25, 28 degrees.

[PFT Commenter]

I'll kind of nailed that. That degree.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. It doesn't look like today. Oh, that's today.

[Memes]

All right, give us Saturday 41 in sunny.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, no, wait, wait, wait. Max, you dummy, that's.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Oh, that's.

[Memes]

That's Sunday.

[Hank]

It's 39, 31 degrees at 7:30.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. It's pretty close.

[Big Cat]

Probably. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

That was probably in dip.

[Big Cat]

Not a lot of wind. But we could. We can manufacture wind.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. We've seeded clouds. Just have one side of the stadium fart at the same time.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So there is. There's some bulletin board material going around.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Have you seen the we got to get Jerry on this case, actually, because it invol cologne.

[Big Cat]

Oh.

[PFT Commenter]

So Lamar Jackson has his own.

[Big Cat]

Really?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Oh, he's got it. Lamar Jackson has his own cologne.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

It's for men and women. So whatever that is. Unisex cologne.

[Big Cat]

How does that work?

[PFT Commenter]

I don't know. They pass it around the locker room in Baltimore, and you can hear guys in the background talking about the cologne as being passed around. They're asking, how does it smell? How does it smell? And one guy says, soft. Smells soft. Just like George Pickens. Oh, that's been going viral. And you know that George Just he needs something like this to lock himself back in. Now, it did come out later, I should say. They weren't talking about the cologne. It was somebody in the background talking about another thing related to George Pickens. They're looking at a picture of a guy, okay. And they're like, yeah, the profile looks kind of. They were just saying this guy looks like George Pickens. But it doesn't matter because the clip already went out there.

[Big Cat]

So.

[PFT Commenter]

Don't pass. Do not correct. Nobody show George Pickens the community notes on this.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

If you're a Steelers.

[Big Cat]

Right. I also. George Pickens might be the one guy that you would want to talk shit to, because he probably is now just like, all I have to do, all I want to do is fight.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

You know, you can get him out of his game very easily.

[PFT Commenter]

This could be Art of War shit from Harbaugh.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I'm excited for this game, though. I hope it's a close game. I don't want. This is. This is the one game that I'm very nervous. Could be a blowout. Just. Just because the. I mean, the Steelers, I think it's happened twice that a team has made the playoffs on a four game losing streak. Both teams lost. And. And so I don't.

[PFT Commenter]

Their offense sucks.

[Big Cat]

Their offense sucks.

[PFT Commenter]

They can't do anything.

[Big Cat]

Their defense got a little bit better.

[PFT Commenter]

Their defense is pretty good.

[Big Cat]

I mean, they held the. They held the Bengals out of the end zone for 57 minutes of that game.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. So there. There is a path here. If they can. Some. If TJ can get a couple turnovers from Lamar Bully cut, then it could happen, potentially, but it's. It's unlikely. There was also a video of. I think it was a hard knocks of Cam Hayward and Russell Wilson after the last game. Russell going up to him on the field after the game being like, okay, we just gotta. We just gotta win four in a row now. That's on us. Gotta win four. And Cam Haydeword's just like. Yeah, yeah. Just like completely.

[Big Cat]

Oh, no.

[PFT Commenter]

Can you. Can you pull up the video? I would like to. I would like to listen to this video again.

[Big Cat]

Hey, let's win the last four. All right. Look at. Let's go. We can do it. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

You know what I'm saying?

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Don't doubt now. You feel me?

[Hank]

Let's go win the last four.

[Big Cat]

Oh, no. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Cam's just like.

[Big Cat]

It's like Russ's leadership is starting to maybe wear a little thin.

[PFT Commenter]

It's like a fly buzzing around a horse's. Eye. Yeah, just like get the away from me, dude.

[Big Cat]

And they're in like Cam really wants to just be like, hey dude, how about just throw over the middle of the field.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah, we, we just shut down Joe Burrow.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, we held them. Yeah, we held him to 19 points. Can you please just try to win this game?

[PFT Commenter]

Please do something. I, I do think that Justin might get on the field a little bit more.

[Big Cat]

It would be cool. Add an element.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Okay. Sunday. Sunday. Sunday. Sunday we have the Broncos at the bills. Bills minus eight and a half over unders 46 and a half. Very funny. When. When reporters asked Josh Allen what Joe Brady has brought to the offense this year, he said because they were asking about him interviewing for head coaching jobs, he said nothing. Team should stay away from him. I think I love the over in this game. I love it. Okay. Love it, love it, love it. I think that the, I mean the weakness of the Bills is their defense has not been great. They've had games where they've looked good but they, they just have not like they, they were. That Rams game, that Lions game. I know they won the Lions game but if you ask any Bills fan that's, that's the concern is their defense has not been, you know, up to snuff for the back half of the year and Josh Allen has been playing out of his mind and I think that he will not be stopped either. So I like the over.

[PFT Commenter]

I think the Bills are going to do everything they can to not let Bo Nicks hit any deep shots.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And make bone if you're going to score against us, you have to take, you have to take your offense down the field.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm going to need, you know, seven completions out of you on this drive and, and bait him with stuff underneath.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

That to me is, is the Bill's game plan is because Denver's going to try to run the ball. They're not that good at it, but they're going to try to do it. The Bills rush defense is pretty good. And then if you can make Bonix play, if he can make one mistake, then I think the Bills are definitely going to win. If Bonix plays a mistake free game, they have a shot.

[Big Cat]

We got a shot. So this is one of the. There's three of these QB's making their first playoff start versus QBs who have playoff experience. The QB's making their first playoff start in that's. In that situation are 34% against the spread. So since 2002, so not great. Track record. You got to think. I think one of the three quarterbacks that are making their first playoff start this year, Jaden Daniels, Bo, Nick, Sam, Donald. One of those three is going to win the game. I think the other two might be in trouble. I don't know how to pick those. It's kind of like a whack, a mole. Which one's going to show up in the other two. But, like, statistically speaking, a guy making his first playoff start versus a guy who's played in the playoffs before, it's a disadvantage for the guy making his first play.

[PFT Commenter]

It's also disadvantage to be playing against Josh Allen.

[Big Cat]

Correct.

[PFT Commenter]

Buffalo Bills in Buffalo.

[Big Cat]

Correct.

[PFT Commenter]

All.

[Big Cat]

All true.

[PFT Commenter]

As good as they are right now?

[Big Cat]

All true. So true.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I love. I love Buffalo. Sivon Miller, maybe revenge game here. Oh, he said it's a full circle moment. I don't know what that means. Full circle. What is that? Was that button on PlayStation?

[Big Cat]

He went full circle.

[PFT Commenter]

Spin move. Spin move, spin. So look for Von Miller. Spin move. That's what he means.

[Big Cat]

How's this a full circle moment?

[PFT Commenter]

Vaughn Miller.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, he's just like they beat Bill.

[Hank]

Circle in the playoffs when they won.

[Big Cat]

He's just playing the Broncos.

[PFT Commenter]

Playing against the Broncos.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I know, but full circle when full circle. Be if the Bills were playing against Texas A and M. Like, if the.

[Hank]

If they beat. If the Broncos beat the Bills, you know, in their original run.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, right. Then it'd be full circle.

[PFT Commenter]

But full circle moment is just playing it against a team that you used to play on.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't think it's full circle.

[Big Cat]

I don't know. I don't know what. What shape it is. Yeah.

[Hank]

Like.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I like the Bills.

[Big Cat]

I like the Bills as well.

[Hank]

I mean, we know what they didn't.

[Big Cat]

All right. Packers at Eagles. Eagles minus four and a half over under 40. Four and a half, max. Do we have any reports time of this taping? 1045.

[Memes]

By the time that you listen, Jalen Hurts will be out of concussion.

[Big Cat]

Let's go.

[PFT Commenter]

But wait.

[Big Cat]

Let's go.

[PFT Commenter]

Max. You told me several times this week that when he woke up on Thursday morning, he'd be out of concussion protocol.

[Memes]

He is. They just haven't reported it yet.

[PFT Commenter]

He's awake right now.

[Memes]

He doesn't have symptoms.

[PFT Commenter]

How do you know?

[Memes]

I know.

[PFT Commenter]

You don't know.

[Memes]

Me and my guy, we. I know.

[PFT Commenter]

You don't know.

[Memes]

He doesn't have symptoms. He's. He's good to go.

[PFT Commenter]

You said when he opens his eyes on Thursday, he's gonna be out.

[Memes]

Correct. Because all. All he needs to do is wake up without symptoms. And I know that he woke up without symptoms. They just haven't reported to the media that they woke up. Nick Sirianni is trying to keep everyone guessing.

[PFT Commenter]

All right.

[Memes]

Why would he give up information earlier than he has to give out information?

[PFT Commenter]

I think he does have to give out information today, though.

[Big Cat]

Today.

[Memes]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Memes]

So by the time that the listeners are listening to this, he will be out of protocol.

[PFT Commenter]

I actually agree with you. I think he's gonna be fine.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I think he's gonna be fine, too. And I like the Eagles in this game. I. Here's the problem. Here's the thing, Max, that we can't have happen. The Eagles cannot start slow. The Eagles are.

[Memes]

They always start.

[Big Cat]

I know they're 21st, but especially in this game, they're 21st in first quarter scoring and the packers are fourth in first quarter scoring. That's not good. You don't want to be down and have the packers be able to lean on Josh Jacobs and. And have them be able to control this game. And there is a little. Here's. Here's my biggest concern. Jordan Love is not. I mean, I think last year he was ascending at the end. This year, the packers are probably a better team overall, but they didn't. They weren't playing better towards the end of the season like last year. They were playing well towards the end of the season. That game against the Cowboys was crazy. He played perfect football game. That was his first playoff start. I'm worried that, like, that guy's going to show up.

[PFT Commenter]

They're the only seven seed to win a playoff game.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

The other seven seeds are one in seven all time. So that team is the only one that's done a.

[Big Cat]

So that's my.

[Memes]

That's what I've been saying all week. What's your biggest worry? It's nothing really about what. What I've seen on the field the past couple of weeks. It's really just the vibe of the. Of the Green Bay packers as a seven seed coming off of last year. Yeah, like, the Eagles are better than the packers in almost every category of the game, but it's still the Green Bay Packers. They're still. They still have a really good coach and they beat this and they've done it before and they know and they're not scared.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[Memes]

That's what. That's what I'm scared of is that we're not playing. We're not playing a seven Seed that is scared of. Of the big. Of the big guns.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So let's do a guy off real quick. Is there anybody at the same position on the packers who's better than on the Eagles?

[Memes]

Quarterback, I would take Jalen Hurts.

[PFT Commenter]

Running back.

[Memes]

I would take Saquon Barkley.

[PFT Commenter]

Left, left and right.

[Memes]

Tackles, I would take our guy.

[PFT Commenter]

Like.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, no, you guys have a better. Yeah. Kick.

[Memes]

Kicker.

[Big Cat]

Kicker. But yeah, you guys have a better and better wide receivers, better cornerbacks.

[Memes]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

What about coach?

[Memes]

Great. Best winning percentage in the NFL.

[PFT Commenter]

You didn't answer the question.

[Big Cat]

I didn't.

[Memes]

No, not coach.

