Podcast Summary: The Dan Patrick Show — Covino & Rich - 'Make Ya Go Hmm' NFL Week 1

Date: September 9, 2025
Hosts: Covino & Rich (with Danny G and guest Michael F. Florio)
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts & Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Episode Theme: Immediate Reactions to NFL Week 1 – “Things That Make You Go Hmm”

Episode Overview

This lively episode is Covino & Rich’s signature reaction to the opening week of the NFL season, filled with humor, high-energy sports banter, and audience interaction. The crew unpacks takeaways from Week 1, discussing the importance of setting the tone in sports (and life), the emotional rollercoaster of fandom, clutch moments, notable blunders, and the viral storylines dominating the sports landscape. The segment “Things That Made You Go Hmm” leads, inviting both the hosts and callers to share their sharpest and strangest observations.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

Setting the Tone: Why Week 1 Matters

• Sports & Life Parallels: The hosts launch into the episode by comparing Week 1 of the NFL to setting the tone on vacation or at any big life event.
  • “When your team wins or loses week one… it’s like bowling. If you bowl an open frame in the first frame, you're like, oh, can we just start over? No one wants to lose week one.”—Danny G (04:17)
  • Rich likens it to the first day of vacation: “You want vibes to be good. Set the tone…” (04:53)

“Things That Made You Go Hmm” – Standout NFL Observations

([09:43])

• Bills vs. Ravens — Game of the Year Vibes

  • Both teams looked “unbeatable”; hosts debate if this rivalry is the new AFC measuring stick.
  • “It felt like a movie…in their last season at that stadium…they’re going to win it all…”—Rich (11:57)
  • The “Styles Make Fights” theory: certain teams have each other's numbers despite overall strength.
    • “Ravens can almost seemingly do everything right and something’s gonna fall…”—Michael F. Florio (13:46)

• Clutch Kicking & Veteran Poise

  • Matt Prater (age 41) nails a heart-stopping game-winner for the Bills.
    • “He looked like he was in a Fallout Boy cover band…a 40-year-old guy with a 20-year-old guy haircut. So cool to come through in that moment.”—Danny G (16:42)
  • Discussion on the high drama of late-game field goal attempts—“the difference of inches” (16:26) & scrutiny over kickers (18:11).

• Missed Kicks and Extra Points Dominate Week 1

  • Frustrations aired about kickers costing wins (Younghoe Koo, Browns, 49ers’ Moody), drawing attention to the pressure these players face.

• Changing Technologies: Virtual Spotting & End of the Chain Gang

  • Lukewarm reactions to the NFL’s new digital measurement tools, with hosts mourning the ceremonial “chain gang” (19:41 onwards).

• Age in Sports: Prater’s Impact on the Locker Room

  • Younger teammates think of older players as “coaches” rather than fellow athletes:
    • “First time I seen him, I was like, that coach!...He looked old next to those young guys, but came in big.”—Rich (20:31, 21:58)

The Power of Momentum & First Impressions

• Comparison to broadcasting: “Look at you, Scott Hansen. You just rocked it. Let's go. The season has begun…you’re in the zone…” —Rich (08:52)
• Discussion of broadcaster jitters and needing a clean “first frame.”

Callers’ Observations and Listener Interaction

([35:19] onwards)

• Listeners weigh in on missed extra points, clutch field goals, and key moments.
  • “Great game, really great way to cap off Sunday…” —Dustin from Illinois commenting on Bills/Ravens (35:22)
• Varied opinions on teams’ opening performances—Jets, Niners, Seahawks, Bengals, and more.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Week 1 and Energy:

  • “Set the tone. I mean, I’m just, I’m all about setting the tone.” —Danny G (07:02)

• On Ravens vs. Bills:

  • “Who's beating the Ravens? Who's beating the Bills?” —Rich & Danny G (12:21–12:27)

• On Matt Prater and Age:

  • “He looked old next to those young guys, but came in big, came through big for the Bills...he might as well be 71. He's a young man in life, but an old man on the field.” —Rich (21:28, 21:52)

• On Clutch Kicking:

  • “That field goal...so much drama in that because of the time...in what was one of the greatest games we’ve seen in a while.” —Michael F. Florio (17:30)

• On Week 1 Missed Kicks:

  • “Noticed a lot of missed kicks over the weekend. Seemed to be a major pattern for the first week.” —Rich (17:30)

• On TV Frustrations and Sunday Ticket:

  • “If I want to go from one to the other, I have to press home and go to a different app. I can't be the only one that thinks that's a pain in the ass.” —Danny G (33:35)

• On VMAs Losing Cultural Relevance:

  • “There’s things that used to mean a lot that don’t anymore. The Video Music Awards used to be a big deal...Last night it happened. And who even knew?” —Danny G (53:02)

Segment Timestamps

• [04:17] – Impact of Week 1 on Fans and Life Parallels
• [09:43] – “Things That Made You Go Hmm” Begins
• [11:46] – Bills-Ravens as “Game of the Year”; Movie-like Drama
• [16:26] – Breakdown: Prater’s Game-Winning Field Goal Moment
• [18:11] – Age and Locker Room Perceptions
• [19:41] – Virtual Measurement/End of Chain Gang Discussion
• [31:09] – Callers' Perspectives on Week 1
• [35:19] – Listener Call: Missed Extra Points and Alternative Outcomes
• [41:05] – Raiders' First Win in New England in Decades
• [52:54] – Cultural Shifts: VMAs During NFL Season

Additional Fun & Insightful Moments

• Persistent Mention of the “Karen Ball Snatcher”:

  • A Philadelphia Phillies fan (Karen Ball Snatcher) remained a weirdly viral sports story despite major NFL action, comically referenced throughout the show.
  • “It makes me go, hmm, with all the great football, I don't know how she's still a headline.”—Rich (10:49)

• Quick Hits and Running Gags:

  • Jokes about “ball snatching,” “bushwhacking,” and channeling early 90s pop culture energy.
  • Playful banter about age, fantasy football pressure, and modern TV viewing annoyances.

Conclusion

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show—as guest-hosted by Covino & Rich—offers an energetic and humorous embrace of NFL Week 1’s chaos: bold opinions, moments of awe and doubt, and relatable commiseration with fans’ highs and lows. “Setting the Tone” as the master theme, the crew explores how first impressions matter in sports, entertainment, and everyday life. Frequent callbacks and lively audience engagement make this episode a quintessential kickoff for football fans and pop-culture enthusiasts alike.

For more Covino & Rich sports commentary and weekly recaps, check out Fox Sports Radio weekdays (5–7pm Eastern) and their podcast on iHeartRadio and all major platforms.