Pardon My Take – Episode Summary

Podcast: Pardon My Take
Hosts: Big Cat, PFT Commenter, Hank, Memes, Zach
Guest: Ryan Fitzpatrick
Date: December 17, 2025
Episode Title: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Steelers Bounce Dolphins, Hot Seat/Cool Throne + Listener FAQ’s With A Big Show Announcement

Episode Overview

This episode of Pardon My Take delivers a robust blend of NFL talk, college football playoff debate, trademark banter, and a big announcement regarding the show’s future. The hosts welcome back QB legend Ryan Fitzpatrick, break down key NFL games, scrutinize quarterback play and playoff races, engage in passionate arguments about college football’s playoff format, and end with listener questions and the much-hyped Netflix move announcement.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. NFL Week 15 Recap & Analysis

Timestamps: 03:34 – 09:51

• Steelers’ Monday Night Dominance

  • Discussion of the Steelers’ 23-game Monday Night Football home win streak, with PFT digging into the “NFL-engineered” weak MNF schedules for Pittsburgh.
    • “The NFL has engineered this streak for the Pittsburgh Steelers…That is by far the weakest schedule.” – PFT Commenter (05:15)
  • Lighthearted debate over whether Monday night streaks count if the game was COVID-delayed and lacked official graphics.

• Dolphins’ Struggles in the Cold

  • The hosts revisit the “cold weather curse” for Miami, especially Mike McDaniel’s much-memed effort to act unbothered by frigid temps.
    • “Every time they show you, you look like the coldest man in the world.” – Big Cat (07:10)
  • Joke: “Mike McDaniel. Napoleon. Hitler. Can’t win in the cold.” – PFT/Big Cat (07:26)

• Steelers vs. Dolphins Game Review

  • Praise for the Steelers’ defense and Aaron Rodgers’ “old Rodgers”-esque form.
    • “The last two games, he has looked old Rodgers-like. If he’s going to play like that…they can win a playoff game.” – Big Cat (08:56)
  • Questions about Tua’s future and intriguing possibilities for Miami (Zach Wilson? Quinn Ewers?).
    • “If you’re the Dolphins…why not play Zach Wilson? Why not play Quinn Ewers?” – Big Cat (10:51)

2. Injury Updates & QB Playoff Discussions

Timestamps: 17:08 – 23:52

• Injury Fallout: Mahomes & Parsons

  • Explores the impact of Patrick Mahomes and Micah Parsons’ ACL tears, the “timelines” for recovery, and a tongue-in-cheek reliance on random Twitter users’ injury anecdotes.
  • “I just love guys who reply with their own injuries, being like, here’s an approximate timeline for a world-class athlete.” – Big Cat (19:15)

• AFC/NFC Playoff Picture

  • The group analyzes likely AFC/NFC playoff matchups, pondering which teams are primed for a run and which are “sweet spot” opponents.
    • “Doesn’t it feel like the Chargers would be the team the Steelers could beat in the playoffs?” – PFT (23:57)
  • Discussion of the unusually open, unpredictable playoff field in both conferences.

3. College Football Playoff Format Debate

Timestamps: 31:27 – 39:57

• Joel Klatt's Take on March Madness
  • Joel Klatt’s claim that the NCAA basketball tournament is “the most unfair” leads to an extended defense of Cinderella stories, tournament expansion, and the ethos of “winning your way in.”
  • “That’s why we love the tournament…there’s something about a tournament where you’ve got underdogs and the possibility of them winning.” – PFT Commenter (33:38)
• Debate Over Group of Five (G5) Teams
  • Extensive back-and-forth about whether G5 teams like JMU or Tulane should make playoffs and why games must matter over hypothetical Vegas power rankings.
  • Classic PMT logic: “If you win your games, and you’re a G5 school, you should have a chance to get in.” – Big Cat (35:10)

4. Hot Seat, Cool Throne

Timestamps: 31:27 – 61:19
Notable Picks & Moments:

• Hot Seat: Joel Klatt (for his “unfair” remark), NBA Cup (for lack of real meaning among players/fans), Dylan Raiola (for transfer drama), War on Christmas (pop-punk show promotions).
• Cool Throne: LeBron James (for golf obsession), Biz Nasty (for his peaking content), Sean McVay (new-baby vibes).
• Funny Moment: Fart science – “There’s a new study out there that farts cure Alzheimer’s…smelling your farts is good!” – Big Cat (54:08)