[Big Cat]

The. I also think Vic Fangio is going to have a little bit. I mean, I think he already has an edge because Christian Watson being out is a big deal. Like, that's. I know that he's, you know, packers like. Well, he. He doesn't. He has stones for hands and. But he's a field stretcher. He is the guy who can. Who can get open deep and you have to worry about his speed at all times. That definitely changes the dynamic of what the packers can do and what the Eagles can do in terms of defending the Packers.

[Memes]

And if you. Even if you go back to that week one game, the Eagles still won that game. Jair Alexander was playing in that game. AJ Brown torched. Torched him. But then Jaden. Jaden Reed torched Avante Maddox. But Avante Maddox is no longer our nickel corner. Cooper De Jean is now our nickel corner who's been one of the best in the league since he's come in. So the Eagles won that game and they're in a better spot now than they were week one.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Memes]

So, like, everything points that the Eagles should take care of business. But it's a Green Bay packers and they beat the shit out of the Cowboys week one last year. It's the only thing I'm scared of.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

It makes sense. So not afraid?

[Memes]

No, I'm. What?

[PFT Commenter]

You're not afraid?

[Memes]

I just.

[PFT Commenter]

At all.

[Memes]

I just explained to you why I'm afraid.

[PFT Commenter]

But you're not afraid.

[Memes]

I mean, I'm. I'm confident, but there. If there's still worry.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Memes]

Like, I'm not going to go in here and say we're on the week two or we're on the divisional round.

[Big Cat]

Super divisional round.

[Memes]

Yeah, we're on to the super divisional round.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm going to give Sirianni compliment. That was a good decision that he made last week.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Got you guys a little mini buy.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

He created his own buy. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Had to.

[PFT Commenter]

Because if you're not going to get the one seed. You need, you need that little small, little break for yourselves to get, get a little bit more fresh for Super Wild.

[Memes]

Assuming Jalen Hurts is healthy week one, all 11 starters on offense and defense will be playing in this game for the okay.

[Big Cat]

And I, I just hope he's. Because that's the slow start and the fact that he's missed what, two weeks now? Three weeks.

[Memes]

Two weeks, two and a half.

[Big Cat]

Just got to find a way to start, start fast.

[Memes]

I'm worried about the start.

[Big Cat]

Have to find a way to scheme something up and get in a rhythm early because that's where I'm going to start getting nervous. If the Eagles come out and they're like three and out and the packers go down the field and now you're playing a different game because the Eagles are a incredible team to play from ahead. We saw in that Steelers game when they had the fucking whatever it was 13 minute drive down the field to end the game.

[Memes]

Counterpoint though. They've been playing from behind all year.

[Big Cat]

True.

[Memes]

Even if they do start off playing from behind.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. It's just playing from behind in the playoffs is definitely a different.

[Memes]

It's different in the playoffs. It's different in the playoffs. But if like this, like the Eagles have found, found a way this year to start to play from behind in every game and still win by two scores.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[Memes]

In almost every game.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

I think with the packers that, that would be the one way that you could go about it though, if you could just start handing the ball to Josh Jacobs.

[Memes]

We started behind in that game. Yeah, I'm pretty, pretty sure.

[Big Cat]

Did you guys see that you added another Georgia Bulldog? I think there's 11 total playing in this game.

[PFT Commenter]

Who is it?

[Big Cat]

Louis Scene former first round pick who was cut by the Vikings. I think he was on the Bills practice squad and he got added to the Eagles active roster. So it's, it's a significant amount of Georgia Bulldogs.

[PFT Commenter]

I love that I'm.

[Big Cat]

Let's go win a football game, Max. Let's go win a football game, Max.

[PFT Commenter]

Can, can you give me a quick breakdown of the Howard Eskin stuff?

[Memes]

Oh, that was my.

[Big Cat]

Whoa.

[PFT Commenter]

So he gave me, he gave me a homework. I gave him a homework because I saw a headline and it said Howard Askin like the, the reporter in Philly got banned from the facility and then gave himself his own press credential.

[Big Cat]

Oh.

[PFT Commenter]

And tried to sneak in like he was still on the job.

[Big Cat]

That's the horny guy who posted the, the Picture of his daughter, I think.

[PFT Commenter]

But there's some other horny stuff in here.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Memes]

Yeah, I think. I think horniness is to be. I did not. I have not done my homework. I didn't. I hand up, professor. I did not do my home. I did not do my homework.

[Big Cat]

All right, so we need it for Sunday night show.

[Memes]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[Hank]

That sounds like you're not going to do it then.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I know.

[Memes]

I have to put it.

[PFT Commenter]

How about this? How about by the end of class?

[Memes]

I can get it by the end of class.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. By the end of class.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Have it on my desk.

[Big Cat]

Okay. Yeah. I like the Packers. I mean, I'm sorry. I like the Eagles. I think the Packers.

[PFT Commenter]

There might be something to that.

[Big Cat]

I already bet the Eagles.

[PFT Commenter]

That was a Freudian slip there, Max.

[Big Cat]

I like the Eagles. They're going to win this game. Just don't start slow.

[Memes]

I'm not promising they're not going to start slow. But you're more worried about starting slow than I am.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

I would like very much for the packers to win this game. Very much.

[Memes]

I would like very much for the Commanders to lose their game as well.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm aware. I'm aware.

[Big Cat]

Nice. All right, let's talk about that game. Commanders at Bucks. Bucks minus three over, under 50 and a half. What are we thinking? Pft. How we feel.

[PFT Commenter]

I told you I had a path, right?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I told you I had this whole thing figured out from doing a deep dive into the all 22. I think Jaden is going to run the fuck out of the football. And I think Austin Eckler is going to run the fuck out of the football. I think that Todd Bowles is going to. If he tries to blitz Jaden the way that he did in week one, it's not going to end up well for him because Jaden will take off on him. He's a different quarterback. Fun fact. No team has ever beaten Jaden Daniels twice in the same year ever.

[Big Cat]

That is a fun fact.

[PFT Commenter]

Right? I think it's just three teams this year. Wait, that had the opportunity to do it.

[Big Cat]

He didn't play in an SEC championship.

[PFT Commenter]

He did not play. No. When they lost, it was Alabama and Georgia.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. Yeah. So no team's ever beaten him twice in the same year.

[Big Cat]

That's awesome.

[PFT Commenter]

Which is pretty good. Dan Quinn has never gone one and done in the playoffs.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

He's. I think he's 2. 0 in that. The Bucks were 04 in prime time this year as well. This is Sunday night game.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

So they haven't won a prime time.

[Big Cat]

That Cowboys game was bad.

[PFT Commenter]

It was very bad. Now, counterpoint, if you're a Bucs fan, listen to this. You can say, hey, we beat you when you were the Redskins in the playoffs. We beat you when you were the football team in the playoffs. And now we're going to be the only team to have beaten you when you're all three of those. We haven't won a playoff game since 2006, which was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chris Sims.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

But I think, I think the way that Todd Bowles is going to attack this is going to be start off blitzing, get damaged a little bit by Jaden's legs, and then he's going to drop back more into more of like a rush four, take his foot off the gas a little bit blitzing, and then expect Jaden to be looking like he was in week one, passing the ball. But Jaden is a lot better now. There's a different Jaden Daniels.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So in week one.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So I think, I think there's a path to it now. The, the downside to all this is that our defense is still not very good. Our defense is, I would say medium bad, which is. Medium bad's not good, which is also, it's not good. But it's also a significant upgrade on what the Bucks saw in week one.

[Big Cat]

True.

[PFT Commenter]

When we were bad. Bad.

[Big Cat]

True.

[PFT Commenter]

Maybe worse than the league. Bad.

[Big Cat]

True.

[PFT Commenter]

I think I said after that if our defense can just get medium, then we'll be a decent team or defense is like medium bad with an opportunity to escalate to medium.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

I think there's going to be a lot of points either way.

[Big Cat]

I do too.

[PFT Commenter]

I think that it's going to be a shootout, but which would be awesome. Weird stuff happens with the commanders at the end of games. We've won a lot of games, some against bad teams that we shouldn't have won. But for some reason Jaden at the end just figures shit out.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

He's a big figure out guy and he doesn't get too excited. He doesn't get too emotional. Besides happy. Yeah. So I, I like our chances. I think that we have a very good chance of beating the Bucks.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I, I, I do too. I think this would be a great game. I think the Bucks are not like the Bucks defense has not looks great. They also have a lot of injuries and I don't know, I think it actually helps that Jaden Daniels has played them before. Like you said, like, it's like, you know, the unfamiliarity of playoffs. A lot of pressure. It's like. But we've been to Tampa. We've played them. That was the first game of the season. I would be a little worried about the run game for the Bucks. I feel like Bucky's going to have a huge day.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[Big Cat]

Probably going to ladder his overs.

[PFT Commenter]

I would agree with that. We're going to have a very hard time stopping Bucky Irving and Rashad White. Mike Evans. I don't know what to expect. I like. I like Lattimore's chances more than I would like Benjamin Saint Juice chances.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Lattimore or against Mike Evans. So, yeah, if you look at Todd Bowles, he's got, like, two ways of playing defense. He will blitz quarterbacks that he does not respect, and then he will take away the deep ball against quarterbacks that he does. That's what he did to. To Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

Where he just did. He just stopped blitzing entirely.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

So I think he's going to try to blitz and then realize this isn't working. And then Jaden's going to have his way.

[Big Cat]

Okay. I think you guys are going to be in this game. I'm rooting for you to get a playoff win. I've told you. I've been honest. I. If you want a Super bowl this year, I'd be like, that's fucking bullshit. I would like you to win this game, especially because it's against Stephen Che. Yes. And that would be very nice for you to win against Stephen Shea. I will probably do a friendship bet on the commanders and ride with you because I want you to just rub it in his face.

[PFT Commenter]

I appreciate that.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And so. So the. The path becomes. Here's what I'm also worried about. If we do somehow happen to win this game, I'm gonna. The. The next week. I'm gonna treat like we just won the Super Bowl. Oh, you have to, because in. In all likelihood, we're then going to have to play against the Lions.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

In which case, I think the Lions are going to score 70 points if they play the Command.

[Big Cat]

That would not be a great matchup for you.

[PFT Commenter]

It would be a terrible matchup for us, which is why I'm rooting so hard for the Packers.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

But, yeah, this is going to be fun. We're in the playoffs.

[Big Cat]

Let's go.

[PFT Commenter]

Fucking let's go. I'm above the moon. The fact that I get above the moon. Above the moon. That I get a playoff above the moon. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Damn. Okay. That's it. We'll do the Monday night game on Sunday.

[PFT Commenter]

Hank, by the way, we had 12 wins this season. You bet us to not make the playoffs.

[Big Cat]

12 wins, 12 wins is a lot of wins.

[Hank]

Yeah, it was a bad bet. You guys, good team. I have a Super bowl future. I'm hoping for this path to come through.

[PFT Commenter]

Wait, you said on Monday that we were not a good team.

[Big Cat]

No, it's actually Sunday. Yeah, Sunday, he turned to me during the game. He said, the Commanders are not a good team.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, you just said you're a good team.

[Hank]

Well, you made the playoffs. You got 12 wins. I'm not going to. I'm not. Like, you're not. I don't know.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, we made the playoffs a week before that. We beat the Falcons.

