The Dan Patrick Show: Covino & Rich – Celebrate the NFL Season!

Episode Date: September 5, 2025
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts & Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Overview

This episode of Covino & Rich on The Dan Patrick Show is a high-energy celebration of the NFL's return. With an all-star cast of personalities—including Steve Covino, Rich Davis, Danny G., Dan Byer, Iowa Sam, and Spot—the team dives headfirst into NFL predictions, traditions, and the excitement of kickoff night. The episode blends humor, personal stories, debates about game-day traditions, and a deep dive into their annual predictions (the legendary "DB Doozy" sheet).

Main Segments & Timestamps

• [03:22] NFL Season Kickoff & Show Energy
• [04:20] Rich’s Wild Weekend & Dad Life Stories
• [07:27] Game Day Traditions: Team Gear & Kickoff Rituals
• [08:55] First Game Discussion: Eagles vs. Cowboys & Betting Lines
• [12:41] NFL Kickoff Game Stats & Recent Trends (with Dan Byer)
• [13:49] Fox Sports Radio's "DB Doozy" Predictions Tradition
• [15:02] Roundtable: 2025 NFL Division & Super Bowl Picks
• [35:02] Alternative Picks (Iowa Sam & Spot)
• [38:31] Listener Calls & "Out on a Limb" Hot Takes
• [51:16] Old School Thursday: Faces of Cities in Sports

Key Discussion Points

NFL Season Excitement & Traditions

• Celebrating Kickoff Day: The crew is amped about the return of the NFL, and Rich hilariously shares how his schedule is overloaded with his kids' activities and his own mascot gig.

  • “Our pets’ heads are falling off… what a freaking day! Man, I’m pumped.” – Rich Davis [03:44]
  • The show’s tone is jovial and self-deprecating, poking fun at Rich’s need for attention and the overcommitted parental lifestyle.

• Game Day Gear Debate: Should you wear your team’s gear on NFL kickoff, even if your team isn’t playing?

  • Rich doesn’t wear his 49ers gear on kickoff if they’re not playing, causing a lively debate.
  • “If I wore a Niners shirt today, I feel like that’d be like that guy that goes to a Dodgers—Padres game wearing a Cubs shirt.” – Rich Davis [08:10]

Eagles vs. Cowboys: Game 1 Breakdown

• Point Spread: The opener features Eagles (-8.5) vs. Cowboys.

  • Both Covino and Rich debate the unpredictability:
    • “Eight and a half is such a tricky number. You know me, I love gambling and wagering… but it’s too many points.” – Rich [09:00]
  • Dan Byer provides historical context:
    • Only six road teams have ever won the opener since 2002, but two wins were in the past three years. [10:59]

• Team Confidence & Overconfidence: Discussion on whether post-Super Bowl swagger (Eagles) can be a double-edged sword.

• Are Cowboys “Ass”?:

  • “I think Dallas might be ass.” – Covino [12:35]
  • Sets up ongoing questions about the Cowboys’ potential flop.

NFL Predictions: The “DB Doozy”

What is the DB Doozy?

A long-standing Fox Sports Radio tradition, the "DB Doozy" (named after Dan Byer) is a laminated, in-studio sheet where each host records their picks for:

• AFC Champion
• NFC Champion
• Super Bowl Champion
• Out on a Limb Take
• Worst Team
• MVP

Hosts' Picks (Highlights & Quotes)

Covino

• AFC: Bills
• NFC: Eagles
• Super Bowl: Bills over Eagles
  • “Bills is my pick. Buffalo Bills, man, I just think it’s their year… they’ve come too close.” [15:02]
• Out on a Limb: Giants have a winning season.
• Worst Team: Browns (“everything about them is doo doo”)
• MVP: Saquon Barkley

Rich Davis

• AFC: Ravens
• NFC: Lions
• Super Bowl: Ravens over Lions
  • “This is Lamar’s year. I think the Ravens are Super Bowl champions. Lock it in.” [19:28]
• Out on a Limb: Chiefs miss the playoffs
  • “I think they’re 10-7 and somehow miss on a tiebreaker… that window’s closed.” [19:58]
• Worst Team: Browns
• MVP: Joe Burrow

Danny G.