5. Ryan Fitzpatrick Interview

Timestamps: 71:45 – 114:22

• QB Comebacks & Rivers Analysis
  • Fitzpatrick is asked about Phil Rivers’ return (and whether he himself could return), discussing the challenge for older QBs and the value of NFL mind and experience.
    • “He went out there…they had a chance to win. It was really impressive.” – Ryan Fitzpatrick (73:47)
• Contemporary NFL Topics
  • Insights on the Jaguars’ and Trevor Lawrence’s growth, the issues with Miami in cold, and why offense/defense synergy matters.
  • Discussion of Matthew Stafford & Puka Nacua’s connection with observations on what makes the Rams’ run game unique.
    • “Puka is an absolute savage…these 50/50 balls are like 90/10 balls to Puka.” – Fitzpatrick (86:38)
  • Quick “Who Do You Trust” playoff contenders exercise.
    • “If you ask me next week, if the Seahawks win…they’ll move into being able to be trusted.” – Fitzpatrick (90:21)
  • Thoughts on QBs returning from ACL injuries, team culture after losing a star (e.g., Parsons for GB), and the importance of rallying for “one week.”
    • “There’s a rallying cry for one week and then reality sets in.” – Fitzpatrick (111:23)
• Fun/Personal Moments
  • College tales: Harvard’s playoff flop, son doing homework at games, Big Cat’s photo insecurity with Josh Allen.
  • Fitzpatrick reflects on Whitworth’s style transformation and NFL lineman fashion evolution.

6. Listener FAQ & The Big Announcement

Timestamps: 117:00 – 122:11

• Show Announcement: PMT Moving to Netflix
  • The crew officially announces a landmark move: starting in January 2026, PMT’s podcast video will be exclusive to Netflix (audio stays on all platforms). Succinct notes and positive vibes about what this means for AWLs, behind-the-scenes staff, and new opportunities.
    • “It’s going to open some more doors for us…let’s make some more pie.” – Big Cat (118:05)

7. Lightning Round: Listener FAQs & Banter

Timestamps: 122:12 – End

• Topics range from whether the boys rehearse (spoiler: “the most rehearsal we do is to save stuff for the show”), max’s sports fan allegiances, to memories of Penn State tourney runs and Andrew Funk’s legendary shooting.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “The NFL has engineered this streak for the Pittsburgh Steelers. That is by far the weakest schedule…” – PFT Commenter (05:15)
• “Every time they show you, you look like the coldest man in the world.” – Big Cat, on Mike McDaniel (07:10)
• “If you try to play Pittsburgh Steeler football against the Pittsburgh Steelers, you will get your ass kicked by the real thing.” – PFT Commenter (07:45)
• “It’s kind of been like a ‘She’s All That’ with Brock Purdy”—PFT on Brock Purdy’s emergence (25:34)
• “You have to take on the mentality…we can screw the season up for some of these teams.”—Fitzpatrick on playing spoiler (104:08)
• “There’s a rallying cry for one week and then reality sets in.”—Fitzpatrick on NFL teams losing a star (111:23)
• “Let’s make more pie…more pie for them.”—Big Cat on sharing success with the Barstool team through the Netflix deal (118:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Steelers-Dolphins/Covered NFL Week 15: 03:34 – 09:51
• QB Injuries & Playoff Picture: 17:08 – 23:52
• College Football Playoff Debate: 31:27 – 39:57
• Hot Seat/Cool Throne: 31:27 – 61:19
• Ryan Fitzpatrick Interview: 71:45 – 114:22
• Big Show Announcement (Netflix): 117:00 – 122:11

Tone & Language

The episode is as expected: irreverent, funny, and deeply sports-nerdy. Plenty of quick jabs, running jokes ("candy ass jerseys"), meta-awareness of podcast culture (“this is a checkmate on Joel Klatt”), and even a helpful blending of listener-inclusivity and new-media business transparency.

Summary Takeaway

This Pardon My Take episode covers everything from NFL hot streaks to playoff analytics, from the coldest Dolphins to the future of college football. Featuring classic PMT banter, a smart and funny Ryan Fitzpatrick interview, and the significant announcement of the show’s new Netflix home in 2026, it’s a can’t-miss for fans wanting both insight and laughs.