[Hank]

Listen, I'm rooting for the Commanders. I don't think they're like that good of a team, but the. The numbers state otherwise. The wind state otherwise. You guys made the playoffs. Like, I'm just a hater. I don't.

[Big Cat]

I don't.

[Hank]

I'm. I'm definitely hating.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Hank]

And you guys basically lost to the Bears. You basically lost to the Saints. Like, you barely beat Cowboys. It sounds like those are bad teams. You have to fight to be bad teams.

[PFT Commenter]

Basically lose. I don't care.

[Hank]

Like, you guys are going to get smoked in the playoffs.

[Big Cat]

But almost lost to Kenny Pickett.

[Hank]

I. Hank.

[PFT Commenter]

Hank, you basically dunked.

[Hank]

Yeah, exactly. I actually did basically dunk.

[PFT Commenter]

I was pretty close.

[Hank]

No, I mean, it was. It was pretty close.

[Big Cat]

At no point, I have no problem.

[Hank]

Admitting that I was wrong. And for the sake of this podcast, I want Commander's Eagles, and I. The best case scenario out of that. I guess I have the Eagles future, but I. I want the Eagles to make a run for the sake of the show. I don't care if that makes me look wrong. Do I think it's going to happen if you gave me, you know, true serum? No. But at this point, I'll take my licks and say I was wrong and somehow hope the Commanders, you know, make a run.

[PFT Commenter]

No, that's fine. Well, the reality is the NFL was very bad this year. There were a lot of bad teams, and we beat a lot of bad teams. And we beat a lot of bad teams.

[Hank]

You barely beat a lot of bad.

[PFT Commenter]

A narrow margin, but we also narrowly, narrowly lost to several good teams.

[Big Cat]

You are what your record says. You are exactly 12 win team 12 and 5.

[PFT Commenter]

I'll take the number 12 next to the win column. Looks pretty good.

[Big Cat]

I did put in A future on drafting sportsbook. Ohio State. Parlayed with Ohio State to win the national championship. Parlayed with the Eagles. I think it's 13. One Eagles, Super Bowl. All right, so I'm with Maxi.

[Hank]

Me, too. And I'm just.

[Big Cat]

I do. I think the Eagles are the best team in the nfc. I've said it for months now. Now that's a fact.

[Hank]

I think the Eagles are walking on a. On a minefield to get to the Super Bowl.

[Big Cat]

Why?

[Hank]

There's a lot of good teams in the NFC.

[Big Cat]

I think there's. I think the AFCs.

[Hank]

Well, the packers is tough. The. The Lions are tough. The Vikings are tough. The Rams, like.

[PFT Commenter]

Not gonna say commanders?

[Hank]

No, that's fine.

[PFT Commenter]

You said the packers, too.

[Big Cat]

He just named everything. He just named every command.

[Memes]

Bucks.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah. He named four, five, six. That's.

[Hank]

Am I wrong?

[Big Cat]

Four, five, seven.

[Hank]

Am I wrong?

[PFT Commenter]

No, listen, Skip.

[Big Cat]

Six.

[PFT Commenter]

Hank's not wrong. I think that all those teams have.

[Hank]

A better chance against.

[Big Cat]

I think.

[PFT Commenter]

All right, so in my dream matchup, I had the Buccaneers. In the Buccaneers dream matchup, they had the commanders.

[Big Cat]

Here's. Here's what I was saying in PFT's defense. And I, I. Because, like, you know, he's not. He's not trying to be cocky about it, but I think that what the commanders are, is they're not a finished product. They're not a great team. But the way Jaden Daniels has played this year gives you a chance in any game.

[PFT Commenter]

Any game.

[Big Cat]

That's. That's really what it comes down to, is you got a guy that is so dynamic that if he is. If he is hitting his long balls, if he's running, you know, when he needs to run, he's a matchup. Matchup problem.

[PFT Commenter]

I would say even if he doesn't hit the long balls and he's running well and hitting, you know, Zach Ertz and Zacchaeus and some of the other receivers on, like, intermediate stuff. He's still going to keep you in games.

[Big Cat]

Right?

[PFT Commenter]

And if he hits the long balls, that's when we win. That's. That's. If he's connecting on long balls and running well at the same time, I think we win the game. No doubt about it. But, you know, anything can happen. Anything can happen.

[Big Cat]

Anything can happen.

[PFT Commenter]

His own foreign prime time memes.

[Big Cat]

You got anything on the playoffs? I'm all in on Steve Spagnolo right now.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, okay. I thought Second chance. You guys are interviewing a ton of Italians.

[Big Cat]

So many Italians. Yeah, I like the league in Italians. Do you think the Rizzler is in on any of these interviews? I saw somebody say we interviewed Mike Francesa for the GM job.

[Memes]

Oh, Eagles definitely lead the league in Italians, by the way.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. But the jets are.

[Big Cat]

They're trying to copy. They are.

[Memes]

They have been trying to copycat league the Eagles for a while now.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Memes]

Just because they got Joe Douglas.

[Big Cat]

Should we have an Italian off? We might have to. Might have to. An Italian off.

[Memes]

I mean, Big Dom is counts as, like, 10 Italians.

[Big Cat]

That's true.

[PFT Commenter]

He's the Don.

[Big Cat]

He's a starting five for Italians.

[Memes]

We have Eagles. There's just Eagles hats that have the Italian flag on the side of it for the whole coaching staff.

[PFT Commenter]

That is true.

[Big Cat]

Must be Italian to coach my brother like that is.

[Memes]

Your terrible teller has asked me so many times. He's like, can you get me that Eagles Italian hag flag? Because you can't buy it. Only the coaches get it.

[Big Cat]

You got to get it for.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, you got to get it for memes. Are you rooting for Max?

[Big Cat]

No. You're rooting for pain. Yeah.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Be honest. What are you.

[Memes]

I don't want anybody to win.

[Big Cat]

I want everybody to lose. But. But if you're rooting for maximum for the podcast listeners, we need to spread out the losses. Like, if you guys both lost this weekend, it would kind of suck.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Memes]

You know, Eagles are gonna lose in the super bowl, and horrific or no, they'll probably lose in the NFC championship in horrific fashion.

[Big Cat]

Okay. No confidence.

[Memes]

You say that, and then you just don't. Look at me, loser. Look at me.

[Hank]

Speak like a winner.

[Big Cat]

I'm the captain now.

[Memes]

I. Loser.

[Big Cat]

Oh, and what.

[Memes]

In what way? You're like, oh, this is shocking. Max is acting like a loser.

[PFT Commenter]

Max, you're acting like a loser right now.

[Memes]

Yeah, I am a loser.

[Hank]

Do you want to win? Did you beat Hank like a winner?

[Memes]

Not on this show.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, this is bad. You're setting a bad tone.

[Big Cat]

All right, let's. We have. We have a same game parlay for the people. We actually have two of them. So DraftKings this weekend with NFL teams playing to see who's the king of the gridiron, get in on the playoff action, see who's the king of the end zone at DraftKings Sportsbook and official sportsbook partner of the NFL playoffs. DraftKings has been the number one place to bet touchdowns all season long. And the NFL playoffs aren't keeping them out of the end zone. They're going all in. With $2 million in bonus bets up for grabs every game day during the NFL playoffs. Here's how it works. Place a $5 pregame bet on an offensive player into find the end zone and if they have the longest rushing or receiving TD that day, they're king of the end zone and you win a share of $2 million in bonus bets. DraftKings sportsbook is crowning a king of the end zone every NFL game day. Download DraftKings sportsbook app use code TAKE that's code TAKE to compete for a share of $2 million in bonus bets. Only on DraftKings. The crown is yours.

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Gambling problem call 1-800- gambler in New York, call 877-8-HOPE and wire text hopeny 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and resort in Kansas 21 and over. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Boyden, Ontario 1 token per customer. Tokens expire at the start of the final of NFL game each day. When offered, use token on day's longest touchdown scorer to receive equal share of 2 million in non withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 168 hours. Additional wagering restrictions apply. For additional terms or responsible gaming resources, see sportsbook.draftkings.com promos okay, what is your guys pick?

[Big Cat]

Well let's do ours first because it's the first game. Max and I are doing the Packers Eagles game and we have a plus 575 parlay for the people. It's Eagles moneyline Devonte Smith 70 yards receiving and Devontae Smith touchdown and Saquon Barkley 80 plus yards rushing. Okay, it pays 575.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, Hank and I teamed up on this. When Hank's a winner, Max is a loser. So teamed up with Hank we got Terry McLaurin anytime touchdown Terry McLaurin 60 plus receiving yards. Jaden Daniels 40 plus rushing yards and Baker Mayfield over 18 and a half rushing yards.

[Hank]

Double dipping with Terry.

[PFT Commenter]

Double dipping with Terry. And quarterbacks. I might just bet on every quarterbacks over for rushing yards in the playoffs because they start to run more.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

So all that parlayed together is plus 750 seems like a winner.

[Big Cat]

I like that.

[PFT Commenter]

All Terry does is catch touchdowns.

[Big Cat]

Bet for bet. I'm bet your parlay. You've been mine. So go to DraftKings sportsbook. They got everything. This weekend's great weekend of football. Okay, let's talk some more football. We got Our good friend Dan Orlovsky on the show. Breaking down the wild card super wild card weekend matchups. Pft, you got a couple ads before.

[PFT Commenter]

We do that before we get to Danny's. Brought to you by Uber Eats. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes you want to eat in this football season. Uber Eats has the best deals on game day food no matter what you're craving. From Two for One Pizza. To buy one, get one wings. UberEats will be dropping new deals each week all season long. UberEats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL, order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See the app for details. Dan is also brought to you by Campbell's it's soup season. Get involved with Campbell's Chunky Soup. Today's episode, part of my take is brought to you by Campbell's chunky soup. The soup that eats like a meal. When you think chunky, you think players like Will Anderson Jr. You think of players like Montez Sweat, Sam Hubbard, Jason Kelsey, Dexter Lawrence. All soup guys. All Campbell's chunky soup guys. Keeps them going strong. And this winter fuel up with Campbell's chunky soup. But even players like Will Anderson can't compare to my go to. It's the spicy Nashville style hot chicken. I love Nashville hot chicken. You guys like Nashville hot chicken?

[Hank]

Love it.

[PFT Commenter]

It is the best. And now it's in soup form. It's packed with great ingredients. Keeps you going strong. Chunky, takes satisfaction to the max. The soup season. Grab a can of Campbell's Chunky today. And now here is Dan Orlovsky.

[Big Cat]

Okay. We now welcome on our good friend Dan Orlovsky. You can see him on espn. He's calling games now. Doing a great job calling games. He was calling that Ravens Browns game the other night. It is playoff time though. We want to talk to Dan about some playoffs. We want to break down these games. Dan, I'm excited. Which, which matchup has you the most excited out of the six this weekend? Cause I figured I'll, I'll follow your lead and we'll start there.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah, I really do think it's Buffalo, Denver because one, I think it's the game that most makes me feel like a real upset could actually happen. You know, I don't think that the Vikings beating the Rams would be like a quote unquote upset. And I think that, you know, for Buffalo and Denver, obviously Josh has had an outstanding season. And so it's Elevated the expectations and he falls into that category. Like, hey, you got to win a Super bowl, man. You can only get so many opportunities this quickly in your career till we start to have the worry of like, are you ever going to get there and. Or win one. I also think that it's a really favorable matchup or interesting matchup for the, the underdog for Denver. I think Denver's got a guy that could be the defensive player of the year in certain and he's as close to a thing to Darrell Rivas that I've seen when it comes to, hey, you go by yourself and shut down the field and, and you know, without getting too deep into the weeds of like the X's and O's, like schematically that's a huge part of this game because Buffalo gets into some unique formations where they try to kind of overload one side of the field and certain takes that away. And so, and then Sean Payton, I remember Sean Payton went up there last year with Russell Wilson and beat him and, and he's so well co. Such a good coach and he understands how to attack these defenses and get them into certain situations that are favorable to them. And so. So it would be a massive upset. But I honestly don't think I, I would be surprised, yes. But I wouldn't walk away going, oh my gosh, I did not accept foresee this at all.

