The Dan Patrick Show — C&R: Divisional Round Picks & Brainwave

Date: January 17, 2026
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich)
Host/Panel: Steve Covino, Rich Davis, Danny G, Isaac Lohenkron, Spot, Iowa Sam

Episode Overview

This lively Friday episode is all about gearing up for the NFL Divisional Round weekend. Covino, Rich, and the crew break down their picks against the spread, discuss NFL narratives, celebrate prize-winning listeners, and throw in plenty of sports talk banter. The second half of the episode features their signature "Brainwave" game, audience interaction, and recommendations for what to watch over the weekend.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Divisional Round Picks & Discussion

[07:04–21:50]

Contest Recap & Listener Engagement

• The crew celebrates listeners who went 6 for 6 on parlay picks last week, awarding C&R prize packs, and invites fans to join this week's 4-for-4 contest for a chance to win a Nerf football.
  • "If you go four for four, we will send you out a prize." — Danny G (06:19)

Matchup Breakdowns & Staff Picks

Game 1: Bills @ Broncos

• Buffalo Bills: Panel sees them as a team on a mission, largely resting on Josh Allen's shoulders.
• Denver Broncos: Recent surge, but concerns about facing Allen.
• Unanimous Picks: Most of the panel sides with Buffalo, citing Allen's form and Denver's vulnerabilities; only Isaac picks Denver, citing their league-leading 68 sacks.
  • Quote: "Josh Allen's a man on a mission... I think the Broncos lose this game. I think Josh Allen 34–17." — Rich Davis (09:04)
  • Isaac counters: "All that stuff cannot be overcome by 68 sacks... it's going to be Denver." (11:14)

Game 2: 49ers @ Seahawks

• Injury concerns for the 49ers (Kittle, Warner), inconsistent Sam Darnold.
• Most expect a close game, with several picking the Niners to cover +7 but unsure about the outright win.
  • "Sam Darnold, who knows what. He can either have the greatest game or the weakest game." — Steve Covino (13:42)
  • "I'm picking the Seahawks. I'm sorry, Rich. With my head.” — Iowa Sam (14:17)

Game 3: Texans @ Patriots

• Patriots favored by three at home.
• Texans’ defense highly touted by several panelists, but Patriots are seen as solid favorites at home.
• Split panel: Rich and Isaac go Texans, others (Covino, Danny G, Spot) go Patriots.
  • "I cannot possibly express how good the Texans defense is. It's even better than the Broncos." — Isaac (16:49)

Game 4: Rams @ Bears

• Bears are +4.5 underdogs but seen as a potential upset pick.
• Matthew Stafford’s poor cold-weather record brought up (1–9).
• Mixed picks; split between Bears and Rams.
  • "I'm loving the Bears here. I'm going Bears. I think not only they cover, I think they win the game." — Rich Davis (17:55)

Parlay Betting Angle

• Rich lays out a wild parlay: All four underdog moneyline bets would pay $4,700 on a $100 wager.
  • "Bills, Niners, Texans, Bears. $100 bet pays $4,700." — Rich Davis (20:55)

2. Brainwave: The “Newlywed”-Style Game

[28:53–37:23]

How It Works

• Listeners call in and try to match the C&R crew’s multiple-choice answers on subjective sports and entertainment questions.
• Panelists write their answers privately; caller wins prizes by matching the consensus at least twice.

Notable Moments

• Sports Q: “Most likely to be traded: Lamar Jackson, Max Crosby, or A.J. Brown?”
  All but Isaac agree on A.J. Brown.

• Entertainment Q: “Worst actor: Steven Seagal, Megan Fox, Vin Diesel?”
  All but Rich pick Seagal. Rich roast: “Vin Diesel, worst actor. Anyone ever watch a movie saying, look at that guy.” (34:33)

• Lifestyle Q: “Which of these car brands most represents luxury: BMW, Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz?”
  Mixed debate—LA panelists see Benz as common, Range Rover is for “luxury villains.”

Panel Banter

• Lots of playful ribbing and pop culture references:
  "If you grew up on the east coast, he'd probably be the coolest guy. But if he wasn't your pal, you'd look at him, be like, who is this guy?" — Rich Davis on Nick Sirianni (32:23)

3. Bonus Sports Talk & Weekend Preview

[41:45–51:28]

Express Pros Pro of the Week

• Nominee: Kyle Tucker, MLB, for landing a $60M/year contract with the Dodgers.
  • "You're able to squeeze 60 million out of the Dodgers and play for a winner. Good for you. You're the pro." — Steve Covino (47:30)

Weekend Hobnobbin’ (What to Watch)

• Rich:
  • “Kill Tony” on Netflix
  • “His & Hers” — six-part docuseries starring Jon Bernthal
  • NFL Divisional Round (all games)
• Covino:
  • “The Rip” (Netflix, Ben Affleck & Matt Damon)
  • “King of Collectibles” Season 3
  • Their own Over Promised bonus pod (available on YouTube)

Unique Stats & Fun Facts

• Rams coach Sean McVay has faced 15 different teams in 15 postseason games — no repeats.

  • "How is that possible?" — Rich (50:20)

• Cold-weather Stafford stat:

  • "Matthew Stafford’s record when the temperature is 40 degrees or lower. One in nine." — Danny G (18:44)

Ad-Lib Banter

• Several jokes about LA sports, peculiar pizza in Connecticut, and “luxury” cars associated with movie villains.
  • "You know when you get the bad stuff. I'm with him." — Rich Davis on Gino Auriemma’s pizza rant (41:35)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "Josh Allen's a man on a mission... I think the Broncos lose this game. I think Josh Allen 34–17." — Rich Davis [09:04]
• "I cannot possibly express how good the Texans defense is. It's even better than the Broncos." — Isaac Lohenkron [16:49]
• "Bills, Niners, Texans, Bears. $100 bet pays $4,700." — Rich Davis [20:55]
• "Not only is he a horrible actor, but a horrible runner. Steven Seagal." — Rich Davis [33:53]
• "You're able to squeeze 60 million out of the Dodgers and play for a winner. Good for you. You're the pro." — Steve Covino [47:30]
• "Rams coach Sean McVay has played 15 postseason games, all against different teams. How is that possible?" — Rich Davis [50:20]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Divisional Round Picks Start: [07:04]
• Bills/Broncos Analysis: [07:25–11:14]
• 49ers/Seahawks Analysis: [12:06–14:35]
• Texans/Patriots Analysis: [14:50–16:49]
• Rams/Bears Analysis: [17:13–19:39]
• Parlay/Betting Strategies: [20:55]
• Brainwave Game Begins: [28:53]
• Entertainment/Lifestyle Debate: [32:23–37:23]
• Weekend Viewing Recommendations: [48:03–51:28]

Quick Takeaways

• The crew brings humor, strong sports opinions, and fan involvement with their divisional round predictions and contests.
• Emphasis is on NFL discussion, but the episode is peppered with personal anecdotes, pop culture, and spontaneous statistical deep-dives.
• The “Brainwave” segment illustrates the show’s fun-loving camaraderie and interactivity.
• Plenty of viewing recs: Netflix series, NFL games, and their own bonus podcast.

For listeners: Even if you missed the show, you’ll come away knowing the panel’s NFL picks—with rationale, group debates, and actionable betting/contest info. The jokes, camaraderie, and inside sports knowledge make this episode an entertaining Friday listen for any sports fan.