The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 - Episode 1401: NFL Kickoff Thursday, Cowboys vs. Eagles Preview
Overview
On September 4, 2025, Pat McAfee and his crew celebrated the highly anticipated NFL Kickoff Thursday, marking the beginning of what they dub the "greatest season in NFL history." With the Philadelphia Eagles set to unveil their Super Bowl banner against the revamped Dallas Cowboys, the crew dove into bold predictions, league storylines, and the culture around this Cowboys-Eagles rivalry. Featuring insights from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Peter Schrager, and Cowboys legend Mike McCarthy, the episode was a passionate, hilarious, and deeply informative ride through the stakes, drama, and narratives of the NFL’s opening weekend.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. NFL Season Kickoff and Eagles vs. Cowboys Hype
- Opening Hype: Pat stirs up excitement for the first NFL game in 207 days, highlighting the Eagles’ championship run, their banner celebration, and the off-field storylines including Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and Dak Prescott. (00:00)
- Major Storylines:
- Can the Eagles start a dynasty under Coach Sirianni?
- The legacy and pressure on Dak Prescott and the Cowboys, especially after losing Micah Parsons.
- Pat’s take: "This kickoff to an NFL season that is going to be the greatest in the history of the National Football League." (00:38)
2. NFL Fan Optimism & The Hopo-Meter
- Survey Highlights:
- Broncos fans are the most optimistic at 99%; Eagles not far behind at 98%.
- Cowboys fans rank among the least optimistic, third from the bottom.
- Colts fans (Pat’s home team) are bottoming out with 93% pessimism.
- Pat’s analysis: "There's always gonna be a 20% group of people that are like, 'This shit ain't good.'" (07:36)
- Nuance on Polls: Pat and Schrager remind listeners that such surveys are skewed by who chooses to participate, but they do reflect some real fan sentiment. (79:23)
3. Betting Lines & Game Predictions
- Eagles Favored - Large Spread:
- The opening spread moved from Eagles -7 to -8.5, rare for a division opener.
- Most money is on the Eagles, yet late Cowboys money is trickling in.
- Conversation on how rare such big spreads are for an NFL opener -- especially given the rivalry. (09:31, 10:11)
- Parallels to College Football: Ty Schmidt notes the disrespect towards the Cowboys is odd since they retain plenty of talent even without Parsons (12:08).
- AJ Hawk’s perspective: "The Cowboys…could have a moral victory if they keep it close and look pretty good." (64:20)
- Crew’s Picks: Most favor the Cowboys against the spread (8.5 pts); Ty flips to the Eagles for a potential blowout (139:01).
4. The Red Zone Channel "We Don’t Care" Controversy
- What Happened:
- The Red Zone is shifting from "seven hours of commercial-free football" to "seven hours of red zone football," now integrating play-through ads.
- Pat had tweeted "We don't care," about the change, sparking accusations of shilling for ESPN/Disney.
- Pat’s Clarification:
- "What I meant was, we're still going to watch. If you had a brain, you knew the NFL was gonna do this."
- It’s ultimately an NFL decision (not ESPN/Disney), and inevitable given the league’s profit motives. (01:11–04:55, 33:22)
- Memorable moment: "The NFL is a cash cow...we knew it was coming. We don’t love it. We’re still going to watch." (119:56)
5. Cowboys-Eagles Deep Dive
Cowboys Storylines:
- Fan/Critic Doubts:
- "Dallas Cowboys: everybody's out on them...Jerry Jones, this guy's the dumbest guy of all time." (13:12)
- Micah Parsons Trade:
- Packers gave two first-rounders plus Kenny Clark for Parsons; Eagles tried to get in, but Jerry Jones refused to trade within the division. (23:02–26:14)
- Adam Schefter: "Even then, they [Cowboys] would have said no, probably. So, yes, the Eagles tried. The Eagles tried on Micah, but they were told no." (24:09)
Eagles Perspective:
- Health: Landon Dickerson is good to go after off-season surgery; Eagles boast historical run-game numbers anchored by Barkley and the O-line. (18:53)
- Dynasty Potential: Can Sirianni and Hurts seize the moment and establish a run? (00:38)
- The Dagger Play: Pat and the crew relive the Super Bowl-clinching play, highlighting preparation and confidence. (16:53)
6. Topical NFL News Roundup
Broncos — The Trendy Pick:
- Defensive end Nick Bonito gets an extension: $120m/4 years, $70m guaranteed.
- Owners (the Penner/Walmart family) investing heavily in infrastructure and team building.
- Both Pat and Schefter discuss how the Broncos have become a "hot and trendy" offseason pick. (27:21–29:35)
Red Zone Nostalgia & Reaction:
- Calls for advertisers to sponsor "Commercial-Free Football" for fan points (118:38).
- General acceptance/grudging inevitability of in-game ads among the crew and most fans.