[PFT Commenter]

So if that does happen, we're big roadmap guys. Give us the roadmap of how it happens. How can the Broncos outscore the Bills?

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah, I think one number one. It starts defensively for Denver. I just talked about certain. So like what Buffalo does and every team in the playoffs does this is they get into these four by one formations. So they take one person and put them on one side of the formation and take four guys and put them on the other side. And it's very simple. Like the quarterback, he says, if I like the one on one matchup, great, I'm going to throw that. If not, I'm going to throw something to the field that's easy. It's like a little flat router and rpo. And we have numbers advantages because defenses are usually trying to be like symmetrical. You don't want to vacate one side of the field. Well, certain can go there by himself. So you. Buffalo don't have the numbers advantage to that four person side and so, so that might stunt their offense a little bit. And then I think the second thing is Denver led the NFL in sacks and you know, they got dudes who are unbelievably big and talented. You know, Jonathan Cooper is fantastic, Zach Allen on the inside and Benito is the one for me. Because when you're playing against Buffalo and you're playing man coverage, which Denver loves to do, Josh is going to be a runner. Benito's big enough, he's fast enough, he's athletic enough, he's physical enough to kind of of that's what he's done with Patrick. He's a little bit of a spy. So I think defensively they match up well against Buffalo and then you know, if you were going to ask me how to attack Buffalo, you're trying to get Buffalo into where Taron Johnson, who's an unbelievable nickel has to defend the run. They play, he plays every play. So like you can get 320 pound offensive lineman blocking him if you formation the right way and Sean Payton absolutely will. And I just think that's beneficial for Denver to kind of control the game, run the ball. They are heavy RPOs and they've been hurt a little bit by quarterback run Bo. Nick's really athletic so you know, I, that's the way I see it. They'll get into beefy, beefy dudes on the field and run the football.

[Big Cat]

So the only question I have in this, we could maybe use this to jump to, to the Jaden Daniels commander's Bucks game is obviously rookie quarterback, first playoff start, especially on the road, not the best record overall. What is that? Is that just simply like this is just a different, this is just a different level of football that they are not. You can't prepare yourself. There's just no way you could have a great, fantastic rookie year like Bo Nix and Jaden Daniels did. And then you get into that playoff environment and it's just a totally different ball game that. Yes.

[Dan Orlovsky]

And also the playoffs become so game plan specific. You know, the regular season is so week to week to week to week and you only get, you know, you have all this evidence now and you become so game plan specific because you know it's, it's win or go home and so you're a little bit less kind of like this is what we do and you're a little bit more of we're going to take away what you want to do and that's the focus point and it has all your attention and you know, guys are just more hyper focused in the playoffs because you know that it's again it's win or go home. And so I think that's a big part of it as well is a lot of teams that go in with rookie quarterbacks. It's not, you know, they don't have the plethora of a wide open playbook. More often than not, there's things that they do well and they live in them because that allows the quarterbacks to not play poorly and kind of to play to a quote, unquote strength. And defenses just become so much more focused on. All right, they really love to do these three things in this formation or these two things in this formation. So we're going to take that away and then force them to kind of play to that C game or D game. That's a huge part of it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So one dude that I feel like America should know more or at least discuss more on the Broncos is Quinn Minors, because that, that guy is a beast. And he is. He just looks like a dude. You talk about, like getting your beefy boys going. Yep. I feel like, I feel like that. Is he the leader of that offense? I mean, obviously Bo Nix, a lot's been put on his shoulders as a rookie, but I feel like they get some of their attitude from that, from that strength on the inside.

[Dan Orlovsky]

There's no question him and Bowles, you know, Garrett Bowles has become a, again, a high end left tackle. The Quinn Miners vs. Ed Oliver matchup is going to be awesome to watch, you know, because those two dudes are outstanding. When they play their best, their units usually play their best. That's the thing, you know, we fall in love with the past game and Bo Nix and Sutton have been really good. They, you know, I don't want to sit here and pretend that Denver's Philadelphia running the football, but Sean Payton wants to run the football. And then what happens is like, you just become obsessed with stopping the run and they'll get a perimeter screen that go 50 for a touchdown. But Miners, he's a stud. He's a monster at guard.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, Miners versus Oliver, that's like the most country matchup that you could possibly get, except like one is the country of Canada, basically.

[Big Cat]

Dan, you called that Ravens game last week and you mentioned something on the broadcast. And I think that people have been watching the Ravens all year, have seen it as well, but they have adjusted their defense, their secondary specifically, and been playing really good ball down the stretch. What, what has happened and do you think that that is what was needed to like, they're now a very bonafide, like they're going to win the Super Bowl. They're one of the best. Top two top Three teams in the playoffs.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah. Kyle Hamilton saved their season. So there's the butterfly effect to it. So they were really bad on defense because the secondary was just blown coverages, missed assignments, poor communication, ball going over their head. And so their best player on defense was closer to line of scrimmage. They had Kyle down near the line of scrimmage a little bit like what the Rams have done in the past with like a Jalen Ramsey and whatnot, which makes sense. The Chargers do it with Derwin. But what they did was they say, okay, the worst part of our defense is the secondary. Let's take our best player and move him back there. So once they move Kyle back to the secondary, two things happen. One, he communicates at such a high level. He gets everybody in the right positions. And we often say that and don't think it's meaningful. It's enormous because in an era in football offensively where teams are constantly changing with shifts and motions, you know those guys, rules change. It's not like the defense goes, hey, cover two. Ready, break. And it just stays that way no matter what. And so everybody's kind of rules change once offensive shifts. And so Kyle goes back there and he, he is the quarterback of the defense. He gets everybody in the right places and everybody on the same page. And then what happens is Roquan Smith, their linebacker, no longer has to bear that responsibility. So then his focus is solely on the front seven and the backers in the rush and getting those guys because their rules change as well. So, like getting those guys into the right alignment and right set. So that's, that's the trickle down effect of Kyle going back there. I think the second part of that is twofold. It allows Marlon Humphrey to go inside because Marlon is an all pro nickel. He, he struggled on the outside as a nickel on the inside, he's as good as anybody in the league. And then really, Nate Wiggins, their first round pick from Clemson, has really played good football. And they. And down there, when you talk to Roquan and ask him about Nate Wiggins, the first thing out of his mouth is Nate thinks he's the best corner in football. You know, and you just imagine down there in Baltimore with that kind of off defensive, like swag and moxie and mindset. So Kyle going back there has been huge. Van Noy has been phenomenal for them. So I, I agree that that defense is plenty capable of going to the Super Bowl.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

When you get Marlon Humphrey on the inside, you also let him play more run support 100. He's there to impact the run game a little bit. And I feel like that's a big difference too for that team. Because if you look at what happened, was it after the Bengals game when the way. How many.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, they got 45 points. Yeah. So Jamar Chase had like 200 plus.

[PFT Commenter]

Years after that game. They' one of the best defenses in football across the board. And it's a, it's as simple as just moving Kyle back and then the, the following adjustments that happened because of that wave. So on the offensive side of the ball, Trey Flowers or Zay Flowers. Excuse me. I feel like Zay's injury, that, that adds the one little like ding into the Ravens offense that could make me believe that Pittsburgh might be able to beat him, like in a weird world. Just because he's that much of an impact on offense. Do you think that he's going to play this weekend?

[Dan Orlovsky]

I hope he does because I agree. It's a huge, it's a huge injury, you know, calling that game. Once Zay went down and Cleveland's good defensively, once they went down, the pass game wasn't nearly what it was with Zay on the field, naturally. Right. And so I have no idea if he's going to play because, you know, we haven't gotten a ton of information, at least to my knowledge, of kind of what the injury is. I know he's day to day and so if he doesn't play, that really hampers their pass game just because he does so much for their past game, both down the field and the intermediate routes and kind of winning one on one. I do think Bateman's good enough to kind of fill that void a little bit. I do believe that Tylan Wallace can step in and handle some of the role. Their tight ends are really good. I. It's interesting because, like, the way to attack Pittsburgh defensively, Cleveland actually exposed this like six or seven weeks ago is like you spread them out sideline to sideline and you try to minimize Queen and Cam Hayward and TJ a little bit because you don't want to play those guys in a small space. You want to play them sideline to sideline. So we'll see if he plays. If he doesn't, I do think the game's closer than I would have if he, if he plays.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. What about the Texans and the, the Chargers that game? I just can't. I can't get to it with the Texans in, in the way they've looked offensively this year. Even when they had all their guys, it was never like, clean. And I can't think of one game where I was like, man, the Texans looked awesome. Their defense is great, but are they going to get enough offense against a good Chargers defense? And like, what is the fix? When you're watching the tape, you're like, there, if they could do this or this, they might have a little more success.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah. One, the fixes are going to be in 2025. There is no fix right now. And then two, I honestly believe the Chargers would be a team that I would sit here and go like, that's a dangerous team in the long run out of the afc. I do think the AFC is that three team race in my gut, but I think so. Here's the thing for the Chargers before I touch on Houston, like, they just, there's no. They don't have negative plays on offense. They're always like moving the ball forward. They're so efficient and like, there's never, oh, second and 12 or third and eight. And so like they control the game in that regard. Obviously the defense is phenomenal and their disguise is crazy. I'll go back to Houston and I remember the first game of the year against Indy and watching it and going on TV the next day and being like, houston better figure out their pass protection because CJ was running for his life and it never got fixed. This year. Their interior of their offensive line has been the weakest, weak part of their football team all season long. Obviously Nico missing time, but then, you know, Steph and Tank Dell not being there. I just don't see how this offensive line can hold up against the Chargers defensive line that's going to send crazy type of stunts and, and pick games and pressures against them. So I fully expect the Chargers to win that game.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I mean, they sign an impact free agent, Ezekiel Elliott. Who knows what that guy's going to be able to do.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Give him the ball.

[Big Cat]

Accomplished so much shout out, Jerry.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Yeah. This year.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

All right. So, yeah, that, that makes sense. If you go to, if you go to Sunday. Now, obviously Jalen hurts whether or not he plays. He looks like he's probably going to play. I think Max reported he, he was going to play and everything would be fine. The Eagles look right now like they are one of the most. I, I'd say maybe second best roster in the NFL, depending on how you look at the Chiefs, but they have a shitload of talent.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And going to this game, it feels like things have been clicking very well for the Eagles this season. The packers, on the other hand, the injury concerns like Christian Watson, obviously. And then we don't know how healthy love is. Should. Should the Eagles be worried?

