Pardon My Take — October 3, 2025

Episode: Doug Pederson In Studio, Week 5 Picks And Preview, Playoff Baseball, Big Cat Won The 50/50, And An All-Time Fyre Fest

Episode Overview

This packed Friday episode of "Pardon My Take" delivers classic PMT energy, featuring Super Bowl-winning head coach Doug Pederson in-studio, a hilarious deep-dive into NFL Week 5, playoff baseball breakdowns, Big Cat finally winning his hallowed 50/50 raffle at Wrigley (and the Fyre Fest it caused), and the usual cast antics. The hosts bounce between insightful sports commentary, absurd hypotheticals, and memorable personal moments, creating a lively roller coaster of a show.

Key Segments & Timestamp Guide

• Thursday Night Football & NFL Week 5 Preview: 03:00–39:00
• Playoff Baseball Reactions: 12:41–41:00
• Big Cat Wins the 50/50 Raffle/Fyre Fest: 34:36–45:00
• NFL Preview & Picks, Blind Resumes & Hot Takes: 48:33–86:43
• Doug Pederson In-Studio Interview: 137:01–191:51
• Weekly Fire Fest/Roundtable: 191:55–220:21

Detailed Breakdown

Thursday Night Football, Shanahan Masterclass, and QB Discourse

[03:00–12:41]

• Big Cat, PFT, and Hank begin by recapping a wild Thursday Night Football game between the 49ers and Rams, praising Kyle Shanahan's "masterclass" with a depleted roster and debuting Mac Jones as a Niners starter.
• Memorable quote (Big Cat, 03:31): "That was a Kyle Shanahan masterclass...Short week, divisional opponent, goes down to LA with Mac Jones and he wins the game in overtime. And Mac Jones balled out with probably the largest knee brace I've ever seen in my life."
• Discussion about Shanahan's ability to make QBs look good: "Find yourself working with Kyle Shanahan as a quarterback, you can make yourself a shitload of money." (PFT, 05:12)
• Overtime management and coaching chess matches are dissected, with PFT comparing it to high-level drinking card games among longtime friends.
• Rams' performances, Stafford's resilience, and controversial ref calls are discussed.
• NFC/AFC "bad team" power ranking and the growing pains of the Rams; playful banter about historic QB benches.

Playoff Baseball: Highs, Lows, and Wild Moments

[12:41–41:00]

• Emotional reactions to Yankees beating Red Sox and rookie Cam Schlitler's breakout. "He earned his pinstripes...8 innings, 12 Ks, 0 walks. That was a good series, high-level playoff baseball." (Big Cat, 13:00)
• Vibes check: Hank insists "Yankees did not win it," to which PFT counters, "Are you just being a hater now?" (15:58)
• Rival fans ponder if Aaron Judge has "earned his pinstripes"; jokes about "Adolf Schlit," and reliving A-Rod's infamous slap. "If you do this in your Yankee debut, I would say pinstripes, but for Aaron Judge...not a true Yankee. Probably not even...I'll take him out of the Hall of Fame." (PFT, 16:46)
• Tigers erase the Guardians' comeback; Max rages about the Dodgers' unfairness but concedes bullpen issues. "You know what they don't got, Max? They don't have Red October. The bank." (PFT & Max, 18:44)
• Debate about juiced radar guns in baseball and Ichiro’s ongoing love for the game. The Mariners' "all-time high vibes" are celebrated.
• Big Cat addresses Cubs’ playoff success, controversy about balls/strikes, and praises Michael Busch and Dansby Swanson's defense. "Playoff baseball is just the most…I was scared the whole time." (Big Cat, 24:39)
• Cubs superfan moments: Tom Ricketts pouring beer on Eddie Vedder.
• Celebrity sports town allegiances are humorously dissected (Cusack, Fallon, Rob Lowe).

