Podcast Summary: The Dan Patrick Show (C&R) - NFL Week 14... Make You Go Hmm
Date: December 9, 2025
Hosts/Panel: Steve Covino, Rich Davis, Dan Byer, Bo (guest-in producer), Iowa Sam
Episode Overview
This episode of "Covino and Rich" (C&R), part of The Dan Patrick Show, dives into the wild events of NFL Week 14, blending incisive football analysis, playful banter, and notable observations from the sports world. The hosts debate the end of a football dynasty, rising teams, player retirements, controversial officiating, notable upsets, and viral college football moments. They also take calls from listeners and offer memorable takes on what made this week surprising and thought-provoking—aka, "things that make you go hmm."
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. NFL Week 14 Shocks: The Chiefs' Downfall
[06:12 – 14:38]
- Biggest Story: Kansas City Chiefs' loss and end of their playoff hopes.
- Steve: “Their loss is bigger than any other story this weekend because of what they meant to the NFL for the past decade.” [07:46]
- Rich: “All season, we’re like, alright, the Chiefs…they’ll figure it out. And here we are. They are not going to figure it out. They’re 6 and 7.” [06:56]
- Comparisons to Past Dynasties: Parallels drawn to the end of Patriots, 49ers, or Peyton Manning Colts eras.
- Playoff Math: Dan Byer enumerates all the tiebreakers that now work against the Chiefs due to losses to key teams. [10:06]
- Symbolism: Travis Kelce’s frustration (helmet throw), missing playoff magic, and possible looming retirements.
- NFL as a League of Change: Steve points to league-wide “role reversals” as former powerhouses falter and new contenders emerge (“We’re living in the upside down, Stranger Things style…” [14:04]).
2. AFC Playoff Picture
[09:26 – 14:38]
- Shifting Landscape: Texans and Colts at 8-5 are now surpassing the Chiefs. Barring a collapse, Chiefs’ playoff hopes are minimal.
- Mahomes Discussion: Rich questions, “Are you saying that Patrick Mahomes is now the quarterback of a team that will miss the playoffs for a few years in a row? Because that seems weird.” [12:39]
- Dynasty End: Consensus is the Chiefs’ window is closing—at least for now.
3. NFC South & ‘Unsexy’ Teams
[14:38 – 17:11]
- Rich spotlights the Bucs and Panthers playoff race: “Bucks lost a game that may come back to bite them... They play each other two times in the final four. And I think that is very interesting...” [14:38]
- Dan Byer calls Tampa “in a bad spot,” highlighting their fourth-down woes and late-game blunders. [15:25]
- Atlanta and Carolina, despite struggles, remain in divisional contention.
4. Seahawks & Jaguars: “Legit” Contenders?
[17:42 – 20:25]
- Seahawks’ strong second half leads to win; Rashid Shahid’s kickoff return TD and Bijan Robinson's red zone fumble change momentum. [17:42]
- Rich and Dan note that SEA/SF Week 18 could decide the #1 NFC seed, if both win out. [18:44]
- The Jags handily beat the Colts, keeping them atop the division with a 9-4 record.
5. NFL Parity & “Role Reversal”
[20:25 – 21:23]
- Steve: “There’s certain teams now that we just don’t want to give credit to that completely deserve the credit. For whatever reason, they’re not sexy... but we’re seeing a like a role reversal… It’s a new NFL, it’s a new year, and we’re seeing some of these other teams emerge as the dominant teams.” [20:17]
- Rich: “Jags, Seahawks… not sexy, but they’re doing it.”
6. Quarterback Leadership Styles
[21:12 – 22:10]
- Steve admires Joe Burrow’s honesty in press conferences: “It makes me say hmm when I hear Joe Burrow fall short against the Bills… and he looks at the record, he’s like, that’s just not good. We’re just not good. Do you like that honesty?” [21:12]
- Rich supports this openness, recognizing the difference between scripted and candid leadership.
7. Viral College Football & Fernando Mendoza
[32:41 – 36:02]
- Discussion of Indiana’s QB, Fernando Mendoza, and his religious, emotional post-game speech after the Big Ten championship.