[Dan Orlovsky]

I don't think Philadelphia has to get worried. If Jalen hurts prep practices today. If Jalen hurts practices today. I do think that Philly is. I agree. I think Philly's the most talented roster top to bottom in the NFL, I would say along with Baltimore. As long as he's there today and he's able to kind of sharpen over the next three days, I think Jalen's proven enough that he's. He's one of those guys that can figure out a way to get. Get plenty capable to go play good enough football. I do think the, the interesting no J. Alexander is a big deal. I thought Jair was one of those corners that could try to play AJ One on one. They don't have that guy anymore. So they're going to have to play a little bit more zone defense. Playing against, playing zone defense against Phillies offense is a problem just because obviously the run game. I think a huge key in the game is Edin Cooper. He's a freaking problem at linebacker. He's athletic and like slippery enough. So the best way to kind of hope if you're Green Bay defensively is that he has like an all world game, has a bunch of tackles for loss. But I think Philly's just so good and without Watson trying to stretch them vertically, I don't think there's a ton of fear in Philadelphia's defense going against Green Bay's offense. That feels a little bit sideline to.

[Big Cat]

Sideline now without Watson dudes. So speaking of quarterbacks, Jordan Love, I think he's good. I obviously hate the Packers. He does throw off his back foot a lot. What, what, what is. So what's said in practice, Is that something you're trying to. Is that something you're saying like, God, dude, you got to stop doing this because there's sometimes they're incredible plays, but sometimes it looks like he's just doing it when he could easily plant and go forward.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah, I mean I won. That's way more of an off season thing than it is in season. You very rarely can you fix that. I think you can get it a little bit better. I'll never forget being around a coach that one time, you know, kind of made the comment of you never want to take a guy's stinger away. And I thought that was like an all encompassing thing of like you never want to take a quarterback Like a quarterback that's really aggressive or he wants to push the ball or he thinks he can make all these throws. You know, Stafford was the guy that they were referencing. You know, we had coaches that were constantly trying because Matthew used to do it too. And they were constantly trying to get Matthew to be this mechanically like, flawless guy, Drew Brees type of player. And, you know, it would frustrate Matthew to a point where Matthew would almost like, like, I don't want to say shell up, but it would make him be a lesser player in my opinion. And I think you got to walk that fine line with Jordan. Like, yes, you want him to become mechanically as sound as possible, but I think that's a little bit more of one offseason and two, as he gets older in his career right now, I still believe that he's such a physically talented guy that you really want him to, I'm not saying be sloppy, but you really want his, his kind of natural athletic instincts to be the focal point of his past game.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah, that, that does make sense. And I. When you're talking about Matthew Stafford, I. Thinking about Jared Goff and what he's done in Detroit after Stafford went to la, that is the, the best example of a win, win trade of all time, I think. I don't think it could have worked out any better for either franchise. And I still think that the Lions are, are probably the team to beat in the nfc. What do you think? Say, do. Would you put it like, if you were to pick your winner out of the NFC right now? Are you going with the Eagles or the Lions?

[Dan Orlovsky]

I think I'm going with Detroit. You know, my wife is going to be pissed off about that. I think them getting home home field matters a ton. Angel.

[Big Cat]

I'm gonna text, I'm gonna text her right now. Dan.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah, well, hopefully you don't.

[Big Cat]

Real quick, we are supposed to have Dan on yesterday and I wake up at like 7 in the morning and I have a text from a number I don't see and it says, hey, it's. It's Orlovsky. My phone broke. I'm texting you from my wife's number and I was like, oh, okay. And then we just texted on like I texted your wife's number for like two times, back and forth, communicating. So I'll delete the number. Don't worry.

[Dan Orlovsky]

FaceTiming her.

[Big Cat]

She's an Eagles fan, isn't she?

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah, I'm going to tell her.

[Big Cat]

I'm going to tell. She's an Eagles fan right she is a mania, dude. Maniac.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

So I'm going to. I'm going to have to text her.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah, I asked her. I asked her the other day. I'm like, hey, Sunday, Eagles play 430 in Philly. You want to go? And she was like, I'd rather wait and just go to Detroit when they go there, I'm like, okay, you're already. Okay, you're already booking it. So.

[Big Cat]

Okay. So why Detroit?

[Dan Orlovsky]

I think that she thinks, oh, why do I like Detroit? I getting healthy. You know, Anzalone getting healthy matters a ton. I was so impressed with the way that they played. Played on the defense side of the football. I think Detroit all comes down to can they get, like, two takeaways a game? If they get two takeaways a game? And you could say that about everybody, but that's. That's not really real because I think they're going to have to score 30 plus to beat anybody. And because the defense is still beat up. And so I'm banking on Detroit, I think it's. They're as well coached as anybody. I think they understand, like, hey, we got to win two games. And, you know, I do believe that they match up well versus Philadelphia. As long as one of those corners is going to have to play out of his head. Kind of like he did the other night against Minnesota, like Robertson or if Carlton Davis comes back or Terry and Arnold, like one of those cats versus AJ Is going to have to play out of his head.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So with Tampa Bay Washington, I'm obviously Commander's fan, so I'm going to be biased in how I perceive your answer, and I will put you on the enemy list if. If you. I don't think that you answered fairly in week one. We saw the Commanders and the Bucks, and that was a very different team, I think, probably for both teams, but especially for the Commanders. And Todd Bowles did his thing where he just blitzes the hell out of you. He put Jaden under a lot of pressure. Jaden's grown a lot as a quarterback since then. Are we going to see more of that Todd Bull signature sin? Pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure. Force them to make quick decisions and, you know, and see what happens from there. Are we going to see the Todd Bowles where he takes his foot off that gas and ends up playing deep coverage to take away the deep ball from Jaden?

[Dan Orlovsky]

I think that you'll get a little bit more of that softer, deep coverage protection. Well, one, in that first game, you know, Washington did not run as Much no huddle, as they have throughout this season. And that kind of mitigates trying to get to all those pressures. I think, two, you got to be worried about blitz and Daniels right now, because if you leave McLaren one on one versus these corners, in my opinion, advantage Washington. I don't think Tampa Bay can run with McLaren on the outside. And two, you know, kind of what happened in week one, if you don't get home, he's gone. You know, he's going to get 80 to 100 on you. And so I don't love the matchup for Tampa Bay, Honestly. I think they play way too soft on the outside. I think Jaden's gonna have opportunity to create a ton of easy completions. I would be very aggressive down the field with McLaren if I were them. I don't think either of these corners can cover them on a consistent basis. So I don't think that Todd comes after him that much early on, and they try to just see if they could play really, really good red zone defense.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, I. I like that. And I agree with you because I've been watching the tape, Dan. So I'm thinking. And when. What you saw in week one was Jaden, when he did get pressured, since it was all, you know, the game speed was new to him. His first NFL game, he would. He would either try to take off or there were times when he would try to just, like, drop back in the pocket a little bit.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Because he didn't have that. He didn't have the confidence necessarily to just go forward, step up in the pocket, and take off. So he tried to escape the pressure by, like, backpedaling. Boom, he gets hit. They got a couple sacks that way.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I feel like this is a very different team. And then on. On the defensive side of the ball for the Commanders, I love. If he plays. I love the Marshawn Lattimore matchup against Mike Evans. Historically, that's been a very good matchup for Lattimore.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Lattimore's had the opportunity to have some success against it. I don't. I know.

[Big Cat]

Keep.

[Dan Orlovsky]

People keep saying that, but I don't know. The one time we saw a lot of more was vs AJ and AJ had his way vs both in success and penalty. So I know he's fresh off the injury. We'll see how healthy he is for, like. I don't feel the same way about that Marshawn Lattimore kind of performance that. As it did three or four or five years ago in New Orleans. So I think this game's high scoring. I really do. I think this game could sniff both teams getting close to 30. I think Washington's going to struggle to stop Bucky Irving and Rashad White. You know, and, you know, I think that this is the team, this is the game where both defenses are reeling a little bit versus offenses that are hot, man.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I actually think in a weird way that this matchup, it's a good matchup for both teams.

[Big Cat]

It's going to be a fun game.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Dan Orlovsky]

How do you.

[Big Cat]

I do. I. I think the Bucks are going to be able to run the ball.

[Dan Orlovsky]

I agree.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah. And that's going to open up a lot. Like, I think Bucky Irving is going to have a big day.

[Dan Orlovsky]

He's so good.

[Big Cat]

He's so good. He's so good. And that's. I mean, that's been the difference. You know, coming down the stretch, he became just a real dude.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah, he reminds me of like Brian Westbrook years ago for the Eagles. You know, it's like. Like he's big enough where he can make any kind of a run, but then when he gets the ball in space, it's like he's shifty but low to the ground and strong and tough. He's a really big time player.

[PFT Commenter]

We'll get back to Dan Orlovsky in a second. The playoffs are here, and every game counts. Awls. Know that when it counts, you can count on Chevy Silverado. It's a dependable partner with strength, capability, and true grit. Whether you're looking for a spacious interior to comfortably get in the game, the functionality of the multiflex tailgate to get the most out of tailgating, or the technology to make driving, towing and parking all easier. Chevy Silverado has got your back. Did you know that Chevy's America's most awarded brand for new vehicle quality over the last three years? According to J.D. power, now is the perfect time to get into a Silverado or a Silverado hd. Our favorite truck and the official truck of part of my take. Go to chevy.com check out all the great offers and even build your own Silverado today. And visit jdpower.comawards for more award details. And now here is Dan Orlovsky.

[Big Cat]

All right, so Monday Night Football will be on espn. So we'll see our friends Joe and Troy. Sam Darnold. I saw the clip. You said you think you thought he missed five touchdown passes on Sunday night. Yeah. Is this a. Hey. The Lions had an incredible game plan. They did something that the Vikings weren't expecting. That's an anomaly. That's one game. Or is this, hey, this is a big problem. And. And Sam Darnold, as great as he's been this year, like, you have a little bit of doubt going into the playoffs?

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah, I think it's a little bit more of a tip of the hat to Detroit. I really thought Detroit's game plan was awesome. That doesn't mean that Sam didn't miss those throws, but I do think, you know, just from a quarterback's perspective, when you get some of those defenses that you don't want expect or to necessarily have clarity of what you're looking at, you can start to kind of chase stuff. And whether it's getting your eyes off the, you know, the guy too soon or, you know, you're anticipating one thing and then it's another thing. So what you might be anticipating and doing something with your eyes to try to move a guy isn't exactly that. And so you're quote, unquote, doing the wrong thing. So I think it's a little bit more of a tip of the hat to Detroit. I'm not overly concerned about it. The thing that I'm honestly like more concerned about in the game when it comes to this matchup, Minnesota offense and, and the Rams defensive line is awesome. And I was part of the reason that I think Sam played that way. And I, I thought the Lions defensive line kicked the crap out of the Vikings offensive line. And so, you know, with a young, violent, physical, nasty defensive line with the Rams, with Verse and Fisk and Turner, like, that's a little bit more. Has my attention rather than do I think Sam Darnold's going to play poorly again. So I fully expect Sam to bounce back. It's a different defensive structure, way more zone than man, than obviously Detroit run. So I think he plays a lot better. But I'll have my eyes more on their offensive line.

