Scoop City: Inside The NFL

Episode: Will the Chiefs & Patrick Mahomes actually miss the playoffs?

Date: November 17, 2025
Hosts: James Palmer, Dianna Russini, Chase Daniel

Episode Overview

This episode of Scoop City dives into dramatic NFL Week 11 outcomes, highlighted by the Kansas City Chiefs’ current struggles and playoff outlook, Denver Broncos' surge to the AFC’s #1 seed, and Josh Allen’s Herculean performance for the Bills. The team also unpacks quarterback news from around the league, critical injuries, the Eagles’ suffocating defense, and the trending perceptions on young QBs J.J. McCarthy and Shador Sanders. Hosted in their usual energetic, insightful, and slightly irreverent style, James Palmer, Dianna Russini, and Chase Daniel bring exclusive insider analysis throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Week 11 – Contenders & Pretenders

• Anticipation and Upsets:
  • Dianna Russini expresses excitement over matchups living up to the hype, admitting, “If I had money on any of these games, I would have been a big loser.” (02:48)
  • Chase Daniel brags about a strong 10–3 picks record but admits surprises, especially not foreseeing a Chargers upset. (03:18)

2. Quarterback Carousel & Injury Updates

(03:50–06:59)

• Jets’ Quarterback Switch:
  • Dianna outlines the switch to Tyrod Taylor, explaining the internal belief that “they’re right there… not as bad as you think.” (04:11)
• Steelers’ Injury Uncertainty:
  • Awaiting test results on Aaron Rodgers’ wrist injury; Steelers are "hopeful but bracing." (05:01)
• Atlanta Falcons’ Setback:
  • QB Michael Penix Jr. likely out for the season with a partial ACL tear. As Dianna quotes a defensive coordinator:

    “If we had their players, we would be so much better than what we—just pure admiration for what their team looks like… That tells you they’re underperforming.” (06:17)

3. Denver Broncos Dethrone the Chiefs

(06:59–13:49)

• Broncos Knock Off Chiefs for AFC’s Top Spot:

  • James Palmer sets the scene at Mile High: "Vibes in the building start to be, this is going to be a Chiefs win..." But Denver pulls it off.

• Chase’s Analysis:

  • "The Broncos are 9–2, but a couple plays from being undefeated… There’s something to be said for callousing a team, and that’s what Sean Payton used to always talk about." (07:42)

• Bo Nix’s Growth:

  • Chase notes, “For the first time this year, Bo Nix really was solid the entire game.” (09:08)
  • Cautions reliance on defense/special teams—at some point, “the offense is going to have to win a game… They have to, like, at some point, give up 28 on defense and have to score 30 to win.” (10:46)

• Is Denver’s Approach Sustainable?

  • Chase argues: "You can get to the playoffs playing like this and just kicking field goals…but they want to do more than just get to the playoffs.” (11:50)
  • J.K. Dobbins' injury cited as potentially the “most important” loss. (12:17)

• Dianna on Denver’s Blueprint:

  • “Sean Payton shared... the weapon for Bo Nix is the run game. You take away that weapon? That’s not going to help Denver and they know it.” (14:03)

4. Chiefs Locker Room: Changing Vibes & Playoff Anxiety

(15:00–19:20)

• James Palmer visits the locker rooms:

  • Contrasts Denver's "strobe lights/dance party" with Kansas City’s "Mahomes in the corner, towel over his head for an eternity." (15:00)
  • Not anger, but a "we just got to get in [the playoffs] now" mentality. “Very different feel in that room than I’ve seen in years past.” (15:00)

• Chase’s Diagnosis:

  • "They’re 0–5 in one-score games this year… They’re just not making the plays Kansas City is used to making in the clutch…” (16:39)
  • Cites lack of run game, pass rush, and closing ability.

  “Now it’s sort of flipped to where, hey, okay, they’re 0–5… As long as we can keep this game close… we got a chance to win.” (17:52)

• Is the “fear” of the Chiefs gone?

  • Diana: “I don’t… think that fear is gone. I still think Patrick Mahomes—even though they’ve struggled—everyone knows it’s still in there…It’s so difficult to count out the Chiefs. It’s still only November.” (18:45)

• Depth Issues Noted:

  • James notes Chris Jones (31) playing more snaps than ever, injuries up front, and possible impact on game-changing plays. (19:20)

5. Eagles Survive, Defense Dominates

(20:39–26:23)

• Lions-Eagles Review:

  • James spotlights Philly’s D: "Have you seen a midseason trade [Jalen Phillips] work out this well this quickly?” (20:39)
  • Dianna: “It’s another example of taking a player from one environment… Surrounding him with winners, how great…he can rise.” (20:44)

• Philly’s Formula:

  • Chase: “At some point the Eagles offense is going to have to get going…but right now, this defense is just frustrating offenses.”
    (23:35)
  • Breaks down Vic Fangio’s impact: “He rarely pressures… It’s really difficult as a quarterback, especially for someone like Goff… You have to stay patient vs. a Vic Fangio team.” (22:59)

• Philly vs. Denver Comparison:

  • James: “I would trust Philly’s offense to put it together on the back half of the season more than Denver’s.” (24:27)

• Injuries Could Change Things:

  • Dianna: “With Lane Johnson out 4–6 weeks… the formula is a beat-up O-line, an okay run game, which affects the pass game. But they win, and that’s all that matters.” (25:00)

6. Josh Allen’s Superman Game – Can It Last?

(29:07–33:33)

• Josh Allen’s 6 TD Outburst:

  • James: “Congrats or I’m sorry [to fantasy players], Josh Allen puts up six touchdowns.” (29:07)

• Is This Sustainable for the Bills?