Big Cat Wins the 50/50 Raffle — A PMT Core Memory

[34:36–45:00]

• Big Cat delivers an emergency press conference on finally winning the Cubs' 50/50 raffle. “I completed a lifelong goal...12, 13 years I’ve been doing the 50/50 raffles, like on camera. I wanted it, I finally won it, I wanted a playoff game at Wrigley, 108,000 was the pot, so I won four. All right..."
• He describes his strategy and heartfelt connections to 50/50: "For all the haters and losers out there who said I'd never win it, I did it. I never gave up." (Big Cat, 28:06)
• Big Cat announces donating all winnings (and more) to "Lost Boys," a Chicago youth baseball/mentoring program. “It was never about the money. It was about the love of the game.” (Big Cat, 31:28)
• PFT cracks jokes: “If you win again, are you going to keep it?” “No, I’m going to donate it again. I’m doing it for the love of the game.” (31:38)
• Huge outpouring of support from friends and fans, offset by memes' patent refusal to congratulate, leading to some classic banter.
• “I had more texts than when my kids were born...” (Big Cat, 34:30)
• Fire Fest crossover: Memes’ rough week continues, including being fired from his virtual Jets rebuild in Madden.

NFL Week 5 & Picks: Hot Takes, Blinders, and Hard Conversations

[48:33–86:43]

• The crew previews key Week 5 games, delivers "hard conversations," and analyzes backup QB situations for teams like the Browns and Rams.
• Notable quotes:
  • “Have you ever thought about just running the opening script back?” (Big Cat, 161:43, during Doug interview but referenced for coaching talk)
  • PFT reveals “blind resume by a blind guy” comparing Jets’ Fields to other QBs.
• Playful sparring about Jalen Hurts’ “eliteness,” Eagles’ wins not looking pretty, and NFC North/AFC North injury pandemics.
• "The only starting quarterback who started Week 1 who's still alive as of right now is Aaron Rodgers, who's 41 years old." (Big Cat, 51:58)
• Debates about grass vs. turf, NFL cost-cutting, and Eagles' defensive struggles.
• Max, representing Philly, maintains: “I'm not going to be that guy that gets pre-worried. I’m not going to be that guy that calls in...when you’re 4-0.” (82:07)
• Trend: "Hard Conversations" are born — addressing the “vibes” and “trust” factors with teams and players.

Doug Pederson In-Studio: Championship Insights & NFL Coaching Life

[137:01–191:51]

Main Themes:

• Coaching from the Couch: Doug on what it’s like watching the NFL as a fan for the first time in nearly three decades.

  • “It’s a 30,000 foot perspective...but it’s hard for me to watch as a fan, I still watch it as a coach.” (Doug, 137:38)

• Clock Management, Analytics & End-of-Game Decisions:

  • “John Ferrari in Philly and Zach Beastline in Jacksonville...lifesavers on gameday.” (Doug, 139:06)

• Andy Reid Coaching Tree, Patience, and Kansas City in Crisis:

  • “I just sit back and...wish they knew who Andy Reid was as a coach.” (Doug, 141:06)

• Play-Calling, Scripting, and the ‘Philly Special’:

  • Doug unpacks the famous call: “Never once crossed my mind to kick the field goal. We were going to go, we’re on the goal line, we’re a yard from scoring.” (Doug, 150:51)
  • “When Nick Foles came over...he suggested Philly Philly. My pause and my hesitation was: I never thought of that play in that moment.” (151:01)

• QB Confidence, Gameplan Ownership, and Leadership:

  • Deep insight into QB management and keeping things tight: “Keeping game plans tight, keeping them small...the biggest thing is confidence.” (Doug, 156:46)
  • Not a yeller at QBs: “I'm not a big, big when it comes to quarterbacks. I don't yell and scream and...you got to be calm, cool, collected...” (158:07)

• Getting Fired & Handling NFL ‘Hot Seat’ Pressure:

  • “You're hired and you're fired. Andy Reid was fired. Tom Landry was fired. Great coaches get fired sometimes." (Doug, 146:30)

• Philosophy on ‘Winnable Games’:

  • "You gotta win the winnable games. There’s your must-win games." (Doug, 168:09)

• Backup QBs, Mental Preparation, and Favorite Iconic Moments (Leon Lett, Philly Special):

  • On being a backup: “Probably the hardest position on the football team that still has to prepare like a starter, but is not playing.” (Doug, 171:48)
  • Legendary moments: Doug’s role in the Leon Lett Thanksgiving ‘Snow Kick’ and the Cody Parkey ‘Double Doink.’