[Big Cat]

I got a question about this game as well. Can you explain just how good Puka Nakua is and how like, how does he get open all the time? And I know that you can't like just leave. You know, Cooper cup is a worry, but Puka is. It just feels like every time they need a big pass, he's there and he's open. What the hell do you do if you're a defense? Yeah, he.

[Dan Orlovsky]

I mean, he reminds me so much of TJ Hushman Zada. You remember TJ back in the day with Chad. Like we. We would be playing against them and you would obviously have your attention to Chad. Rightfully so. But TJ would just get open all the time, and you would, like, be like, what the fudge route was that, you know, like, that's not even a route, dude. You know, and he just has this great ability to understand, like. Like, I do think he's crazy strong. He has this really good understanding of, like, how to use his body and his strength to lean into guys to get him to kind of be where he wants you to be. And then he has a really good feel for space. I think he's crazy smart. Like, if you ever watch him. I remember last year when he was starting to break out, I thought one of the things he did as good as anybody in the league would. As he gets to the top of his routes, he's always starting to peak to where the defense is and, like, gauging, okay, where is the corner, where's the safety, where's the backer? So he kind of knows how to get out of the cut. And is he going full speed? Is he going slow? Is he going deep, Is he going high? And so he's got a great kind of feel for that stuff. I also think, you know, I. I've talked about this a little bit this year, like the Rams do and Sean do with him better than anybody. Double motions, you know, where they motion twice before the ball gets snapped. They'll set the formation, and they'll motion him over and he'll get set, and then they'll motion him again. And so, you know, they did a really good job of kind of creating some leverage for him or getting him into some soft spots, and he takes advantage of it. And Stafford and him have gotten just countless reps together. So he's a problem. He's a problem to stop.

[Big Cat]

It's just crazy to watch.

[PFT Commenter]

It is. He's so fun to watch, especially without the ball, too.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I just love. They should do it all 22, except it's all one and it's just following.

[Dan Orlovsky]

I like that. The Where's Waldo of Puka.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. So what about the Rams offense, though? Because since that Bills game game, the Rams offense hasn't looked great.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Are you concerned at all with your boy?

[Big Cat]

I am.

[Dan Orlovsky]

He hasn't played well in the last three or four weeks. You know, he had. He had that unbelievable game, specifically on third down, where he was just off the charts. And so, you know, since then, I think that they fought a little bit of an offensive identity as well. You know, sometimes I'm like, you know, I love their keeper game where they Bootleg him. And I love their play action game. And then sometimes it's like, well, how come you're not running it? And then I. I live in the world of. I love when they stack Puka and Cooper on the same side. But then, like, well, you're getting a little bit too predictable with that. And so I think that they fought a little bit of exactly who they want to be. I also know that there's such a good run game, you know, that you. It's a challenge, and it's a battle of, like, hey, it's almost like Baltimore as well. Like, we're really good running the football, and we want to run the football, but we don't want to become so obvious and predictable where teams just. They get paid as well defensively. So, like, they just tee off on us. And so I think they've battled that a little bit. I don't believe that Matthew's thrown the ball incredibly well over the last three weeks. So I think, like, if you were going to ask me the one thing that has to happen in that game for the Rams to win, I really believe Matthew's going to have to throw the ball better than he has the last three weeks. I feel differently than when they went on their super bowl run, you know, went in on that super bowl run. I remember the last three, four weeks of season. I was like, they're gonna win it. You know, like, he's just playing too well or too good. I kind of feel the opposite where I'm like, he's. He's got to be the person that plays better for them to win.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

All right. Yeah. Big Cat and I were big fans, at least at times on the Simpsons broadcast. I love the Simpsons. Huge fan. Grew up watching it. The only thing that we had, I think we were saying that. That the. The play was too far behind. Yeah, the live game was. And I know that they do that because it's like a whole animated thing, but that must have been a lot of fun to participate in on. On your part. What was your prep like for the Simpsons game?

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah, it was cool. Football prep wise, you know, it wasn't nearly what it is, you know, when you're calling an actual game just because we knew one. The game didn't really have any playoff implications or, you know, kind of, you know, the results of it mattering a ton. So we leaned into a little bit more of the let's live in the moment and the animation of it and the Simpsons part of it. So football wise, not a ton. Simpsons Wise a lot. You know, the writers helped us out a lot. You know, they gave us a ton of kind of notes just to refresh our memories. Because I'm a 90s kid, so I grew up in many ways, watching the Simpsons. I have a son who's autistic, so anything that has to do with animation is like his superpower wheelhouse. Part of it is because he thinks that they're actually real, no matter if it's a still shot, an animation. So, you know, when he found out it, he was the most intuit person on the planet. And so he was constantly drawing. He wanted to watch it a ton. So we started having. Allowing him to watch it a little bit. And so I would watch it with him, just trying to refresh my memory with some of the episodes. And so the writers were great, you know, catching up on a ton of episodes, you know, kind of trying to make sure that I was up to date with some of the jokes, some of the one liners, some of the kind of the personalities of it. So it was cool. It was really cool. To be a part of the technology is nuts.

[PFT Commenter]

Did they have any. Any prep with you on what they would do if there was, like, a fight on the field or if, like, somebody got injured and it's like, no, it's like Ralph Wiggum that's laying out there.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah, no, they didn't. I think that they were prepared. They had so many elements. Elements built in. You know, some of, like the cutaways of Mo and, you know, obviously the jokes and whatnot. They had so many elements built in that that my thought would. That they would, like, go to that. The only thing that they really had us kind of pay attention to in that regard was, like, when they brought somebody in the game, we more often knew, hey, that person's gonna impact this place somehow.

[Big Cat]

So, Right. You know, if.

[Dan Orlovsky]

If Lisa comes in at running back, it's like, whoa. I would give the ball to Lisa here. So, like, that was the only thing that they kind of hinted to us.

[PFT Commenter]

It's embarrassing. It took me like, two quarters to pick up on that.

[Big Cat]

All right, Dan, I got one last question for you, by the way. Also, congrats on one of the best clips ever with Shannon Sharp the other day. Yes, you had that locked and loaded for people who miss it.

[Dan Orlovsky]

See, did you see how kind of like, that came out, like. Or how it came to be on Pat show? When I hit up Hembo, I was like, it just it. During the commercial break at get up, I was like, I Wonder if. And I texted himbo, who's the stats guy? And he's so good at ESPN. Has this ever happened? He just texted back, 1992, Sterling Sharp. And when Shannon started talking, I was like, there's no fudging way that you're going here right now.

[Big Cat]

So. Yeah. So for people who missed it, Shannon was like, when was the last time a guy won the triple crown and didn't make the playoffs? And Dan was just like your brother. 1992. He was like. Like, it. It completely got him. It was just a great moment. Yeah.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah, it was. I had. There's been, you know, the Internet, when. When it's not on your side, it sucks. But when it's on your side, it's. It's awesome. And so the Internet had a field day with that one in a good way for me.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, very funny.

[PFT Commenter]

The look on your face afterwards is priceless. I'm such a prick.

[Dan Orlovsky]

I'm such a prick.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, you got him.

[PFT Commenter]

No, but you, you know, you know, nailed it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And you got. You got to take a victory lap sometimes.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah. Because I have plenty of moments when the opposite happens. So.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. All right, so my last question. Roback question. Rho, B, A, C k.com promo code, take 20 off your first purchase. Q, zips, polos, hoodies, joggers, shorts. Roback.com promo code, take I want to do. So I won't make you pick against the spread, but can you give us what you think is going to be your winner for all six games, Wild card weekend, and then give us your Super Bowl?

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yep. So I think game one is Houston Chargers. I believe I'm taking the Chargers in that game. I think game two is going to be Baltimore. Whether Zay Flowers plays or not. I feel confident saying Baltimore wins that game. I don't think Pittsburgh's offense is good enough. The third game is Tampa Bay and Washington. I'm going to take Washington. I think jaden Daniel sniffs 80% completion in that game.

[Big Cat]

Here we go.

[Dan Orlovsky]

I just don't think Tampa Bay's defense is good enough on the perimeter. Hold up with them.

[PFT Commenter]

Good pick, Dan.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Thank you again. Number four. Philly. Philly, Green Bay. I think the Watson injury is huge for their offense. I think Philadelphia comes out. The only thing that gives me reservation is the one thing that Philly's done a lot of times this year a little bit less in the second half season is start slow. Jalen not practicing for a long time. If they start slow, it does give me. If I was Green Bay I would just. Bombs away. Early on in that game, see if I could grab a lead and control the game. But I am taking Philly and then a Monday Night Football fudge, dude. I'm going to go. This is the toughest one for me. I'm going to go Minnesota on the road. I don't think that Sam Darnold plays two bad games in a row. Great game, but I'll go Minnesota on the road. And then I think the NFC title game is Detroit, Philly. I think the AFC title game is Kansas City, Baltimore. And I'm going to pick. I'm going to pick Kansas City and Detroit in the super bowl. And I'm going to say Kansas City does it.

[Big Cat]

That'll be one of those maps where, like, what is the country rooting for? And it's just one circle in the middle for Kansas City.

[PFT Commenter]

Are you picking Kansas City because you're just afraid of not picking Kansas City, or do you actually believe that they're good enough?

[Dan Orlovsky]

I'm afraid of not picking my homes. No, I don't really, like, you know, you've done this long enough where you realize people hate you no matter what type of state stuff.

[Big Cat]

So, like, facts.

[Dan Orlovsky]

I just. I think that that's a different group when it's win or go home. I really do. And I do think that are a better team this year than they were last year. And so I just think for some reason, 15 finds a way, man. And they're plenty good enough. It's not like, you know, he's dragging a team to the Super Bowl. They're. They're a really good team.

[Big Cat]

And they got healthy in the secondary, which is going to be huge.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Healthy in the secondary for sure. Watson coming back is huge.

[Big Cat]

Bill's Broncos. Did we do that one? Bill.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Bill's Broncos. I did not do. I'm taking the Bills. Although, again, that. That game has my attention.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

And then obviously the Ravens over the Bills.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Yeah, I think the Ravens over the Bills. I just. Dude, there's something about Baltimore. After I've been around both teams this year, obviously, I think they're both really good. There's something about Baltimore where Todd Monkin, their play caller, said to me, as long as we stay ahead of the schedule, we're unstoppable. Like, that's their philosophy. And I just think that they're in a unique place where like. Like, they can line up and say, hey, here comes stop.

[Big Cat]

Yep, yep, yep, yep. They run it down their throat. That's what happened in the first time they played this season. All right. Well, Dan, thank you as always, man. We love having you on, love talking ball. We appreciate it and I'm happy you got your phone back.

[Dan Orlovsky]

Thanks, boys. Always good to be with you guys. Enjoy the weekend.

[PFT Commenter]

Dan Orlovsky was brought to you by Amazon prime prime exclusive wild card game this Saturday. It's T.J. watt and the Steelers taking on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Join Al Michaels, Kirk, Herb Street, Kaylee Hartong for this AFC north playoff showdown that you don't want to miss. The Steelers and the Ravens, this is going to be a great game at night. Good matchup. Can't wait to watch it. These two teams, they're going to play each other tough. I don't know what's going to happen, but you know that the Steelers, this is a Tomlin game. He's a little bit disrespected right now. Everyone in the world is picking the Ravens. Are they ten point favorites?

