The Dan Patrick Show: C&R - 'Make You Go Hmm...Championship Round'

Date: January 27, 2026
Hosts: Covino, Rich Eisen, Dan Byer, Danny G
Episode Theme: Championship Weekend Reactions & Things That Made You Go “Hmm”

Episode Overview

This Monday episode drops in during the aftermath of the NFL's Championship weekend, with hosts Covino, Rich Eisen, Dan Byer, and Danny G dissecting the games, the big moments, and all the lingering “what-if” scenarios in sports and pop culture. The energy is a blend of jovial sports banter, passionate fandom, and humorous personal insights as they roll through the most memorable moments, notable calls, and emerging storylines from the games that set the stage for Super Bowl 2026.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Epic Weather: The Snow Game’s Impact on the AFC Championship

• Visuals & Vibes: The hosts open by talking about the classic snow game that played a pivotal role in the AFC Championship, noting how weather shifted dramatically during the game and referencing viral still images of the changing field conditions.

  • Rich Eisen [04:54]: “It’s chilly, but sunny — the sunny, chilly day. And then by the fourth quarter, it was like a classic snow game...”
  • Danny G [05:33]: “In a game like that, it almost comes down to who makes the least amount of mistakes.”

• Strategy and Conservatism: They focus on Mike Vrabel’s conservative play-calling, emphasizing running the clock and not risking mistakes in the brutally wintry conditions.

  • "Every second that ticked by, Mike Vrabel looked like it was a smarter decision each step of the way.” — Rich Eisen [05:38]

• Drake May’s Performance:

  • Dan Byer [05:51]: “Drake May, what? 86 yards passing? Did it with his legs. That’s how he hurt them.”

• Game Tempo and Boredom:

  • Covino [07:26]: "Visually it looked cool... but it was boring as hell. That game is boring."

2. The Science & Tech of Snowy Football

• Announcer Graphics in the Snow: Discussion of the evolving broadcast technology like the first-down line and yard markers which were tricky to display during the snowstorm.
  • Rich Eisen [07:38]: “At one point, Tony Romo… was guessing. He’s like, I think it’s at the 33, Jim.”

3. Debate: Should Weather Decide a Championship?

• Old-School vs. New-School Football:
  • Rich Eisen [10:54]: “This is football. You play through the conditions.”
  • Dan Byer [10:03]: “I have been in that case where I want to see the best at their best... What happened yesterday is more normal [in snow]: big plays evaporate and teams just can’t move the ball.”

4. Pivotal ‘Hmm’ Moments: Turning Points & NFL Conspiracies

• Key Game Moments: Muff punts, crucial penalties, and missing big opportunities (Rams-Seahawks game especially).

  • Rich Eisen [18:01]: “That muffed punt… that momentum shift happened and the Rams chased that for a quarter and a half and just couldn’t get the job done.”

• NFL Script Theory: The hosts joke about a viral image predicting the Super Bowl matchup.

  • Rich Eisen [13:48]: "The two players in this image closest to the stadium are Sam Darnold and Drake May. Like, what’s the chances?”

5. Fan Psychology: Fandom, Stress, and Grudges

• Defense vs. Offense Stress:

  • Rich Eisen [20:36]: “What is more stressful as a fan? When your team is on defense and you have to hold the line, or when your team's on offense needing a score?”
  • Dan Byer [21:11]: “Ten times as agonizing… That kind of helpless kind of feeling. When you have the lead and need to hold it, losing it is so much worse.”
  • Covino [22:14]: “If you’re in control, you have less pressure as a player. As a fan, offense feels way more comfortable than holding on defense.”

• Lingering Rivalries & Grudges:

  • Rich Eisen [15:50]: “Fans really hold little baby grudges against the team that did you wrong. As a Niners fan… the Chiefs got me twice.”

6. Home Field Advantage – Both Asset & Liability

• Home Soil Hurt Denver:
  • Covino [24:01]: “The home-field advantage for Denver ended up working against them in the snow… it totally worked against them and didn’t help the outcome of that game.”
  • Danny G [24:10]: “Do you think this is why the rendering of their upcoming new stadium has a roof on top?”
  • Covino [24:25]: “Coming up, we’re going to see less and less elements for NFL football.”

7. The Not-So-Great Pro Bowl Debate

• Pro Bowl Has Lost Its Shine:
  • Rich Eisen [41:49]: “You can’t say the best of the best. That’s just… you’ve lost the point of this whole thing… Now, it’s just a weekend of festivities.”
  • Covino [42:23]: “That’s insane! Shador Sanders didn’t prove to be a Pro Bowler this year or earn that in any way…”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Field Technology in the Snow:
  “Tony Romo, remember he was guessing. He’s like, I think it’s at the 33, Jim.” — Rich Eisen [08:49]

• On the AFC Title Game:
  “It comes down to who makes the least amount of mistakes.” — Danny G [05:33]
  “If there was a pass, it was like a dump off to the line of scrimmage, gain of like a half a yard.” — Rich Eisen [06:58]

• On Defensive Anxiety:
  “It’s that kind of helpless sort of feeling… When you have the lead, when you are there, to have that taken away from you… is ten times worse.” — Dan Byer [23:12]

• On Super Bowl Rivalries:
  “It’s funny because I saw some clips…Seattle fans…they do feel that it is revenge [against the Patriots].” — Dan Byer [15:00]

• On the Pro Bowl:
  “The NFL needs to call this a weekend fan celebration… because you can’t say the best, the best of the best.” — Rich Eisen [46:50]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:31] Weather change & strategy in AFC game.
• [05:33] Defensive strategy/conservatism in tough weather.
• [07:38] TV tech and snow — visibility and sideline confusion.
• [09:34] “Things That Made You Go Hmm…” segment starts.
• [10:03] Should championships be weather-controlled?
• [15:50] Grudges and fan psychology after big losses.
• [18:01] Impact of the muffed punt in Rams-Seahawks.
• [20:36] Most stressful fan scenarios (defense vs offense).
• [24:01] Home field advantage turning into a liability for Denver.
• [32:01] 3rd down efficiency & key stats for Seahawks-Rams.
• [34:27] Social media comparisons: Drake May vs. Tom Brady.
• [35:50] Sam Darnold’s rise as Seahawks QB.
• [41:49] Pro Bowl format and player selection issues.

Additional Fun & Sidebars

• Pop culture crossovers:
  Tom Brady’s crowd noise comparison — “It’s just like we’re at a Pearl Jam concert.” — Covino [24:53]
• Fights of the weekend:
  • Covino highlights UFC 324 and the arrival of Zufa Boxing on Paramount+
  • “What a battle… Justin Gaethje, interim lightweight champion, but an all-out battle against Paddy Pimblett.” — Covino [39:10]

Closing Thoughts

This episode captures the rich complexity of championship football weekends: the drama of the elements, the agony and ecstasy of fandom, shifting narratives (and conspiracy memes) about NFL scripting, the shifting gravity of home-field advantage, and the evolutionary dead-end that may be the Pro Bowl. With savvy humor and just enough sports-nerd detail, this is prime “hang out and rehash” radio for the Monday after.

For listeners who missed out:
You’ll come away with a clear sense of both how the games shaped up (and why), the core debates for the fan base, and a taste of where national sports conversation is landing as we head to Super Bowl week.