The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich Edition) – "Two Sides of Coin, Wemby, Home Alone"

Date: December 16, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich filling in)
Hosts: Steve Covino, Rich Davis, Dan Byer, Danny G
Guest: James from Virginia (game contestant)

Episode Overview

This lively episode features Covino & Rich—subbing for Dan Patrick—delivering a dose of humor and insight on pop culture, NFL and NBA news, and the quirks of holiday classics. The tone is playful and quick-witted, filled with sports banter, personal anecdotes, and even a spirited sports trivia game. Notable topics include the Jacksonville Jaguars’ quiet dominance, Victor Wembanyama’s NBA impact, Home Alone plot holes, and unconventional family holiday pranks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Observations: Jaguars and AFC South Surprises

• Jaguars on a Roll:
  • The hosts break down the Jacksonville Jaguars’ recent win streak and improved defense. They note the common tendency to overlook the team, but now see them as a potential playoff surprise.
    • “Are we understating that the Jaguars figured it out?...They’re putting up a lot of points and I just think we can't sleep on them because they’ll likely win the division unless Houston catches up.” – Rich Davis (04:45)
• Trevor Lawrence’s Redemption:
  • Discussion of quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s performance and how smaller market pressure may have given him more leeway compared to QBs elsewhere.
    • “If that was anywhere else, he would have been counted out probably already.” – Steve Covino (07:04)
• Jaguars vs. Broncos Preview:
  • Upcoming game at Mile High seen as a true test for the Jaguars, with the division race heating up thanks to the Texans’ strong performance.

2. Viral & Notable Moments in Pop Culture

• Dick Van Dyke Turns 100:
  • Brief celebration and viral content about Van Dyke’s energy and positivity at age 100.
    • “Dick Van Dyke's got moves…that dude's so positive…100 years old. That's incredible.” – Steve Covino (08:01)
• Viral Coin Toss with Donald Trump:
  • Amused dissection of Trump’s awkward Army-Navy game coin toss.
    • “The coin was foreign to him. Like he had never even seen anyone…Did it not even flip? It just went straight up and straight down.” – Game Host/Moderator & Rich Davis (08:11–08:33)

3. Sports and Tragedies: Rob Reiner and Family

• Reflection on the shocking news of Rob Reiner and his wife's murder, reportedly by their son, Nick. The hosts contemplate celebrity connections at a Christmas party preceding the event.

4. NBA Catchup: The Wemby Effect

• OKC vs. Spurs:
  • Acknowledging the Spurs’ victory over OKC and Wembanyama’s strong showing:
    • Stat line: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists.
    • “If there's going to be a team that competes, a young emerging team like the Spurs might be it.” – Rich Davis (10:29)
• NBA Cup Preview:
  • The Spurs-NY Knicks NBA Cup matchup and the emerging appeal of these young squads.

5. Diversity in Quarterbacking: Fernando Mendoza’s Rise

• Mendoza’s Popularity & Representation:
  • Covino highlights the likability and cultural significance of QB Fernando Mendoza, a Heisman winner and proud Cuban-American:
    • “You can see how all his teammates rally around him...it's really cool to see what he is doing for Hispanic quarterbacks...” – Steve Covino (11:04)
• Communication Style & Identity:
  • Debate over his use of “Mami” (mom) as an adult—tying into cultural norms.
• Draft Stock & Comparisons:
  • Dan Byer notes Mendoza has odds to be the number one draft pick, but warns about the volatility of pre-draft rankings.

6. Home Alone and Holiday Film Deep Dives

• Listener Call-in – Home Alone Theories:
  • Andy from Rhode Island unpacks a plot point: how Kevin’s ticket gets trashed, sparking host nostalgia over overlooked film details.
• Hot Takes on Home Alone Characters:
  • Classic sibling dynamics and the unfair portrayal of Buzz discussed.
    • “Buzz wasn't the biggest jerk of all time?...he humiliates Kevin in front of the whole school...and the whole thing is blamed on Kevin.” – Rich Davis (17:30)
• McAllister Family’s Wealth:
  • Light-hearted speculation that the McAllisters must have Mob connections, given their opulent home and expensive family trips.

7. Game Segment: "Last One Standing" (29:11–39:17)

Sports Trivia Battles

• NFL Winning Percentage (Past Five Years):
  • Chiefs, Bills, Eagles, Ravens, Cowboys, 49ers, etc.
• NBA Total Attendance (So Far This Season):
  • Question debated due to varying home games—Cavs and Mavs revealed as top teams.
• NFL Cap Space for 2026:
  • Titans, Jets, Raiders, Bengals, Commanders, Patriots among teams with the most room.
• Notable contestant: James from Virginia wins twice, scoring a C&R Turbo Nerf football.

8. NFL Week 16 Outlook & Analyst Banter

• Divisional Races:
  • AFC and NFC divisions up for grabs; hosts debate which teams (Bucs or Panthers, Steelers or Ravens) will clutch playoff spots.
    • “Bucs still have a little more experience…so I’m going Bucs and Ravens.” – Rich Davis (50:06)
    • “I’m going Bucks, Steelers.” – Steve Covino (50:06)
• Coach/Player Accountability:
  • Lively debate over whether fans prefer honest or upbeat post-game interviews from athletes/leaders.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jacksonville’s Defense:
  “When you look at what they've done in this five game win streak, 6, 24, 3, 19 and 20, that's how much their defense has given up. So like this is...an uptick in the Jaguars defense in addition to Trevor Lawrence playing better.”
  – Dan Byer (06:20)

• On Viral Coin Toss:
  "It looked like the coin was foreign to him. Like he had never, ever even seen anybody…Did it not even flip?”
  – Game Host/Moderator (08:11–08:33)

• On Fernando Mendoza’s Impact:
  “He wants to make this a dream, a possible reality for any Hispanic kid out there. And I think that’s really cool.”
  – Steve Covino (11:46)

• On Home Alone’s McAllisters:
  “What type of work did the McAllisters do? Do you see the house they have? And they were able to treat all those family members to a France trip...that’s all I’m saying.”
  – Rich Davis (18:49)

Important Timestamps

• Jacksonville Jaguars’ Win Streak, Playoff Outlook: 04:45–07:37
• Dick Van Dyke’s 100th Birthday, Trump’s Coin Toss: 07:39–08:36
• Rob Reiner Tragedy Discussion: 08:45–09:39
• NBA Standings, Wemby’s Stats, & NBA Cup Preview: 10:03–10:48
• Fernando Mendoza’s Rise & Representation: 10:51–13:44
• Holiday Movie Analysis – Home Alone & Santa Clause: 15:41–19:00
• NFL Sports Trivia ("Last One Standing" Game): 29:11–39:17
• NFL Week 16 Preview, Division Race Analysis: 48:10–50:28

Tone, Engagement & Listener Value

• The episode is fast-paced and packed with humor, tangents, and authentic sports fandom. Covino and Rich banter effortlessly, making deep-cut sports stats, viral moments, and pop culture accessible for both die-hard and casual fans.
• The “Last One Standing” trivia game involves both in-studio and call-in contestants, giving listeners a chance to test their knowledge interactively.
• Regular callbacks to relatable cultural moments (e.g., Home Alone, viral videos, and Spanish family terms) keep the conversation light, inclusive, and highly engaging.

This episode offers a rollicking tour through the sports world, holiday nostalgia, and much more for anyone wanting both laughs and real sports talk—all delivered with unmistakable Covino & Rich flair.