The Dan Patrick Show: Covino & Rich – NFL Week 4…Make You Go Hmm
Date: September 30, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich)
Host: Rich Eisen (w/ Dan Beyer, Danny G, Sam Spotty)
Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Episode Overview
This episode centers on NFL Week 4 highlights, the reaction to the announcement of Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime act, and the prevalence of ties in football games. Rich Eisen, hosting solo in Covino’s absence, leads a freewheeling, humorous discussion with regular contributors and listeners, focusing on what made NFL Week 4 a head-scratcher. Lively banter touches on pop culture and sports, unpacking the logic behind recent league decisions and sharing relatable “things that made you go hmm.”
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Covino's Absence and Betting Woes
- Covino is away in Mexico, using a timeshare purchased during an impulsive vacation decision—sparking jokes about bad vacation timing during NFL season.
- Rich is humorously bitter about owing Covino $2,100 from a lost bet.
"It's like the worst bet I've ever lost in my life by far. $2,100. That's gross. But hey, he's in Mexico… on me, apparently." — Rich Eisen [04:03]
2. "Blowing Up" Sports Teams: Should You Start Over?
- Brief examination of whether struggling teams like the Mets (in MLB), Panthers (NFL), or Tigers (MLB) should radically rebuild (“blow it up”) or just tweak and hope for better luck.
- Eisen questions if sports fans and franchises rush too quickly to complete overhauls after disappointing seasons.
3. The Week’s Biggest “Hmm”: Bad Bunny Chosen for NFL Halftime Show
Timestamps: ~07:05–14:44, 30:34–31:55
- The surprise: Bad Bunny is announced as the Super Bowl 60 halftime act during Sunday Night Football, stunning viewers and show hosts, as his name hadn’t surfaced in rumors.
- Social reaction: Many in the traditional NFL demo were puzzled, but teens and younger fans were excited.
- Rationale:
- NFL’s choice reflects a strategic push toward a global, younger and more diverse audience, not serving the “locked-in” middle-aged fan.
- Comparisons:
- Choices like Kendrick Lamar (prior year) and now Bad Bunny indicate a trend away from classic rock acts (e.g., Metallica).
- Panel reactions:
- Danny G notes his teenagers were “hyped.”
- Listener Eric’s social media take:
“Having Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl halftime show is the equivalent of having Morgan Wallen at a big soccer game in Mexico. It’s just not fit for the right sport.” — [11:17]
- Dan Beyer suspects Bad Bunny was "Plan C" after attempts to secure Taylor Swift or Miley Cyrus fell through, judging by the odd timing of the announcement.
- Eisen underscores:
“It’s a clear indication… you’re not the demo they’re going after… They got you. They want the next generation.” [09:16]
- Memorable analogy:
“You just may not understand anything he says. But you know what? Hey, you have a few months to do some Rosetta Stone.” — Rich Eisen [14:44]
4. NFL Ties: Are They a Problem Or a Feature?
Timestamps: 16:48–36:33, 31:55–35:37
- Sunday Night Football drama: The Packers and Cowboys end in a rare 40–40 tie, confounding Eisen’s efforts to teach his kids football basics.
- Eisen’s take:
- Defends the tie as a quirky part of NFL standings, making for interesting playoff tiebreak scenarios.
- Proposes a simple solution: Extend overtime by 5 minutes (to 15 minutes), increasing odds of a decisive result.
“Ten minutes is just designed for a tie in a weird way.” — Rich Eisen [17:15]
- Dan Beyer’s stats:
- Since the switch to 10-minute overtimes in 2017, ties happen about once a year, vs. rarity under longer, sudden-death rules in earlier decades.
“There were only 17 [ties] in 37 years… yet in the previous seven years we’ve had seven ties.” — Dan Beyer [21:07]
- Since the switch to 10-minute overtimes in 2017, ties happen about once a year, vs. rarity under longer, sudden-death rules in earlier decades.
- Alternate tie-breaking ideas:
- “Name That Tune” style kick-off contests.
- Rock-paper-scissors between head coaches (suggested humorously).
- Both Eisen and panel agree the NFL is unlikely to go for a “college football” style or soccer penalty kick tiebreak.
- Fan & panel sentiments:
- Most prefer a winner, but evidence shows ties are rare enough to add intrigue.
- Listener calls:
- Heard from fans in Oregon and North Carolina, emphasizing aversion to ties and the difficulty in justifying them to kids.