[Big Cat]

They are nine and a half point favorites.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm taking the Steelers. I don't know if they're going to win, but that's a lot of points for this matchup. Not a Prime member. Not a problem. Simply sign up for a 30 day free trial and you can cancel at any time. Watch the Steelers and Ravens at 7:30pm Eastern. Prime's exclusive wild card game. Powered by Verizon and it's only on prime video. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com See Amazon.com Amazon prime for details. It's Amazon Prime. Watch this game. You're going to watch this game. It's going to be incredible football. Super Wild Card Weekend. Danner loves you. Is also brought to you by Experian. For all the Awls who really know us, you know how responsible we are with our money. The secret reason we have so much to gamble with is because Experian helps us save money across other purchases. League rights are getting out of hand and we have to subscribe to way too many streaming services so that we could watch every single key game team. And that's where Experian comes in. They're going to find and cancel your unwanted subscriptions for you so you don't have to worry about paying for services that you forgot about. You can also have Experian negotiate your bills like cable, Internet, cell phone and you keep all the savings all around. Experian does the work so you can save money. It's a one stop shop for your financial health. Download the app today. Results will vary. Savings are not guaranteed. Some may not see any savings. Not all bills or subscriptions are eligible for negotiation or cancellation. An eligible paid membership is required. Download the Experian app and see how much you could save today.

[Big Cat]

Okay. Fire fest of the week. Henry, you're up.

[Hank]

Couple Firefest. Brandon Walker cucked me out of my chair. I. I like.

[PFT Commenter]

You have a chair.

[Hank]

Vanny Woodhead chair. No, I had the Vanny Woodhead chair in your hair, but I got outvoted. So back. Back to the couch.

[PFT Commenter]

We should actually have Brandon sit in that chair and watch.

[Hank]

And then I posted. I posted a jumpsuit picture from my condo, and people just, you know, it's. It's the Internet, but they were just roasting my. My interior design.

[Big Cat]

Oh, no.

[Hank]

Said it looked like I lived in a timeshare in Florida.

[Big Cat]

Oh, no.

[Hank]

Old woman's home. Why do you have two. Why are the Christmas trees up? I. I like the Christmas tree aesthetic.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[Hank]

I'm keeping them up till after the Super Bowl.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, that's.

[Hank]

That's when winter ends for me. I don't. I don't care. People get mad. I'll take them down after Christmas.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep.

[Hank]

Super bowl is the end of winter. As far as I'm concerned. That's the end of our season. Go on a golf trip the week after super bowl, and then when we come back, that's. That's the sign of spring to me. And that's when I will take down my Christmas tree. I'll probably keep posting my Christmas tree just to piss people off, but it's winter. It's still winter. It's Christmas tree season.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep. I agree. I love keeping the Christmas tree up.

[Big Cat]

So people are saying, you got to take your Christmas tree down.

[Hank]

People are saying, I got to take my Christmas tree down, they said. Which I guess I was reading the like, oh, it looks like you have a timeshare home. Looks like a vacation in Florida. That's the vibe I'm. That's the vibe I want. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Hank]

Who doesn't want to. Who doesn't want to live where it's vacation all the time?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

You have a minimalistic vibe going in your place.

[Big Cat]

Get some Jimmy Buffett stuff up there.

[PFT Commenter]

You know, what you don't need.

[Hank]

But it's one of those things. And I, I, I. I get in my head because it's just people, and I shouldn't. Because it's random people on the Internet that I shouldn't let it bother me. But it kind of did. But it's like, why? And you realize, you know, you can't. Anything you post, people are gonna get mad about Anything you say people are mad about. But I've never. I. I love where I live. I like the vibe I have. But now then I get. I start second guessing myself.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So the Christmas tree stays up.

[Big Cat]

Christmas tree.

[PFT Commenter]

You don't need to decorate your house. You have the water, right? With the water that. That covers all the interior design.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

You don't want to try to take away from the water.

[Big Cat]

No, the water is. Is. What is it Zen? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Hank]

Peace, tranquility.

[PFT Commenter]

Marie Condo went up to your apartment. Would she say, throw away the water? Throw away Lake Michigan?

[Hank]

No.

[PFT Commenter]

No, she wouldn't.

[Hank]

And the. The trees bring me joy, so I'm gonna keep them up.

[Big Cat]

Love it.

[PFT Commenter]

I like it. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Do you?

[Hank]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Do you?

[PFT Commenter]

Them? Absolutely them. The haters.

[Big Cat]

Pft.

[PFT Commenter]

Your Firefest, My favorite festival.

[Hank]

I'm also out of jumpsuits.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, okay.

[Big Cat]

I am too. So can we mix in some non.

[PFT Commenter]

Jumpsuits here and there if you're comfortable doing?

[Hank]

I don't know. I started posting these videos every day. Now I'm like, I don't. I don't know how to stop.

[Memes]

What if people just send us more jumpsuits?

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, that'd be cool.

[Big Cat]

That would be cool.

[PFT Commenter]

I got more jumpsuits.

[Hank]

Well, Jammy January, but yeah, it's called one piece.

[Memes]

You looked like the. You looked like the Easter bunny the other day.

[Big Cat]

Jammy January.

[PFT Commenter]

I was. I was the coziest boy on.

[Dan Orlovsky]

You looked so cozy.

[PFT Commenter]

I was really cozy every. Okay, so the Fire Fest was wearing that. The cozy jumpsuits, which I got a lot of feedback on. Positive, many of Much of it positive. Some was negative. I thought you looked cute. I did look cute. I looked. I. Like I said, I was so cozy. The problem with wearing such a cozy jumpsuit slash pajamas is that everybody comes up to you and touches you. Like, I got touched by so many dudes.

[Big Cat]

Oh, yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Last week, I think it was Jersey Jerry sat down next to me on the couch. He was just like, squeeze. Gave my arm squeeze.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, hey, what's up, Jerry? Didn't see you there. But. Yeah, I. I still have some jumpsuits, but my Fire Fest is that none of them are as cozy as the ones I was wearing this week, which were all one pieces. And also Hank got me sick.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Pft. Feels.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Now I feel sick.

[Hank]

It's my bad.

[PFT Commenter]

It's okay.

[Big Cat]

It's okay.

[PFT Commenter]

You know what?

[Hank]

Do you know if we're getting a flu shot, by the way, New Year's resolution. Got a physical. So we're Halfway down. Also got a flu shot. Didn't know that take. Getting a flu shot makes you sicker.

[Big Cat]

Well, no, it. It get. You get a little bit of the flu. Yeah.

[Hank]

I didn't know that. That was like. I was like, I got a flu shot. I feel like they're like, yeah, yeah. That's the point. They inject you with the flu.

[PFT Commenter]

So you were already sick with the flu, then you went to the doctor, and you're like, hey, can I have a flu shot to take?

[Hank]

I was getting. I was getting my physical, and I had to get a prescription refilled, and they're like, do you want a flu shot? It's like, how do you say no to that?

[Big Cat]

Yeah. They just hand him out.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

So I said yes, and then, yeah, got sicker afterwards.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, we've done a pretty good job. Me and Big Cat have done. I should rephrase that. You and I, Big Cat, have done a very good job of not getting too sick on.

[Memes]

Don't say this now. Don't say this now, now.

[Big Cat]

Because I. I had that one day when Heisman. Saturday.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I was. I could not hold anything down. I was puking, like, 15 times. It happened on a Saturday. I was able to get back on a Sunday, and. And I felt like. But we show up to your job.

[PFT Commenter]

There have been so many times where Thursday night, I drive home, and I'm like, oh, I feel sick. My body just knows. Yeah, you're off the clock for a day and a half.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

It's okay to get sick now, but, yeah, Hank got me sick this week.

[Hank]

Sorry.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it's okay, Hank. I'll fight through. Through it.

[Big Cat]

Okay. All right. My fire fest. I got a big one. People who have probably watched Surviving Barstool, it has not been a fun week for me, but there's one thing I want to kind of address, because I've obviously seen it in the comments section. I owe it to Awls. So I think a lot of people knew this, but I'm just gonna say it. Let's just do it. Because I don't know why. I don't know why I've been living in shame. Like, I don't know why I'm ashamed of this, but, yeah, I. I was. I was born and raised in Newton, Massachusetts. I. So growing up, I have family in Chicago. I would come here once a year. Michael Jordan was my favorite athlete. I kind of rooted for both. I did root for the Patriots. I moved away in 2003 for high school or for college. Never moved Back long time ago. Long time ago. Wasn't like a die hard Patriots fan, but I rooted for them. I moved to Chicago right after college and I love the city of Chicago. I love it. I loved it when I was a kid when I would come visit and my uncle would take me to games and stuff. I loved it. I always loved it. So it's kind of like a. This is the city that, you know, it's the other city. Like my. My uncle was loose. I think he might have lied to me when I was a kid. Like loosely friends with Phil Jackson.

[PFT Commenter]

That's such an uncle move.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. And I was just like that fucking awesome dude because they. They used to practice right by where they live. So I always love the city of Chicago. Kind of just moved. Yeah. Moved out in 2003. Have not lived in Massachusetts since then. Still, you know, rooted for the Patriots a little bit. Rooted. I never was really hockey. And then I, you know, when I moved to Chicago, I started falling in love with. With you know, the city of Chicago and the teams and everything. And so it was a slow, gradual thing where I started writing about it. Dave hired me and he. I remember asking him right away, I was like, should I just say this? And he was like, no, just. Just do your job. Just blog and go ahead.

[Hank]

No, I was going to say, I'll let you finish. There is context, I think. And this is so long ago. Like when I started the 2012, 2013 barstool was writing City based. There was a Chicago person that was the Chicago writer before you. He was not from Chicago and either the fans basically like ran him out. That's right.

[Big Cat]

I forgot about that part.

[Hank]

And we have other writers who. There was a writer from Philly who was from Philly.

[PFT Commenter]

He.

[Hank]

All he did was live in Brooklyn and people found out he lived in Brooklyn, they kind of ran him out of town. There was like there was definitely. And. And like you said you asked Dave about it and I think there was definitely like a. You, you know, you. You want people to identify with you and Chicago.

[Big Cat]

Right. And I was ashamed that I'm point of stupid. The.

[Hank]

The writers like we had, you know, K. Marco like is from.

[Memes]

He.

[Hank]

I always thought he's from New York because he wrote for Barcelona New York. And then I found out he wasn't from New York and I was like, wait, what? Because. Yeah, that was like how it was supposed. Not supposed to come across. You're not lying. But like there was. There is a lot of context with that that I think people have never Understood. Especially with the MO and like, the Neil, like, all that stuff. Like, there was a lot of that where it's like, that was a big thing back in the day.

[Big Cat]

But I. I don't know why for so long I've let it bother me and, like, been ashamed of it. It's such a stupid, trivial thing when it comes to, like, you know, I. Listen. I'm sure there'll be some people who are like this. I hate them. I'm not listening to PMT anymore. Big Cat. I get it. I. I would say to you, Yes, I. I used to. You know, I have a complicated. Like, Chicago teams are always kind of my second teams. I rooted for the Patriots. I moved away in 2003. So basically all the. All the winning happened after I moved. Probably was probably a curse.

[PFT Commenter]

I was gonna say. Would you say that that would be a. A good choice to make if you were just trying?

