The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3: Best and Worst of the Weekend
Date: November 17, 2025
Podcast Host: Dan Patrick
Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Episode Overview
In this lively third hour from The Dan Patrick Show, Dan and the Danettes deliver their signature “Best and Worst of the Weekend,” field listener calls, and riff on everything from chaotic NFL fandoms to the all-time NBA top 10 debate. Dan’s conversational style blends humor, sports insight, and nostalgia, as callers and the crew weigh in on college football, quarterback prospects, Tom Cruise’s Oscars, and more.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Show Opening: Dog Shenanigans & NBA on NBC
- Dan Patrick kicks off with a humorous story about his dog Winnie barking at her own image on camera and being the “protector” of the studio crew.
“She’s going to protect those guys. What a good dog barking at yourself. It’s yourself on camera.” (03:03)
- NBA on NBC & Peacock promoted for prime time slots; Reggie Miller teased as tomorrow’s guest.
2. Poll Questions & College Football: The “Jeremiahs” and Star Building
- Poll question: Who’s the better Jeremiah in college football: Jeremiah Love (Notre Dame) or Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State)?
“It might be different if you said, how do NFL scouts view the Jeremiahs, because they might look at Ohio State’s Jeremiah over Notre Dame’s Jeremiah...” – Dan (05:09)
- Discussion on NCAA rules fostering college football stars vs. college basketball’s one-and-done culture.
- Dylan recaps earlier poll results:
- 61% watch tonight’s game “just love football” (not fans of Raiders/Cowboys).
- “Worst loss” of the weekend: Chargers; “Worst win”: Ravens.
3. Quarterback Development & NFL Draft Prospects
- Discussion of backup quarterbacks not getting first-team reps, referencing analyst Tim Hasselbeck’s prior comments.
- Dan is skeptical of college QBs’ NFL translation:
“You’re not going to have those kind of openings [in the NFL]... It means something for your college career, but if you project that to the NFL, you’re not going to have those openings.” (08:25)
- Mock drafts gone wrong: many preseason “top QBs” have fallen off the radar or been injured; “total rebuild of the quarterback draft class.”
4. NFL & Fan Anguish: Best and Worst of the Weekend (Caller Segment)
- Jason in Atlanta:
- Best: UGA football (Kirby Smart praised).
- Worst: Falcons’ innovative losing – “It’s not just that we lose, it’s how we lose... First team in NFL history to lose back-to-back overtime games in back-to-back weeks.”
- Dan says fandom is like “self-imposed purgatory”:
“Let’s gather the kids around the TV set and see how we’re going to lose this week.” (12:11)
- Paulie’s Analogy:
- “Imagine there was a restaurant near you, and every time you went it was just a terrible meal… But you’re 17 years into going there.”
5. NBA Top 10 Debate: Does Steph Curry Make the Cut?
- Brandon in Michigan:
- Argues Steph Curry should be top 10 all-time.
- Would remove Bird and Magic; Dan challenges who else moves out, noting impact of Magic/Bird on NBA’s growth.
- Dan on Curry:
“He’s had as big of an impact as anybody in playing the game global... Titles, MVPs, he changed the game.” (14:17)
- Steph’s viral shot over Wemby described as “AI” and “not a natural basketball shot.”
6. Iowa Football & NFL Wide Receivers (Caller Segment)
- Ann in Iowa: passionate about “Sammy Lafleur”’s absence impacting Jared Goff; Iowa tight ends get a shoutout.
- Dan & Danettes enumerate legendary Iowa tight ends -- “If you were a top-notch tight end, where are you going? Iowa?”
7. Best and Worst of the Weekend – Danettes’ Picks [(24:32)]
- Dylan:
- Best: Diego Pavia at UFC322 with Cam Scatterbo and Hasbulla.
- Worst: Rhode Island FC’s dramatic playoff loss.
- Todd:
- Best: Georgia Bulldogs for aggressive play.
- Worst: South Carolina and Iowa losing big leads.
- Marvin:
- Best: Ole Miss’s Kewan Lacey (224 yards, 3 TDs); Tom Cruise’s honorary Oscar.
- Worst: South Carolina and Iowa blowing leads.
- Dan: playful comparison of Tom Cruise as the “Tom Cruise of sports media” when it comes to being nominated but not winning.
- Paulie:
- Best: Navy football win, Harvard’s dramatic field goal.
8. Oscars, Sandler, and Tom Cruise
- The Tom Cruise honorary Oscar prompts banter about “participation trophies” and the nature of recognition.
