The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: The Six Defining Games of NFL Week 14; Deshaun Watson Cleared to Practice & Von Miller Speaks on Parsons

Date: December 5, 2025
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and company
Live from: The Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off with Dan and the crew diving deep into the biggest storylines of NFL Week 14, focusing on the six most defining games. The hosts bring their signature blend of humor, hot takes, and nostalgia to the table, dissecting rivalries, playoff implications, and standout players. Special guests include Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, who provides insight into clutch performances, Hall of Fame candidacy, and the evolution of the NFL, and Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame, who previews pivotal games and breaks down key matchups.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Episode Theme

[00:00–03:47]

• Playful intro about NFL Week 14 as "rivalry week" and championship games in college football.
• Hosts riff on "episode 31" by honoring famous athletes who wore #31, running through names like Jamal Lewis, Greg Maddux, Grant Fuhr, and Mike Piazza.
• Tone: Loose, nostalgic, and conversational. Lots of sports trivia and inside jokes.

2. The Pick Six: Touchdown Predictions

[03:47–06:35]

• Hosts offer their "pick six" players most likely to score touchdowns this week, blending fantasy advice with comedic asides.
  • Dan picks Derrick Henry, James Cook, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield, and Jordan Love.
  • Gino swaps Derrick Henry for Quinton Judkins, criticizing the Titans for "going into straight up tank mode."
  • Mike adds an outlier, predicting JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba) will have a breakout yardage game.
• Memorable Moment: “Tennessee’s awful. Tennessee’s going into straight up tank mode.” – Gino Fuentes [03:03]

3. Interview: Von Miller on Clutch Moments, Legacy, and Modern NFL

[06:35–27:28]

Clutch Performances & Hall of Fame Criteria

• On Clutch:
  • “After you experience it a couple of times, you start to believe it. You start to drink the Kool Aid... so, yeah, I like the term, you know, playoff Von.” – Von Miller [07:31]
• On Super Bowls vs. Hall of Fame:
  • "I'd rather have the Super Bowls, man... there's nothing like [sharing those moments] with your teammates and being connected for life." – Von Miller [10:41]
• On Defining a Hall of Famer:
  • "Can you tell the story of the NFL without saying that player? Then I feel like he's a Hall of Fame player." – Von Miller [16:04]
  • Example: "Odell Beckham, like that catch... will always be involved in telling the story of the NFL." – Von Miller [16:07]

On Former Players and Modern Comparisons

• Praises Philip Rivers as a Hall of Fame QB despite no Super Bowl, referencing "borderline Hall of Fame behavior" in 2007 [09:44–10:07].
• Reveals admiration for Cam Newton: "You can't tell the story of the NFL without, like, Cam Newton." – Von Miller [18:23]

On Uniform Numbers and Player Influences

• On Number changes:
  • "I only wore 58 because I couldn’t wear 40... Derrick Thomas wore 58, and I loved his game, modeled my game after him." – Von Miller [11:57]
• Fashion talk:
  • “The coolest uniforms that I’ve put on were... the Los Angeles Rams. It was just so different." – Von Miller [26:11]

On NFL Evolution

• "Now there are so many cameras, and they catch everything... overall exposure gets bigger, more reach every year, and players just get bigger, faster, stronger." – Von Miller [23:56]
• On draft philosophy: prefers spending cap on defense and depth over excessive WR/QB contracts [21:01–21:23]
• Laugh-line: “I'm so glad I'm through with that game, now I can go back to being a Denver Broncos fan.” – Von Miller [22:38]

4. NFL Week 14 – Key Game Previews with Matt Verderame

[27:47–51:11]

Rivalry Week Context

• Discussion on the nostalgia and stakes for Bears-Packers, Steelers-Ravens, and Colts-Jags.
  • "If the Bears win this game, they're probably going to the division... If the Packers win, they're in the driver's seat." – Matt Verderame [33:20]

Home-Field Advantage Rant [34:02–36:17]

• Debate on domes ruining "snow football games"
  • "When you watch a snow football game, it's the greatest thing you’ve ever seen… Let’s get rid of that? Can’t have that anymore.” – Dan Le Batard [36:17]

The Six Defining Games – Picks & Analysis

• 6. Eagles (-3) @ Chargers

  • Eagles favored; both sides desperate, but health and O-line woes the difference.
  • “This is a big back to the wall type of game for Philly.” – Matt [38:15]

• 5. Colts (+1.5) @ Jaguars

  • Injuries and the Jags’ home edge favor Jacksonville.
  • “Jacksonville hasn’t lost at home, it seems, since 2014.” – Matt [40:41]

• 4. Steelers @ Ravens (-6)

  • Ravens win, but don’t cover. Steelers offense "brutal to watch," but neither team inspires much confidence.
  • “[The Steelers] are a brutal watch offensively… His intended air yards per attempt is tied for lowest in football.” – Matt [42:20]

• 3. Bengals @ Bills (-5.5)

  • Bills win, Bengals cover. Expect another shootout.
  • “The path for Cincinnati... is they have to score 45 points. That defense is one of the worst I’ve ever seen.” – Matt [45:29]

• 2. Texans @ Chiefs (-3.5)

  • Chiefs eke out a close win thanks to Mahomes’ magic under pressure.
  • “Champions usually find a way to win these games. I think they win by a field goal.” – Matt [49:02]

• 1. Bears @ Packers (-6.5)

  • Packers win a close one; rivalry finally matters again.
  • “I think the Packers are just a better team... Packers by a touchdown.” – Matt [49:44]

• Dan and Matt both question if Caleb Williams’ accuracy can be fixed.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Von Miller on NFL Fame:
  "Can you tell the story of the NFL without saying that player? Then I feel like he's a Hall of Fame player." [16:04]
• Verderame on domes:
  “Domes are the scourge of the year.” [35:40]
• On Steelers’ QB struggles:
  “The worst part of the Aaron Rodgers experience, if you’re a Steelers fan... is he will miss a guy by 10 yards and then just start screaming and pouting.” [42:52]
• On key to winning rivalry games:
  “If you’re the Packers, this is an opportunity... if you win this game, you could be the one seed. Enormous opportunity for both these teams.” [33:20]

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–03:47 | Opening banter, famous #31s, Pick Six intro | | 03:47–06:35 | Touchdown “Pick Six” and fantasy updates | | 06:35–27:28 | Von Miller interview: Clutch, Super Bowls, HOF, NFL changes, uniforms | | 27:47–36:17 | Verderame joins, classic rivalries, home-field/dome rant | | 36:17–51:11 | The Six Defining Games of NFL Week 14: picks, breakdowns, predictions |

Conclusion

The episode is a signature blend of Le Batard’s satire and reverence for sports, paired with deep football analysis and storytelling from veteran guests. Von Miller shines as a reflective, funny, and insightful interview—especially regarding what truly defines greatness and the evolution of the NFL. Matt Verderame’s segments provide actionable insights for fans eager to understand Week 14’s playoff implications and key matchups. The show never loses its wit, whether lamenting domes or poking fun at quarterback drama.

For more picks—including college football championship Saturday—listeners are encouraged to check out the Football America YouTube page.