[Big Cat]

No. Like, I wish I didn't make that choice. I wish I had just been like, you know, but I fell in love with the city of Chicago and the teams, and I listen, this is why I moved back here. This is why I'm raising my kids here. I just, you know, and my. My fandom of the Chicago teams is genuine. I've been doing this for 14, 15 years now.

[PFT Commenter]

You think someone would subject themselves 13 years, 13, 14 to the bears over the course of the last, like, 15 years? So if people didn't care about the Bears.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I mean, well, the. My other fire fest is. I did get my tattoo. Thanks. Tyreek Stevenson finally got my tattoo. Paid that bet. So thanks a lot for not paying attention. But. So I. I listen, I've been. I. I have. I think I've talked about on the show. I. I've. I started seeing a therapist a few months ago. That was not. That's not because of this. That was because of the pressure of having an office where everyone gives you their problems. And I never give anyone my problems. I never tell anyone my problems. But I. It's something that I shouldn't be ashamed of. It's something I should just embrace. I had a great childhood. I, like, I don't know why. I just. It's part of the context. Hank said it's part of, like, I just don't want people to hate me. And that's another fucked up. Like, I actually have talked to my therapist about this being a people pleaser. You can't do that. But I should just stop, like, stop being ashamed. That's the story. I like the bandaid rip the band aid. My teams are the teams for the rest of my life now. And, And I don't know, you know, I actually, my uncle, I was looking at it because I was just like, last night, I was just kind of, you know, I wasn't feeling great. Wouldn't feel awesome. So my uncle passed away in 2018, kind of tragically, it was cancer. Very quickly I looked it up because I was just, like, going through, like, kind of memory lane. It was actually 2019, and my last text to him is the Bears of the Bears again, an unbelievable defense and a maddening quarterback. Time is a flat circle. I'm starting to think Trubisky will never be the guy, which is so damn frustrating. So, like, it was, it was just funny. I was laughing about that because I was like, like. But he, you know, he was part of why I always would, you know, have a second team. Like, oh, yeah, you know, Jordan and everything. So.

[Hank]

Which everyone, when they're growing up, like, I, I was, I was, was. I was born in la. I moved when I was three. But, like, when I was growing up, I was like, oh, I was born in la. The Dodgers are my second team. Like, that's just, like, a thing.

[Big Cat]

And I still rooted for the Patriots when they were, you know, like, when I was like, 18, 19, 20, a little bit out of, out of college. But then I slowly was like, I, I'm, I'm going to be a bear. Like, I want to be in Chicago. This is the city I want to be in for the rest of my life. I love the city to death. I want to rep this city. So, yeah, that's it. And then also the weirdest thing, I, I, I get, I get this all the time. Yeah, I was, I was in a couple plays in high school. I did play sports growing up. I just sucked after. So when I was 12 years old, 13 years old, I tore every ligament and tendon in my ankle playing basketball, travel basketball, like, whatever the AU equivalent is. And I just was never, I was never good at anything after that. Like, I just sucked. I mean, I, I think people understand. I did play, like, Little League, soccer, basketball, that stuff. When you see me playing sports, when we do competitions, I don't look like a guy who never played us.

[PFT Commenter]

Also, wait, I don't think that being in a. No people just anything to be ashamed of.

[Big Cat]

No, I mean, listen, if we're being totally honest, I was a way to try to get chicks. Okay. I, like, didn't work that well. It wasn't really a Lot in high.

[PFT Commenter]

School, guy in theater.

[Memes]

Yeah, I was a theater guy.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I mean, but, you know, people will pick it. And I. My problem is I let it. I never just said it. It. So then I let it bother me, and I'm done letting it bother me. I have a fucking awesome life. I. This show is the best thing in the world. I love it so, so much. Someone asked me the other day, PFD on Twitter, they're like, how long you do this show? I was like, dude, I'll do this show for as long as people will listen. Like, I. And I truly mean that. And I know that it's. It sounds corny and shit, but, like, I will do this show with these people for. Till we're 60, 70, if everyone wants to do it, because I love it that much. And letting something like this bother me just. It affects other parts of my life that I shouldn't let it affect. Makes me not as good of a co worker, boss, father, husband, all that. So I'm done with it. So that's it. And if people are gonna hate me, I can't do anything about it.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't think anybody's gonna hate you.

[Hank]

I think that the.

[Big Cat]

The.

[Hank]

And obviously it's like, it's. It's something that has been like, in the back of your mind for a while. But I think the. The. The. The fear. Your fear of the percentage of people that are going to be like, pick Adam. The show is like, minuscule. I know it's 0.001% and it's like those type of people, like, listening to the show. Who gives a.

[Big Cat]

Like, yeah, no, they. That feared. Yeah. Consumes. That's.

[Hank]

But that's also not. No one's listening is going to be like, I know, slamming their fist against their. Their steering wheel, being like, ah.

[Big Cat]

And I appreciate everyone who's had my back, you know, everyone in this room, everyone in the booth.

[PFT Commenter]

You told fans.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I have talked about it before, but I've never said that. Like, you know, I used to. I used to root for, you know, the. Like, I used to have a kind of a complicated. I root for both teams kind of thing. And, and not like, I wasn't a full, you know, Bears fan when I was 8, 9 years old. And then I, you know, was like, you know what? I'm going to be a Bears fan. I'm. I'm staying the rest of my life in Chicago. Obviously. We went to New York for seven years, but we came back and my kids are going to be here they're going to be raised in Chicago, which I'm happy about. So. Yeah. And I think a lot of people. Yeah. I mean, there's multiple times I said it, but there's just say I. I should just said it. I should have just said it 10 years ago.

[PFT Commenter]

You told me in 2016 when we first started the show.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And after having been around you for eight years and seen you probably more than anybody else, I can fully say that you are a die hard Chicago sports fan.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Like, that's why it wasn't a big deal. It's like, okay, okay. Yeah. A lot of us were born in different hand up. I used to root for Duke basketball when I was a kid. Hank knows that. Until I read Coach K's.

[Big Cat]

I did root for the Braves.

[PFT Commenter]

Dork.

[Big Cat]

I did root for the Braves a little bit. Terry Pendleton, shout out. Yes, fat ass.

[PFT Commenter]

So did I. But that's just because they were on.

[Big Cat]

Everyone they were on. And I rooted for the Cubs because.

[Memes]

I was gonna run with that.

[Big Cat]

I was. Well, yeah, he is. I was on the Cubs little league team. And then they. I could watch Cubs games too. So I would watch Cubs games and Braves games. The. But. Yeah, go ahead. Sorry.

[PFT Commenter]

No, I was going to say I. Yeah. TBS watching Braves every day in the summertime. WGN watching Chicago. I didn't have a baseball team.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Closest with the Baltimore Orioles, which I kind of like. But yeah, listen, people. People change a little bit as you grow older.

[Big Cat]

I know. It's just, I'm in my own head. You guys know me well enough that I. My probably one of the faults I have is I do care. Like, not to sound like Michael Scott. I care too much. But I do, I do a little bit where it's like Hank tells me all the time. He's like, dude. Like, Hank will text me like, dude, you have an awesome life. You have a beautiful family. You make an incredible living. Like, why do you care? It's like, I don't know. I just still care because I want. I want people to like the show that we do. And I've always been like, oh, fuck, they're gonna stop liking me, people.

[Memes]

I mean, you're not that good of an actor.

[Big Cat]

Like, no.

[Memes]

Like, you watch. You watch what you do after a Bears loss. It's not.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Memes]

Who could possibly think that you're faking?

[Big Cat]

Right, Right. I put my emotions and everything into it. And it's like, I. Yeah. And I get triggered when you guys say, you know, we should get. Mike McCarthy is like, that's Real. I wish it wasn't. And yeah, I probably should have just stuck with positives. My life would have been a lot better. But yeah, I, you know, we just had to say it and then that also wouldn't have.

[Hank]

That's where it's like the context of the old bl. Like, that's like, that just wouldn't. It's not a thing.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, no, I know, I know. But I, I, I feel good that I'm even saying it right now. So, you know, that's it. I just hope that, you know, people still like me.

[PFT Commenter]

They will. They will.

[Big Cat]

I got a tattoo. Tyreek Stevenson also just. I was never obviously a credible athlete. I don't think anyone in this room, actually. Hank peaked when he was, well, Max. Incredible.

[PFT Commenter]

Incredible.

[Memes]

My worst memes was all American.

[Hank]

14 home runs.

[PFT Commenter]

That's a good point. Memes all American.

[Big Cat]

My baseball highlight was in a. When I was 11 in the City Series, I pitched. I was the third pitcher on our team, and they started the game with me and the. Our first pitcher only had three innings that they could pitch. And I pitched one hit, shut out three innings, and my coach pulled me for the, for the number one pitcher and we lost. I've never lived that one down. I've been so upset ever since. I had unlimited imminent. I was the third ace.

[PFT Commenter]

United taking state.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah. Third ace.

[Hank]

It's also got to be said that the, the two, like, two biggest podcasters. Joe Rogan, Big cat.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah, Same time. Yeah, yeah, that's true. Although, yeah, I don't. He doesn't really.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, I didn't know much.

[Big Cat]

I don't know if he talks about it.

[Hank]

John Krasinski.

[Big Cat]

Oh, yeah, that's true.

[PFT Commenter]

How old is Joe?

[Big Cat]

He's much older than me.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Big Cat]

Like 10 years older. Yeah, that is funny. I didn't even, I didn't even connect that. But yeah. All right. That was my firefest. And yeah, I got a tattoo. So I finally paid my back that. It's Grateful Dead lightning bolt. I think I'm already ready for another one. Pft.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, we're kind of low key. Addicted to getting tats, commanders and bears.

[Big Cat]

I hope. Part of hoping that we do this show forever is that we get, you know, 25 years down the line and we both have full sleeves and it's just like, all right, that was 20, 28. Yep, that was 20.

[PFT Commenter]

You know, that's how they used to write down history. Like way back in medieval times is like a giant tapestry. Our bodies are going to be tapestries of losing important battles.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And so that'll be nice to see.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. All right, well, thank you, everyone, to all the fans. I really do love all of you and everyone who's had my back. Should we finish with numbers 45, 11? You want three?

[PFT Commenter]

Eight.

[Big Cat]

Eight's going to hit. I'll do three.

[PFT Commenter]

Do people in Newton not have accents?

[Big Cat]

My parents are not from Boston. Boston.

[PFT Commenter]

That's what.

[Big Cat]

So that was. That's why I've never had an accent.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Hank]

My parents are both from Massachusetts. It's always everyone I know that has accents because their parents have accents.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

My parents, even being from Massachusetts, did really have an accent, so I didn't.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. So neither of my parents are from. From Boston.

[Hank]

But when I did, the Dixie tour was down south. I would weigh it on thick.

[PFT Commenter]

The Boston.

[Hank]

I'm from Massachusetts. From Boston.

[PFT Commenter]

From Boston.

[Big Cat]

No number. Not at all.

[PFT Commenter]

You thought you were coming in there, like, speaking up, but it was something.

[Hank]

Yeah, it was like, you know, a little something exotic. Needed anything.

[Big Cat]

Can I take 99? 96. Close, Pug, close.

[PFT Commenter]

Love you guys.

[Big Cat]

Sa, sa, sa.