Podcast Summary: The Dan Patrick Show — Turkey Bowl Preview & Overrated Sides
Date: November 27, 2025
Hosts: Steve Covino & Rich Davis (filling in for Dan Patrick)
Producer: Danny G
Location: Fox Sports Radio Studio
Overview
Hour 1 of the Dan Patrick Show’s Thanksgiving special is a high-energy, coast-to-coast conversation led by Covino & Rich, focusing on NFL Thanksgiving Day matchups, especially the make-or-break Detroit Lions–Green Bay Packers game. The hosts bring humor, food debates, schedule breakdowns, and pop culture chatter, with heavy audience engagement and signature banter. The show also dives into Thanksgiving traditions (notably, food timing and overrated sides), the impact of NFL schedules, and which teams might be in trouble moving forward.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Thanksgiving, NFL, and the "Turkey Bowl"
- Covino & Rich are amped about the meaningful slate of NFL games on Thanksgiving, especially compared to past years when the games were largely “background noise.”
- Covino: “Who cares about the Thanksgiving Day parade? … The biggest story today, besides turkey ass and friends and family and being in your hometown and what am I going to wear to see the fam, is football, of course.” (05:43)
- Not just fans—this year, every Thanksgiving game has playoff implications, especially in the NFC North.
2. Lions vs. Packers: Playoff Stakes & The Window Closing
- Rich argues the game is, “do or die” for the Lions:
- “Pay attention. Listen up. Hate to say this, Detroit Lions lose today—it’s over.” (05:43)
- Rich is obsessive about “schedule watching,” explaining how the rest of the Lions, Packers, and Bears’ seasons play out.
- Both agree: “The NFC north is stacked…this is their chance to do it. If not now, what? Another year? … It’s now or never.” (12:14)
- The Lions’ recent struggles on Thanksgiving are noted (losing 7 of last 8 turkey day games) (15:09).
- Covino points out the loss of Lions’ coordinators and injuries as huge hurdles: “It’s not like all of a sudden they woke up and they stink.” (14:15)
Schedule Analysis (Lions, Packers, Bears)
- Lions’ potential path: If they lose, a brutal schedule could push them out of playoff contention.
- Bears: Potential to play spoiler or finish strong.
- Packers: Still in it, but the next stretch will reveal their true identity.
3. The Art of “Schedule Crunching”
- Rich is relentless in where he thinks 11–6 is the magic NFC playoff number and that anything less, except for the likely 9–8 NFC South champ, is “not enough.” (17:34)
- “I love schedule watching. … I just really overanalyze the schedule. I’m the guy that looks ahead. Schedule watching. Yeah, I look way too far ahead on the schedule every week.” (07:09)
4. Thanksgiving Traditions & Family Dynamics
- The hosts riff on typical family chaos during the holidays, and how this year, fans might find it hard to pay attention to their relatives thanks to legit important football games.
- Traditional holiday distractions (“Tell me more about your cruise, Uncle Frank…”) versus all-eyes-on-the-TV urgency. (24:01)
- Covino: “It’s gonna be so hard to be engaged with your family that you never see when you’re really focused in on these games that matter for once.” (23:33)
5. Food Debates: Timing, Pizza Snobbery, and Overrated Sides
- Why do people eat Thanksgiving dinner at 3 pm? The hosts puzzle over this, noting it’s neither lunch nor dinner and is unique to the holiday (49:25).
- Covino: “That’s why the best thing to do is just show up.” (50:01)
- Regional pizza snobbery—East Coast vs. West Coast—sparks a passionate discussion. Rich laments that L.A. kids think Domino’s is what pizza’s supposed to taste like (35:02–39:47).
- Quote: “Domino’s is not Italian pizza. It’s junk food… I love Taco Bell, but I’m not telling you it’s Mexican food.” (35:58–36:22)
- Overrated Thanksgiving sides:
- Yams/Sweet potatoes
- Green bean casserole
- Cranberry sauce
(52:21–53:47)
- Both hosts agree these sides are better than their reputation but admit that “it’s all in the execution,” especially for green bean casserole.
6. Pop Culture Sidebar: Stranger Things & Wicked
- The long-anticipated new season of Stranger Things launches, providing another generational talking point.
- Quick touch on Wicked and Thanksgiving weekend family-friendly TV recommendations upcoming (32:10).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Rich Davis [05:43]: “Pay attention. Listen up. Hate to say this, Detroit Lions lose today—it’s over.”
- Steve Covino [13:43]: “When Rich and I agree, it’s a fact: Lions have to beat the Packers today at home…that little window of opportunity is definitely closing if it’s not now.”
- Covino on Thanksgiving family interaction [23:33]: “It’s gonna be so hard to be engaged with your family that you never see when you’re really focused in on these games that matter for once.”
- Rich [36:22]: “I love Taco Bell, but I’m not telling you it’s Mexican food.”
- Covino [49:40]: “There was a survey that said the average time that American families start eating is around 3 o’clock, and that in itself is a little interesting to me.”
- Danny G [21:10]: “Whoever loses today—out.”
Steve Covino: “Ouch. … It’s most important for the Lions right now.” - On holiday food stress [50:37]: “Like the stress involved with your mom and dad and your family…that’s why I just show up.”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 03:22 — Covino & Rich introduction, set holiday tone, preview NFL & food discussions.
- 05:43 — “Lions lose today—it’s over.” Rich’s strong take on the Thanksgiving Day stakes.
- 07:09–15:14 — Deep dive into NFC North; schedule crunching for Lions, Packers, Bears; playoff windows/do-or-die scenarios.
- 16:52–19:41 — Bears’ schedule analysis and impact on playoff race.
- 24:01–24:29 — Joking about family distractions during must-watch football games.
- 30:01 — Food segment kicks off, regional pizza differences, and pizza snobbery (East Coast vs. West Coast).
- 35:02–39:47 — Passionate pizza debate: “Domino’s isn’t real pizza.”
- 49:25–52:26 — Why do people eat Thanksgiving dinner so early? The 3 pm mealtime mystery.
- 52:21–53:47 — The most overrated Thanksgiving sides: yams/sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce.
Tone & Style
The hosts maintain an energetic, informal, and humorous vibe, blending insightful sports analysis with family banter and relatable holiday themes. They encourage fun, lively debate on sports and pop culture, keeping the audience engaged through playful digs, nostalgia, and listener interaction.
Conclusion
Hour 1 of the Thanksgiving Dan Patrick Show is a celebration of both football and tradition, emphasizing the unusually high stakes of Turkey Day NFL games. Covino & Rich blend schedule deep-dives, comedic family observations, food critiques, and pop culture asides, giving listeners both practical analysis and holiday laughs. The Lions’ playoff hopes, regional pizza wars, and the eternal cranberry sauce debate are all part of a warm, interactive sports radio feast.
For Further Listening
- Interactive Segment: For audience takes and real-time reactions, tune in at 19:41 and 41:16.
- Pop Culture Talk: Stranger Things & weekend “must-watch” ideas come up at 32:10.
- Thanksgiving Sides Debate: 52:21–53:47 for the full rundown of overrated (or not!) holiday foods.