  • Chase: “You have to play like Superman now if you’re Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills to win, because defensively they aren’t as good... and when there’s no run game, Josh has to rely on his Superman ability.” (29:40)
  • “They gotta get more consistency out of the run game … You gotta get Superman Josh, but this can’t continue if the Bills want to win.” (31:22)

• Coleman’s Absence/Suspension (WR):

  • Dianna: “At times, the offense looked better without Coleman, but that’s not to say he’s the problem.” (31:52)
  • Chase adds this can create extra accountability and focus among the other weapons.

7. Shador Sanders’ Struggles in NFL Debut

(33:33–39:36)

• Sanders’ Difficult 1st Outing:

  • 4–16, 47 yards, sack troubles.

• NFL Backup Reality:

  • Chase Daniel defends the backup’s plight:

    “The backup quarterback, we get zero reps during the week with the ones… The starter has to be prepared. The backup runs the scout team.” (34:41)

  • Explains nuances: staying after practice, extra film/mental reps are essential.

• Dianna:

  • “This isn’t about Shador…when Jackson Dart was [a] backup in New York, he was doing exactly what you just said.” (37:22)

• Chase Breaks Down a Key INT:

  • “Shador should not have thrown this football, but Jerry Jeudy stops his route… Ravens DC Zach Orr sent exotic blitzes. Odds were stacked against [Sanders].” (38:11)

8. Sunday “Scaries”: Young QBs Under Fire

(41:58–48:55)

Sam Darnold (Seahawks) vs. Rams

• Darnold’s Statline: 29/44, 279 yd, 0 TD, 4 INT—still almost helped the Seahawks win.
• Chase Daniel:
  • “When you throw four interceptions, you expect to get blown out… The ramps [Rams] had an exceptional plan… and you just don’t get over this, anytime the pocket was tight, he freezes up.” (42:55)
• Dianna’s Take:
  • “This is a big test for him. Maybe the Vikings saw this coming after they let him go.” (44:28)
• Chase:
  • “I think they’d take him over J.J. [McCarthy] right now though.” (44:56)

J.J. McCarthy (Vikings)

• Team Built to Win, QB Struggles:
  • James: “That is a veteran locker room that is built to make a playoff run. You have to strike the balance between grooming [McCarthy] and the pressure to win.” (45:09)
  • Chase:

    “The weak spot of the team is the quarterback play. He’s only had one game above 56% completion. … They’re not going to bench him, but the question has to be thought of: is J.J. McCarthy the guy for us moving forward?” (46:10)

  • Dianna on Head Coach O’Connell’s philosophy: “This league is too impatient [with young QBs]… but it’s hard to eat the losing when you’re going through these growing pains.” (47:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I wasn’t sure headed into these [games] how it would shake out, but I can tell you, if I had money on any of these games, I would have been a big loser.”
  — Dianna Russini (02:48)
• “They’re 0–5 in one-score games this year… They’re just not making the plays Kansas City is used to making in the clutch…”
  — Chase Daniel (16:39)
• “I still think Patrick Mahomes…everyone knows it’s still in there. It’s so difficult to count out the Chiefs.”
  — Dianna Russini (18:45)
• “The Broncos are 9–2…They could very easily be 11–0…there’s something to be said about callousing a team.”
  — Chase Daniel (07:42)
• “At some point, the Eagles offense is going to have to get going…but right now, this defense is just frustrating offenses.”
  — Chase Daniel (23:35)
• “You have to play like Superman now if you’re Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills to win…”
  — Chase Daniel (29:40)
• “The backup quarterback, we get zero reps during the week with the ones… The starter has to be prepared. The backup runs the scout team.”
  — Chase Daniel (34:41)
• “The weak spot of the entire team is the quarterback play. It’s not hard to see that.”
  — Chase Daniel (46:10)
• “This league is too impatient [with young QBs]… but it’s hard to eat the losing when you’re going through these growing pains.”
  — Dianna Russini (47:53)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Quarterback News & Injuries: 03:50–06:59
• Broncos-Chiefs Deep Dive: 06:59–14:03
• Chiefs Locker Room State: 15:00–19:20
• Eagles Defense vs. Lions: 20:39–26:23
• Josh Allen’s Superman Days: 29:07–33:33
• Shador Sanders’ Reality Check: 33:33–39:36
• Darnold & McCarthy Under Pressure: 41:58–48:55

Conclusion

This episode delivers a sharp, insider-rich look at Week 11’s defining moments: The Chiefs’ very real playoff jeopardy, a surging Broncos defense, and the thin margins separating NFL contenders from crisis. The conversation shifts seamlessly from tactical X’s and O’s to big-picture questions about team confidence, QB patience, and culture, punctuated with expert anecdotes, vivid locker room scenes, and relatable humor.

For fans seeking the real storylines and turning points inside the NFL, this episode is essential listening.