5. The Evolution of NFL Kicking
Timestamps: 36:33–39:35
- Field Goal Kickers: Now consistently hit 50+ yard field goals, which was once exceptional.
- Advancements lead to different strategy and more blocked kicks due to lower trajectories.
- Reliability of strong kickers is a major advantage ("If you get to the 40 or 45, you might have a chance").
6. MLB Wild Card and Mets “Blowing It”
Timestamps: 41:03–42:46
- Rich laments the Mets not only disappointed NY fans and owner Steve Cohen, but also cost MLB a marquee Dodgers-Mets wild card series.
- Wildcard matchups previewed as strong for ratings, except for the “bunk” Reds making it instead of the big-market Mets.
7. Rapid Fire NFL Week 4 Recap & Sidelights
Timestamps: 47:49–51:35
- Appreciation for real-time NFL drama (e.g., Rams’ big play vs Colts).
- Anecdotes from Danny G, Sam, and Dan attending/covering games.
- Steelers’ gritty 3-1 record highlighted, as well as the mounting importance of special teams.
- Noted that Vikings and Browns will be featured in international NFL games, sparking conversation on what a "Browns end zone" looks like, since they’ve never reached the Super Bowl.
Notable Quotes & Moments
| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker / Context | |-----------|-------|------------------| | 04:03 | "Yeah, that's the weakest ass way to start a show ever. Reminding me that I owe Steve Kavino $2,100." | Rich Eisen on the lost bet | | 07:05 | "There's only two undefeated teams left after four weeks of the NFL… showing the parity in the league. But we gotta talk about Bad Bunny…" | Rich Eisen, setting up the “Hmm” moment | | 09:16 | "Let's be honest, middle aged white guy who loves football, and you're locked in. They got you. They're going after the younger generation." | Rich Eisen on NFL’s halftime show logic | | 11:17 | "Having Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl halftime show is the equivalent of having Morgan Wallen at a big soccer game in Mexico." | Listener Eric (read by Danny G) | | 14:44 | "You just may not understand anything he says. But you know what? You have a few months to do some Rosetta Stone." | Rich Eisen on learning Spanish for Bad Bunny’s show | | 17:15 | "Ten minutes is just designed for a tie in a weird way." | Rich Eisen on NFL overtime rules | | 21:07 | “There were only 17 [ties] in 37 years… yet in the previous seven years we’ve had seven ties.” | Dan Beyer’s tie stats | | 33:44 | "By adding five minutes, at least it gives the team that loses that coin toss a little bit of value at the back end of it." | Dan Beyer on suggested overtime fix | | 36:30 | "No one likes to hear other people's bad beats, but… I did a teaser bet for Sunday Night Football… and [the tie] burns some people." | Rich Eisen, betting tales | | 38:58 | “A field goal kicker was considered of high value if he could kick a field goal, what, like 40-something yards? That was like a boot. ...Now...most teams...could kick a 50 yard field goal.” | Rich Eisen on the evolution of the kicking game | | 47:57 | "Me and Danny both witnessed it live in person because we were at that [Rams-Colts] game yesterday." | Sam Spotty on attending the play of the day |
Summary Table of Key Segments
| Segment Topic | Start Time | End Time | |-------------------------------|------------|------------| | Betting Woes / Covino in Mexico| 03:57 | 05:20 | | “Blow It Up?” Team Debate | 05:20 | 06:27 | | Bad Bunny Halftime Announcement| 07:05 | 14:44 | | NFL Tie Discussion | 16:48 | 36:33 | | NFL Overtime Fan Reactions | 31:55 | 35:37 | | NFL Kicking Game Evolution | 36:33 | 39:35 | | MLB Wildcard/Mets Lament | 41:03 | 42:46 | | NFL Week 4 Misc. Recap | 47:49 | 51:35 |
Tone and Style
- Conversational and playful, with lots of friendly ribbing and pop-culture references.
- Candid opinions—especially about NFL rules and league logic—delivered with good humor.
- Inclusive to listeners, with multiple call-ins and panelists’ stories included.
For Those Who Missed It
This episode delivers signature Covino & Rich commentary on why certain NFL moments and pop culture decisions made them go “hmm...” this week, with an extra helping of banter about ties, halftime show culture wars, betting heartache, and why the NFL isn’t catering to their dad or yours. Whether you’re wondering about overtime logic, how soccer audiences think about ties, or just curious who got burned by the Packers-Cowboys tie, this show covers all the angles with levity and real fandom.