The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1: NFL Week 17 Recap, Mistakes Were Made
Date: December 29, 2025
Hosted by: Covino & Rich (in for Dan Patrick), with Danny G (producer)
Overview
This hour of The Dan Patrick Show, hosted by Covino and Rich filling in for Dan Patrick, centers on a lively recap and analysis of NFL Week 17. The hosts dissect pivotal games, make candid observations about players, coaches, and outcomes, and keep things upbeat with fan interactions, NFL pop culture, and classic banter. The conversation is loaded with humor, authentic fan perspectives, and memorable moments—fitting for the "grundle" of the holiday season (the downtime between Christmas and New Year’s) when listeners are relaxed and ready for deep sports talk.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The “Gooch” of the Holidays and Setting the Tone
- Holiday Vibes: The hosts riff on the unique week between Christmas and New Year's as the “grundle” or “ain’t quite” of the holidays (03:12), establishing a laid-back, comfy tone to match their own casual dress.
- Covino: “I’m officially wearing pajama pants.” (03:12)
- Rich: “While we all sit around, scratching our bellies in our pajamas, football hell yeah.” (14:01)
2. 49ers vs. Bears Recap — Brock Purdy & Shanahan’s Leadership
- 49ers Triumph and Observations:
- Rich, a huge 49ers fan, celebrates their win over the Bears, marveling at their potential for the NFC 1-seed and the coaching mastery of Kyle Shanahan.
- Covino praises direct, on-field improvements and the team's ability to overcome injuries.
- Discussion of crucial plays (“game of inches”) and how one pass or series can completely change how a game is remembered.
“The Bears played a hell of a game … You’re one pass away. If Caleb Williams finds someone in the end zone, the Bears are the greatest and the Niners blew it.” – Rich (06:41)
- Brock Purdy as More Than a Game Manager:
- The hosts argue that Purdy’s poise and leadership transcend the “game manager” label, emphasizing his “touch,” confidence, and chemistry with teammates.
- Covino notes,
“He has a really great touch. He makes really great passes, really great timing, and he gels really well with the team.” (09:20)
- Rich: “Anyone that ever called Brock Purdy a game manager has to be seeing some of the things he’s doing…” (08:25)
3. The Injuries and Playoff Stakes
- Key Injuries & Return Speculation:
- Discussion about George Kittle and Trent Williams being “hobbly.”
- Rich brings up rumors that LB Fred Warner might return if the Niners make the NFC Championship:
“There’s the sentiment that he’s saying, I’ll be back if the 49ers make the NFC Championship game … I don’t know how real that is, but that sounds insane.” (12:13)
- The hosts debate whether the short week is a “raw deal” for both the 49ers & Seahawks before their critical Saturday night game (14:01).
4. Broad NFL Observations: Week 17
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NFC Playoff Picture:
- Rich suggests the Rams could be the best team in the NFC even as a wild card.
- The importance of “who’s hot in January” is a recurring theme.
- The razor-thin margins deciding playoff berths and seedings are highlighted.
-
Steelers, Ravens & DK Metcalf Suspension:
- Covino and Rich break down the huge impact of DK Metcalf’s suspension on the Steelers’ offense and playoff hopes.
- Fan altercations and their fallout: DK’s response to a taunting Lions fan cost the team dearly.
- Danny G: “Metcalf makes that Steelers offense go.” (22:04)
- Covino: “That mistake played huge dividends for them this weekend.” (19:49)
-
Coaching Aggression (Bills Game):
- The group debates the Bills’ decision to go for two rather than tie, with mixed feelings on McDermott’s aggression.
- Danny G shares McDermott’s quote:
“We felt like we had a great call in place, a great opportunity to go win it. I want to be aggressive. I’m not going to sit back again.” (51:38)
- Rich: “As a coach, it’s all results based, right?” (52:01)
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Playoff Schedule, Ratings, and TV Callers:
- Fans call in to speculate about TV scheduling, suggesting rest-day strategies and network preferences influence who plays when (31:40).