- “How can you not love a kid with this excitement?... Now the Hoosiers are flipping champs!” [33:31]
- The hosts debate: Is Mendoza being celebrated or mocked online? Consensus is that the reaction is mostly endearing, though some viewers call him “corny.”
- Big Ten Context: The magnitude of Indiana football’s run after decades in the doldrums.
8. Wild NFL Plays and Officiating
[30:02 – 31:16]
- Steelers’ controversial win vs. Ravens—Isaiah Likely’s overturned TD catch: “That was a touchdown. I don’t care what anyone says. That Isaiah Likely catch was a tutty. It was…” [30:06]
- Dan Byer compares it to infamous “Fail Mary,” noting the subjectivity of ref calls and impact on games.
9. Other Notables
- Listener Shoutouts: Friendly mentions to audience members, like Roger, who bowled a perfect 300. [28:32]
- Packers Dominance of Bears: Recap via highlight, analysis of controversial late-game play-calling. [46:45+]
- Tom Brady as TV Analyst: Steve praises Brady’s improvement and chemistry with Kevin Burkhardt. [32:17]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the Chiefs’ Dynasty Floundering:
- “Their loss is bigger than any other story this weekend because of what they meant to the NFL for the past decade.” – Steve Covino [07:46]
- “Mahomes is going to be a QB of a .500 or sub team for years? That seems weird.” – Rich Davis [12:39]
- “We’re living in the upside down, Stranger Things style...” – Steve Covino [14:04]
-
On Joe Burrow’s Honesty:
- “...when I hear Joe Burrow fall short against the Bills... and he looks at the record, he's like, that’s just not good. We’re just not good. Do you like that honesty?” – Steve Covino [21:12]
-
On College Football’s Sweetest Viral Moment:
- “I want to give all the glory to God… Whoever thought the Hoosiers would be here, but now the Hoosiers are flipping champs!” – Fernando Mendoza, via Rich Davis [33:31]
-
On the Steelers’ Lucky Call:
- “That likely catch was a catch… Just, it’s, that’s what happens to bad teams.” – Dan Byer [30:38]
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- [03:40] Show proper begins, introducing team and theme
- [04:20] Tie/draw discussion in sports (boxing vs. NFL vs. soccer)
- [06:12 – 14:38] Extended Kansas City Chiefs playoff and dynasty debate
- [14:38] NFC South, Bucs-Panthers playoff scenario, analysis
- [17:42] Seahawks second half comeback, NFC playoff path
- [20:25] Legit team discussion: Seahawks, Jags, Packers, Texans
- [21:12] Joe Burrow’s honest postgame presser vs. typical QB talk
- [30:02] Steelers-Ravens, controversial “catch” and officiating debate
- [32:41] Viral college football moment: Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza
- [46:45] Packers-Bears play of the day, late-game analysis
Listener Engagement
- Several listeners call in with observations: Ja Morant’s off-court behavior, more hype for Indiana, and the Raiders’ late-point spread shenanigans.
- Example: “John Moran… he’s just trying to prove to everyone that he’s not someone that he was trying to be… imposter syndrome.” – Indy [48:10]
Tone & Style
The episode is high-energy, conversational, and occasionally irreverent, with the hosts riffing off each other, mixing pop culture analogies (“Stranger Things upside down”), and weaving humor into their sports analysis. There’s a readiness to challenge sports orthodoxy—about “sexy” teams, dynasty narratives, and play-calling—while keeping the discussion inclusive for casual and hardcore fans alike.
Final Thoughts
NFL Week 14 turned the world upside down: old powers (Chiefs, Ravens) faltered, new contenders (Jags, Texans, Seahawks, Packers) rose, and fans were left to ponder, “Is this the new normal?” Add in viral moments from college football and prime sports drama, and you have a week full of things that make you go hmm.
Closing call to listeners:
The hosts invite all to join the “C&R”/FSR community, keep the mailbag full, and rate the podcast five stars—until next week’s chaos.
For more, catch the full discussion on Fox Sports Radio’s YouTube channel or wherever you get podcasts.