• Ice Cream Incentives & Coach Photo Days:

  • “I reserved [ice cream] for Saturday nights at the team hotel...that was my reward.” (Doug, 187:11)

Notable Quotes:

• “I guess I’m Big Balls Doug.” (Doug, 150:55)
• “If there’s ever a team of destiny, I think that 2017–18 Philadelphia Eagle team was destined... to win that game.” (Doug, 149:17)
• “Bears helped us win the Super Bowl.” (Doug, 155:34)
• “I never felt it with Carson and Nick...but with Carson and Jalen, now you have two alphas..." (Doug, 181:03)

Fyre Fest: PMT Crew’s Woes & Flubs

[191:55–220:21]

• Hank vents about living through the “three-year Chicago bridge closure” (193:12), considers moving due to soul-crushing commutes (“This sucks. It's three years. That's move territory”; 193:08)
• PFT battles home-office emasculation after outsourcing a wall mount job: “It was pretty emasculating calling another man and being like, hey, can I pay you money to come into my house and use my tools” (202:01)
• Max and Zach’s weight loss challenge derailed by travel, pizza, restock jeans fees, and existential food choices. “After the fourth pair doesn’t fit...this is miserable. I want to get out of here.” (209:04)
• The memes saga: Will winning the lottery ball redeem him after a Madden firing and a week of “uncongratulated” 50/50 glory? (206:22)
• The segment ends with Jack from the back winning the lottery ball for the first time ever, shocking everyone, including himself.

Memorable Quotes & One-Liners

• “I had more texts [winning the 50/50] than when my kids were born.” — Big Cat (34:30)
• “I've accomplished everything...I got nothing left to live for.” — Big Cat, after winning the 50/50 (34:54)
• “I think you guys have to stack competitive games.” — Hank, on Saints/giants (66:17)
• “I never questioned you on whether or not you would ever get it.” — Hank, to Big Cat about the 50/50 (32:56)
• “You're hired and you're fired.” — Doug Pederson on NFL coaching job security (146:28)
• “We're going to go to our cap expert, Max.” — Big Cat (96:01), after Max claims to know cap guys

In the PMT Tradition — Banter & Tone

This episode is loaded with classic PMT energy: rapid-fire takes, absurd hypotheticals (e.g., running the same play script twice, “Would you trade A.J. Brown for picks back?”), trollish stats (Drake May can’t beat a winning team), and running bits (memes, the ongoing booth weight loss challenge, “hard conversations”).
The Doug Pederson interview stands out for its earnestness — Doug offers thoughtful, detailed answers about leadership, X’s and O’s, and what he’s learned from a lifetime in football, all delivered with the PMT casual flow.

Summary Snapshot for Non-Listeners

• If you're an NFL fan: You’ll love the breakdowns of Week 5, especially the “hard conversations” about unpopular truths, backup QB chaos, and play-calling philosophy.
• If you’re a Cubs/Big Cat follower: The 50/50 saga’s emotional payout is a PMT all-timer.
• Baseball heads: High drama in playoff recaps, with plenty of bias and banter.
• Doug Pederson fans: Insightful, behind-the-scenes stories on coaching, Super Bowl folklore, and life outside the NFL — plus ice cream talk.
• If you just want to laugh: Fyre Fest delivers classic self-deprecation and group commiseration.

Notable PMT Bits & Callbacks

• Meme’s self-imposed exile and rivalry after Big Cat’s win
• Blind resumes that go hilariously sideways due to incorrect stat referencing
• “Win. Just win.” — The new PMT mantra for overcoming struggles (at the lottery ball, in life)
• Coaching advice from Doug: Individual focus, team focus, and never letting the hot seat sabotage your vision

Final Thoughts

This episode captures "Pardon My Take" at its best: irreverent yet oddly earnest, deeply inside-baseball but accessible, sports-nerdy but always funny. Doug Pederson’s interview is a standout for fans wanting real insight. The 50/50 segment and Fire Fest are PMT culture at its most joyously chaotic.

“It was never about the money. It was about the love of the game.” — Big Cat, which feels like a perfect tagline for this episode — and, really, the whole show.