- Rich: “It really is a matter of who’s going to be hot in the month of January.” (11:07)
5. NFL Announcers: Tom Brady’s On-Air Evolution
- The crew debates Tom Brady’s progress as a TV analyst:
- Rich: “I think Tom Brady’s doing everything we expected him to do. Get better at it. Noticeably better.” (34:54)
- Fashion banter: Cam Newton’s hats and Brady’s turtleneck become weird measuring sticks for “superstar style.”
“It’s noticeable because it’s Tom Brady. But not everybody could pull it off because they’re not Tom Brady.” – Covino (35:05)
6. The QB-Coach Match Made in Heaven (Drake May/Patriots)
- The hosts emphasize QB-coach combos as the secret sauce for NFL success, pointing to Drake May and Ben Johnson in Carolina and referencing other duos (Shanahan/Elway, McVeigh/Stafford, etc.).
“If you get a quarterback-coach combo that gels together … you’ll compete. At minimum, you’ll compete with that combo.” – Rich (37:28)
7. Listener Involvement & Miscellaneous
- Calls and comments from fans on TV schedules, playoff formats, and announcers (e.g., giving Greg Olson props over Brady, 32:24).
- Pop culture moments: John Elway doc on Netflix, Nicholas Cage as John Madden movie (42:09), and speculation about coaching firings.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
- On Holiday Sports Mood:
“Are we sure it’s Monday? … It is the grassy knoll of the holidays. The space between that Dave Matthews sings about.” – Covino (02:59)
- On Brock Purdy’s Confidence:
“Playing with a little bit of confidence, a little cockiness, and his dance moves are improving.” – Covino (05:32)
- On Kyle Shanahan’s Coaching:
“Coach of the year, no doubt. No diggity.” – Covino (04:06)
- On the NFL’s Margin for Error:
“It really is like those teams last night battled where I wouldn’t be shocked either one. … You were a play away, you ran out of time.” – Rich (06:57)
- On DK Metcalf’s Absence:
“He put his team in such a bad situation with that selfish move of not being able to control himself.” – Covino (17:51)
- On Playoff Hopes:
“The window’s open right now. So the NFC is wide open.” – Rich (10:03)
- On Tom Brady as a Broadcaster:
“Very easy to say he sucks, but I don’t think he’s that bad. … I still think Greg Olson might be my favorite guy.” – Rich (34:39)
- On QB-Coach Duos:
“You get a coach and a quarterback that are like a little match made in heaven, that is all you really need.” – Rich (37:28)
- On Coaching Aggression (Bills):
“I like that attitude. Like Rich said, good pass, we’d be singing a different tune.” – Covino (51:55)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 03:12: Defining “the grundle of the holidays” — setting the show’s tone
- 05:18: First observations: 49ers offense, Brock Purdy’s poise after a pick-six
- 06:41: The razor-thin line between heroics and “blowing it” in close NFL games
- 08:25: “Things that made you go hmm” — Brock Purdy’s development
- 12:13: Fred Warner injury speculation and playoff impact
- 14:01: Critiquing the NFL schedule for 49ers/Seahawks
- 19:49: DK Metcalf’s suspension and its ripple effects on Steelers
- 31:40: Fan calls on TV scheduling—potential strategic rest reasoning
- 34:39: Evaluating Tom Brady’s TV presence and fashion choices
- 37:28: The secret: a quarterback and coach in sync across the league
- 51:38: Bills coaching—aggression vs. results, on the failed two-point conversion
Final Thoughts
This hour is a vibrant, personality-driven recap of NFL Week 17:
- Intense focus on the 49ers and pivotal playoff scenarios,
- Dissection of key mistakes and their implications,
- Tangents into NFL pop culture, commentator critiques, and the ongoing evolution of both teams and on-air personalities,
- Laughter, relatable fan angst, and a commitment to involving audience feedback.
Whether you missed the episode or just want a refresher, this hour delivers all the urgency, second-guessing, and outright joy of being a football fan—especially in the weird “in-between” stretch of the holiday season.