Pardon My Take - NFL Divisional Round Recap & Who’s Back of the Week (Jan 19, 2026)

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode is a comprehensive and high-energy recap and reaction to the 2026 NFL Divisional Round, featuring Big Cat and PFT Commenter’s signature blend of sports insight, wild banter, and cathartic fan rants. The duo dissect the drama from all four Divisional Round games—highlighting heartbreak for the Bills and Bears, a dominant Seahawks performance, and the Patriots grinding out a win—while weaving in live reactions, fan stories, and running bits, and closing on their classic “Who’s Back of the Week” segment.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Bears vs. Rams: Overtime Heartbreak in Chicago

[09:45 – 37:12]

• Big Cat and Zach Memes were at the snowy Soldier Field for the Bears’ crushing OT loss, with Big Cat offering a therapy session for Bears fans.
• The game was physical and tight, with both defenses shining. Big Cat raves about “Bear weather” for slowing down the Rams’ usually explosive offense.
• Caleb Williams made a miraculous 53-yard, backward-drifting TD throw to Cole Kmet on the last play of regulation:

  “It was a video game throw… drifting back from, like, three guys at the 40—it was unreal. That play was the ‘2025 Bears’—dead, dead, dead, and then, holy shit, TOUCHDOWN.” —Big Cat (13:15)

• The stadium was electric at the TD, but the air was sucked out after the Rams hit the game-winning kick in OT.
• Pinpointing the Bears’ loss:
  • Offensive line shuffles hurt the short-yardage run game (especially after the Ozzy Trapillo injury).
  • DJ Moore’s “laziest route ever” on the OT interception.
  • Not going for 2 after the last score? In hindsight, Big Cat and PFT debate whether Ben Johnson should have risked it.
• Shoutout to the Bears’ resurgent defense (Brisker “everywhere”; finally a healthy secondary), but Rams’ D-line and adjustments take credit.
• On the future: Bears fans are “bummed but optimistic.” Big Cat:

  “The future is so bright with Caleb and Ben Johnson. But you can never say ‘we’ll be back.’” (21:39)

• Wild in-stadium stories: “Sign Guy” flew in from Hawaii, underestimated the cold, and froze into submission (30:28). The stadium camaraderie—“the best friends you’ll ever have…[for] three and a half hours” (33:10).
• Ramifications: Rams into NFC Championship, Bears’ “most exciting team” reputation, and just how much the cold evened the matchup.

2. Patriots vs. Texans: Drake May Survives Another Test

[40:00 – 56:04]

• Patriots beat the Texans 28–16; a defensive, turnover-heavy, ugly game.
• Drake May’s Achilles’ heel: He continues to be “statistically the worst QB on 3rd & 6”—on his only such play, he was strip-sacked (41:59).
• C.J. Stroud had his worst pro start: “He was mega ass. Horrendous. Not even just the picks—missing every throw, wide open receivers nowhere near him.”—Max (44:00)
• Hank tries to downplay the “easiest path” narrative as Patriots face another backup QB next round but gets needled hard about “lucking out.”
• Debates on fan allegiance (“Team > player”). Big Cat pushes Josh Dobbs’ superior third-down stats.

  “Sometimes you just…avoid third and sixes. That’s the game plan.”—Hank (50:36)

• Patriots' path to the AFC title game is roasted as “the softest ever”—but Hank’s unbothered:

  “You play who you play. I know.”—Hank (49:33)

• More running bits: Hank’s post-dentist nap viral video gets outed and mercilessly roasted (58:49).

3. Seahawks vs. 49ers: Seattle’s Statement Domination

[63:51 – 76:42]

• Seahawks destroy Niners 41–6 in Seattle, setting off “earthquake” celebrations on opening kickoff.
• The game was over in the first 5 minutes: “Just like that Seahawks–Broncos Super Bowl. An ass kicking from start to finish.” –Big Cat (63:57)
• Seattle gets credit for an all-phases, no-mistakes game: kick return TD, dominant D, Kenneth Walker rampage, Sam Darnold coddled in a no-pressure script.
• PFT:

  “They scored 40+, rushed for 150, zero turnovers, allowed zero TD, <10 penalty yards, special teams TD—no team’s ever done that. That’s a perfect game.” (71:51)

• Niners’ injuries and lack of offensive firepower exposed. Seahawks D “has a Hawk problem for Shanahan”—Niners have been held under 7 points four times under Shanahan, twice recently by Seattle (73:36).
• Anticipation for NFC Championship atmosphere in Seattle—a “reminder how loud the 12th Man really is.” (77:01)

4. Broncos vs. Bills: A Classic, Then Controversy and Tragedy

[77:59 – 108:27]

• Wild, drama-filled game: Denver wins 33–30 in OT. The game is instantly overshadowed by bad-catch controversy and injury news.
• Bo Nix leads late drive, then… is found to have broken his ankle on the second-to-last play. OT victory ruined for Broncos fans.
• Reaction to Sean Payton’s immediate revelation of Nix’s injury (should’ve let fans “celebrate one damn night!”). The “Stitty” (Jared Stidham) storyline begins:

  “Sean Payton’s got a thing for Stitty we don’t know about.” —PFT (83:46)

• Buffalo chokes away chances:
  • Turning it over 3–0.
  • Bad Allen fumble at end of half.