• AFC: Bills
• NFC: Packers
• Super Bowl: Bills over Packers
  • “Last season in the old stadium. Watching Hard Knocks, I feel like it’s destiny that they win.” [21:22]
• Out on a Limb: Raiders rookie Dante Thornton Jr. over 1,000 receiving yards
• Worst Team: Browns
• MVP: Josh Allen

Dan Byer

• AFC: Broncos
• NFC: Lions
• Super Bowl: Broncos over Lions
  • “Things don’t end well for Buffalo and they’re going to end in the AFC Championship game when the Denver Broncos come to town and upset the Buffalo Bills.” [24:01]
• Out on a Limb: Commanders miss playoffs
• Worst Team: Saints
• MVP: Joe Burrow

Iowa Sam

• AFC: Ravens
• NFC: Rams
• Super Bowl: Rams
• Out on a Limb: Patriots go 9-8 under Mike Vrabel
• Worst Team: Browns
• MVP: C.J. Stroud

Spot

• AFC: Ravens
• NFC: Packers
• Super Bowl: Ravens
• Out on a Limb: Travis Kelce joins Taylor Swift on stage at Super Bowl Halftime
• Worst Team: Saints
• MVP: Lamar Jackson

Listener Feedback [50:02]

• Callers chime in with bold hot takes, including the Cowboys as the worst team and Commanders fans daring to dream of the Super Bowl.
• “My other out on the limb is… I think the Dallas Cowboys are going to be the worst team in the NFL.” – James in Virginia [51:16]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Covino calling out the Cowboys:
  “I think Dallas might be ass.” [12:35]

• On the anxiety of locking in picks:
  “Once Dan Byer laminates that paper, it’s over. It’s official—like a tattoo.” – Covino [14:35]

• On Hard Knocks and Bills hype:
  “I feel like Josh Allen’s got swag… everyone just praised Josh Allen in Buffalo, man, it’s like everybody loves him.” – Covino [23:07]

• Rich’s hot take on the Chiefs:
  “I think the Chiefs miss the playoffs. Winning team, but on the outside looking in.” [19:58]

Fun Traditions & Personal Touches

• Mascot Stories: Rich shares he’s suiting up as the school mascot for his daughter’s event and signed up for a dunk tank, leading to running jokes about attention-seeking dad behavior.
• Game Day Gear Superstitions: Spirited back-and-forth about when it’s appropriate to rep your team’s clothes.
• Listener Engagement: The show frequently invites listeners to call in with their own “out on a limb” predictions.

Lively Debates & Banter

• Playful Ribbing: The cast snarks at each other’s “out on a limb” picks, especially Iowa Sam’s conservative Patriots prediction.
  • “So you really just picked the over, Sam. Congratulations.” – Rich [37:12]
• Quarterback MVP Debate: Covino floats choosing a running back for MVP, but Dan Byer shoots it down:
  • “If Saquon didn’t win last year, running back will never win.” [39:16]

Old School Thursday: Faces of Cities in Sports [51:16]

• Inspired by Beyoncé’s birthday (Houston) and Mike Piazza’s (New York/LA), the hosts reminisce about athletes and celebrities who personify their cities (e.g. George Brett and Kansas City, Mahomes for the new generation).
• Listeners encouraged to call in with their own associations.

Takeaways

• Optimism and Clean Slate: The episode revels in the hope and optimism of Week 1—everything is possible, long-held narratives can flip, and every fan has a shot at glory.
• Prediction Boldness: The “DB Doozy” tradition anchors the episode, blending analytics, gut feeling, and pop culture flair into the hosts’ picks.
• Personality-Driven: Between the football analysis, the show is a showcase of Covino and Rich’s personalities—fun, passionate, and community-minded.
• Perfect for NFL Kickoff: For anyone wanting to jump into NFL season energized, this is an ideal listen—even if you haven’t caught the whole show.

Summary Table: Picks at a Glance

| Host | AFC Champ | NFC Champ | Super Bowl | Out On a Limb | Worst Team | MVP | |-------------|--------------|-------------|-----------------------|------------------------------|------------|-----------------| | Covino | Bills | Eagles | Bills over Eagles | Giants winning season | Browns | Saquon Barkley | | Rich Davis | Ravens | Lions | Ravens over Lions | Chiefs miss playoffs | Browns | Joe Burrow | | Danny G. | Bills | Packers | Bills over Packers | Dante Thornton 1K yards | Browns | Josh Allen | | Dan Byer | Broncos | Lions | Broncos over Lions | Commanders miss playoffs | Saints | Joe Burrow | | Iowa Sam | Ravens | Rams | Rams | Patriots go 9-8 w/ Vrabel | Browns | C.J. Stroud | | Spot | Ravens | Packers | Ravens | Kelce joins Swift halftime | Saints | Lamar Jackson |

For those eager to dive into the NFL season, this episode offers fresh perspective, tradition-rich analysis, and plenty of laughs—making it a must-listen for fans new and old.