The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1 Summary

Date: January 19, 2026
Main Topics: College Football Playoff (CFP) Title Game Preview, NFL Divisional Round Reactions, Sean McDermott Fired

Episode Overview

This episode is packed with Dan Patrick and the Danettes reacting to the NFL Divisional Playoffs, previewing the College Football Playoff National Championship (Miami vs. Indiana), and breaking the news about the Buffalo Bills firing head coach Sean McDermott. The crew blends analysis, light-hearted banter, notable stats, and spirited listener calls to dissect the weekend's biggest sports stories.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. NFL Divisional Playoff Fallout

• Game Results Round-Up:
  • Broncos over Bills in overtime
  • Seahawks rout the 49ers
  • Patriots beat Texans
  • Rams defeat Bears in overtime
  • Bo Nix (Broncos) is out; Jared Stidham steps in at QB for Denver (03:50)
• Future Outlook for Losing Teams (05:30)
  • 49ers: Dan doubts their title window remains open:

    "The Niners – your window of opportunity, in my opinion, is closed."

  • Bills: Recurring playoff heartbreak, this time due to Josh Allen’s turnovers. Dan calls Allen's performance “careless” and critiques Buffalo's inability to “get over the hump.”
  • Texans: C.J. Stroud’s poor play is a major concern; development is stagnating.
  • Bears: Optimism for the future, with Dan and the crew praising Caleb Williams and the team’s trajectory.

2. Josh Allen’s Playoff Collapse (08:10)

• Allen had four turnovers (two picks, two fumbles) after being mistake-free in his prior six playoff games.
• Emotional reaction:

  “It’s extremely difficult. I feel like I let my teammates down tonight...that’s gonna stick with me for a long time.” – Josh Allen (09:20)

• Dan stresses the small mistakes were “the difference,” and questions coach Sean McDermott’s job security.

3. C.J. Stroud & the Texans’ Problems

• Discussed as possibly costing himself millions with recent poor play (12:00).
• Troy Aikman’s assessment (quoted by Dan):

  “C.J. Stroud has been chasing his rookie success…not been the same. We've not seen the development from him. There's a reason for that and it has to be addressed.” (14:00)

• The crew wonders if Davis Mills should have been subbed in.

4. Quarterback Concerns and Surprises

• Stidham (Broncos) is a wild card:

  “He’s been in the league for seven years now…just the kind of benign numbers where you can’t make a decision of what to think of him.” – Paulie (31:00)

  • Dan jokes about Stidham’s only play:

    “He took a knee earlier this season, so we know he can…” (31:45)

5. Best & Worst of the Weekend

• Listeners and show members share their “best and worst” from the NFL weekend (48:00):
  • Caller Chris (Syracuse): Criticizes Bears’ 4th-down decisions, sympathizes with Buffalo (“this is the year…no Burrow, no Lamar, no Mahomes, but the Bills still find a way to get nixed”).
  • Caller Jeremy (Wisconsin): Enjoys Bears’ loss, projects great future Bears-Packers rivalry with Caleb Williams and Jordan Love.

6. Sean McDermott Fired: Buffalo Bills Move On (41:30)

• Dan breaks the news, reflects on McDermott’s tenure:

  “Nine years…and you go, is that the guy? There are certain coaches we give far more credit to...but can they get you over the top?”

• Considers the recent trend of big-name coaches (John Harbaugh, Kevin Stefanski) switching teams and the domino effect among franchises.

7. College Football Playoff Title Game Preview

• Matchup: Miami (playing at home) vs. Indiana (favored by 8.5 points) (37:50).
  • Dan: “There is no bigger Cinderella story than Indiana football because now they’re the favorite. Miami, historically, is a favorite, now the underdog.”
  • Title game is “almost an afterthought” because of NFL dominance on the calendar.
• Expansion News: The CFP management committee meets Friday; Big Ten wants expansion from 12 to 16, then 24 teams by 2029 (39:20). If no decision, the playoff stays at 12.

8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The Niners – your window of opportunity, in my opinion, is closed.” – Dan Patrick (05:50)
• “Josh Allen had a terrible game at a terrible time.” – Dan Patrick (08:30)
• “If you have average quarterback play, we have the Texans playing against the Broncos with a real possibility of going to the Super Bowl.” – Dan Patrick (14:15)
• “He took one knee earlier this season, so we know he can…to just let the clock run.” – Paulie (31:45)
• On Miami-Indiana:

  “I feel bad that it’s kind of like, ‘Oh, by the way, there’s a national title game coming up.’” – Dan Patrick (38:00)

9. Listener Engagement & Audience Calls

• Enthusiastic participation with best/worst calls; reflections on coaching decisions, player performances, and fan heartbreak/additional optimism.

10. Anecdotes & Banter

• Dan jokes about Niners’ fast start demise and the letdown for fans (“My wife just looks at my son like, ‘Don’t say anything to Daddy.’”) (21:20)
• Light ribbing among Danettes about backup QBs and playoff hopes.

Segment Timestamps

• Opening NFL Playoff Overview: [03:50 – 08:00]
• Josh Allen, QB/Couch Critique: [08:00 – 12:00]
• C.J. Stroud & Texans Analysis, Aikman Quote: [12:00 – 14:45]
• Niners, Seahawks, Bears/Rams: [18:00 – 25:30]
• Jared Stidham Discourse, Backup QB Jokes: [29:00 – 33:00]
• CFP Title Game Preview & Expansion Update: [37:50 – 41:00]
• Sean McDermott Fired, NFL Coaching Carousel: [41:30 – 44:45]
• Listener Calls, Best & Worst: [48:00 – 59:30]

Conclusion & Takeaways

Hour 1 delivers sharp reactions to a wild NFL playoff weekend, tackles the big coaching move (McDermott fired), and sets up the CFP title game between Miami and Indiana. Dan Patrick blends hard-nosed critique—especially on Josh Allen and C.J. Stroud—with humorous riffs about backup quarterbacks and playoff letdowns. The sense of “what’s next?” dominates, from the Bills' coaching search to the future of the new Cinderella, Indiana football.

This summary captures the full flavor, insights, and highlights from Hour 1, designed for those who missed the episode but want all the essential takes and memorable moments.