    “Bad Josh—about as bad as you’ll see in the playoffs.” —Big Cat (85:38)

  • Allen's missed game-winning TD shot to Dawson Knox.
• Josh Allen “conversation”—is the window closing? Is it time to move on from Sean McDermott?

  “You can’t keep doing the same thing every single year and expect things to change. It’s the Lamar-Harbaugh situation: You shift coaches before you move your superstar.” —PFT (90:26)

• The “catch”/no-catch controversy: “Butterworth” (NFL review official) comes in for withering mockery.

  “Ref just re-starts the game and TV gives us no explanation. We were robbed even of a moment to breathe… That might be the number one screenshot for angry Bills fans.” —Big Cat (97:38–98:10)

• Bills fans’ eternal heartbreak (“Josh Allen 0–3 in OT playoff games”), with consolation prize of having “screen grabs to fight online.”
• Fantasizing about wild Broncos QB replacements (Brady? Rivers? Tebow? Drew Brees?).

5. Other Notable Segments

College Football Nat’l Championship Preview

[111:11 – 116:27]

• Indiana heavily favored vs Miami; hosts expect a “methodical suffocation.”

  “I think Indiana is just—inevitable.” —Big Cat (113:44)

• Side chatter on cheating methods—anal beads strategy referenced per chess’s infamous scandal.

MLB Hot Stove Rant: Dodgers “Buy the League”

[116:52 – 124:36]

• The Dodgers’ projected 2026 lineup is called “insane.” But debate over whether money alone is the problem or if other owners are too cheap.
• Deferred MLB contracts likened to “saving the best bite of a sandwich for last” (121:35).
• Mets’ Boba Shett signing and fan coping.

Around Sports/Coaches Corner

[125:31 – 130:45]

• NFL Head Coach movement: Harbaugh to Giants, Stefanski to Falcons (after steak dinner with Arthur Blank, who cooked for him himself!), Matt LaFleur returning.
• Photo etiquette: Heated debate about “arms-around-each-other” group poses.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Bears-Rams

• "It's been miracle after miracle this season. I really thought we were just going to keep winning on the craziest , and it finally ran out." —Big Cat (11:40)
• "That play WAS the 2025 Bears—dead, dead, dead, and then, holy , TOUCHDOWN." —Big Cat (13:15)

Patriots-Texans

• "Drake May is statistically the worst QB on 3rd & 6...He got there once, strip-sack, fumble." —Big Cat (41:59)
• "CJ Stroud was mega ass." —Max (44:00)
• "Sometimes you just… avoid 3rd and 6es. That’s the game plan." —Hank (50:36)

Broncos-Bills

• "Before we even got to celebrate, Sean Payton nuked the Broncos' vibes by announcing Bo Nix is done." —Big Cat (82:22)
• "We need the ref to look at the replay and explain it, but Butterworth just calls Denver ball and restarts the game." —Big Cat (97:38)
• "Bills fans, at least you got the best screenshot to fight about all offseason." —PFT (95:49)

Seahawks-49ers

• "They played the perfect game—40+, 150 rush yards, no turnovers, zero TDs allowed, <10 penalty yds, ST TD… No other team has ever done all that." —PFT (71:51)
• "This Seahawks team is now the team to beat in the NFL." —Big Cat (76:36)

Around the Horn

• "Eating the best bite of a sandwich last is like an MLB deferred contract." —PFT/Max, on Shohei’s Dodgers deal (121:35)
• "2016 is back…and I like it." —Hank, discussing the social trend of nostalgia (132:22)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Bears v Rams Recap & Therapy: 09:45 – 37:12
• Patriots-Texans & Drake May Discourse: 40:00 – 56:04
• Seahawks-49ers Recap: 63:51 – 76:42
• Broncos-Bills & Josh Allen/Ref Madness: 77:59 – 108:27
• National Championship/Cyber Cheating: 111:11 – 116:27
• MLB Offseason/Roster Construction: 116:52 – 124:36
• NFL Head Coaching Carousel, Group Pics: 125:31 – 130:45
• Who’s Back of the Week & 2016 Nostalgia: 132:22 – End

Who’s Back of the Week Highlights

• 2016 Nostalgia (Hank): “That year just had magic. Something changed. And now it’s back in the air.”
• Crotch Tech in Ski Jumping (PFT): “Norway’s ski team caught enlarging suit crotches—got a guy with a protractor checking grundles now.”
• Perspective (Big Cat): Georgetown's Ed Cooley says, “Blessed to be 1–6 in conference,” prompting laughter about sports excuses.
• Anthony Edwards as “future face of the league” (Zach): “When does he stop being ‘future face’ and just face?”

Tone, Vibe & Language

• Fast-paced, irreverent, emotional fan experience—mix heartbreak and wild optimism.
• Sarcasm and running jokes (“easiest path”, “Team Stitty”, sign guy freezing in Chicago).
• Authentic sports nerd energy, not afraid to roast each other or their teams.
• Spontaneous, sometimes slightly profane, but always inclusive of hardcore as well as casual NFL fans.

This episode captures everything a fan might have felt during one of the wildest NFL divisional weekends in years—elation, agony, controversy, and hope for the future. Even as Big Cat and PFT march into their 10th year podcasting, the ride is as lively as ever.