- Adam Sandler, Cruise, and their “serious roles” debated.
- Dan’s prediction: “I think Sandler will get an Oscar before Tom Cruise.” (28:35)
9. NFL Fandom & Stadium Experiences
- Anecdotes on wearing rival gear at NFL games:
“Packer fans are… unbelievably nice. Jets fans, I’ve seen that firsthand. Eagles fans, small sample size... I would not be wearing my colors if I’m in Philadelphia or a Jets game.” (31:35)
- Story of Mark Wahlberg’s bathroom fight at a Jets game.
10. Further Listener Calls: Resilient Fans & Hall of Fame Pet Peeves
- Andrew in Tucson:
- Best: Notre Dame continues winning.
- Worst: Atlanta Falcons fans need to “put on big boy pants” compared to long-suffering Raiders fans.
- Mike in Vermont & Tim in Cleveland: Discussion of team loyalty through moves and rebuilding; generational NFL pain.
- Dan’s Hall of Fame Wish List:
- Barry Melrose (hockey), Rodney Harrison (NFL), Steve Garvey & Don Mattingly (MLB), Sonny Vaccaro and Christian Laettner (basketball), Don Cherry (hockey media).
11. Raiders–Cowboys Monday Night Football Preview
- The game will be the lead story regardless due to the Cowboys’ prominence and being a standalone game.
“It feels like it’s going to be the lead story no matter what because it’s a standalone game. Even though the Raiders aren’t good at all.” (45:16)
- Danettes’ scenarios for “story of the night” involve QB controversies or Jerry Jones postgame antics.
12. Notable & Humorous Caller Moments
-
Tommy in Madison:
- Best: Packers win.
- Worst: Grounded by dad for fighting with brother and lying about it.
- Dan extends the NFL “penalties” metaphor.
-
Mark in Atlanta: reminisces about Atlanta radio and recommends “Big Earl and the Sexual Biscuits” (wild song titles riffed upon by Danettes).
13. Notable Quotes of the Episode
- Dan Patrick:
“You’re stuck with it. And that dread that you have, where you go, ‘How are we going to lose this weekend?’” (12:11) “He’s had as big of an impact as anybody in playing the game global... Titles, MVPs, he changed the game.” (14:17) “I’d rather you did it and gave me a sports Emmy after I died. I don’t want it after my career’s over, because then it feels like I’m dead. I’m dead to society.” (27:05)
- Paulie:
“Imagine there was a restaurant near you, and every time you went it was just a terrible meal and it was overpriced... But you’re 17 years into going there.” (12:38) “Does that count as yacht rock?” (49:44, on explicit pontoon music)
Key Timestamps
- 03:03 – Dan’s dog Winnie barks at herself on camera
- 05:09 – Discussion on “the better Jeremiah” in college football
- 08:25 – Dan on projecting college quarterbacks to the NFL
- 09:35 – Josh Allen’s rushing touchdown described, Bills radio fake call
- 11:26 – Jason in Atlanta’s “best and worst of the weekend” call
- 14:17 – Dan’s take on Steph Curry’s place in the NBA top 10
- 24:32 – Best and Worst of the Weekend segment begins with the Danettes’ picks
- 28:35 – Dan predicts Adam Sandler will win a “real” Oscar before Tom Cruise
- 31:35 – NFL fan gear, violence, and stadium culture
- 45:16 – Monday Night Football Raiders–Cowboys preview: why it will be top story
Memorable Moments & Banter
- Guessing which classic NBA legends get bumped from the “Top 10” for Steph Curry; generational biases among callers and Danettes.
- Repeated analogies likening sports fandom to bad-but-irresistible restaurants (“the only place you can go eat” for life).
- Debate: Does a “lifetime Oscar” hurt your chances of ever winning a “real” one?
- Calls from older fans (80-year-old Ann in Iowa) to young fans (Tommy in Madison) underscore the spectrum of sports passion.
Flow, Tone, and Atmosphere
The tone is fun, riff-heavy, at times nostalgic and gently self-deprecating. Dan moves the discussion effortlessly between fan angst, sports nostalgia, and pop-culture tangents—with friendly ribbing among the Danettes and a continual thread of caller interaction. The humor is sharp, but the respect for sports history and fan pain is ever-present.
For listeners who missed this episode
— you’ll catch up on the key stories in college and pro football, why everyone’s talking about Steph Curry’s legacy, and just how deep sports fandom can sting—or delight—even for the best-known sports personalities. Plus: which Hall of Fames need to right some historical wrongs, and how dog barks can steal a sports show.