NFL International — Chiefs vs. Chargers in Brazil:
- Concerns about the field conditions, logistics, and fan excitement in Brazil.
- Schefter: "You just don’t know what you’re gonna get…the elements are different all the time." (37:35)
- Global growth: Discussion of future games in Australia (43:10–43:57).
Injury Updates:
- Texans' CJ Gardner-Johnson returns sooner than expected from knee injury.
- Elijah Vera-Tucker (Jets) out after triceps tear — relates to player timing/contracts discussion. (44:26, 32:05)
7. NFL Ownership & Money Talk
- Giants selling 10% stake to the Koch (or Cook/Koch/Coke) family for $1B, making them the second most valuable NFL franchise.
- Why aren’t more teams using these private equity deals?
- Rapidly increasing valuations across the league—owners getting crazy returns. (48:27–50:57)
- Notable quote, Schefter: "Seems like the sharper teams have done it...and they still control 90%. So it’s a no-brainer."
8. Exclusive Guest Segments
Adam Schefter [17:55–51:36]:
- Delivers insider updates on the Eagles’ health, Cowboys’ strategy, the Micah Parsons drama, Broncos buzz, and the business of the NFL.
- On game predictions: "I don't see it being a blowout at all." (46:43)
Peter Schrager [69:37–88:54]:
- Teases bold picks for his ESPN prediction special. Notably omits the Lions from the playoffs and predicts Joe Burrow as league MVP.
- “The Bengals are going to the playoffs and Joe Burrow will be your league MVP.” (88:24)
- Advocates for strong, evidence-based predictions, not just “chalk.”
Mike McCarthy [94:54–115:31]:
- Exudes calm veteran authority; proud Yinzer; now a weekly Thursday guest.
- Praises Cowboys’ young core: “This is a very good football team, a very young football team...a young ascending football team.”
- On Dak Prescott: "He’s a hell of a football player. I just love the way he stands in there and makes those throws and doesn’t blink." (98:35)
- On Parsons trade: Notes time and emotion complicated the deal, but both teams will benefit in the long run.
9. NFL Rivalry List — Pat’s Top 5 Eagles/Cowboys Players (124:01)
- Vince Papale (Eagles bar legend, S/T captain): "Vince Papale is Philadelphia."
- Deion Sanders (Cowboys, prime-time magic): "Prime time for Jerry Jones’ Cowboys."
- Michael Irvin (Cowboys playmaker):
- Randall Cunningham (Eagles dual-threat QB and punter):
- Jason Kelce (Eagles—recently retired, emotional leader):
- Honorable mention: Barney Gorman (from the Disney movie), David Akers, Reggie White (primarily a Packer), Tony Dorsett.
10. Final Picks and Consensus
- Most of the crew sides with Cowboys (+8.5) due to the spread’s magnitude and McCarthy’s confidence; Ty takes the Eagles to cover, citing a potential statement performance and Saquon Barkley’s impact. (139:01–141:14)
- AJ Hawk: "I'm definitely taking the Cowboys plus eight and a half. I'm going to take the over as well." (140:37)
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Red Zone Commercial Kerfuffle: "What I meant was: we're still going to watch. If you had a brain, you knew the NFL was gonna do this." – Pat McAfee (33:22)
- On NFL's Money Machine: "The NFL is a cash cow...we knew it was coming. We don’t love it. We’re still going to watch." – Pat (119:56)
- On Optimism: "There's always gonna be a 20% group... that's like, 'This shit ain't good.'" – Pat (07:36)
- Micah Parsons Trade: "Yes, the Eagles tried. The Eagles tried on Micah, but they were told no." – Adam Schefter (24:09)
- On the Cowboys’ Mentality: "If you're Shoddy, you're sitting in a good spot for things that you can put up on the bulletin board to let the boys know about." – Pat (65:57)
- On Dak’s Leadership: "He’s a hell of a football player. I just love the way he stands in there and makes those throws and doesn’t blink." – Mike McCarthy (98:35)
- Bold Prediction: "The Bengals are going to the playoffs and Joe Burrow will be your league MVP." – Peter Schrager (88:24)
- AJ on Week 1: "We have no idea... That's why the NFL is the greatest." – AJ Hawk (64:53, 141:14)
- On Vince Papale: "Vince Papale is the Philadelphia Eagles...from barkeeping to glory. Pay dirt." – Pat (131:59)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Intro & Season Hype: 00:00–06:08
- Fan Optimism Poll: 06:08–08:59
- Spread/Betting Discussion: 09:00–15:48
- Red Zone Commercials Controversy: 33:22–36:34, 119:56–122:59
- Schefter Guest Segment: 17:55–51:36
- Schrager Guest Segment: 69:37–88:54
- Mike McCarthy Guest Segment: 94:54–115:31
- Eagles-Cowboys Top 5 List: 124:01–137:08
- Crew's Game Picks: 139:01–141:14
Summary Takeaway
The episode brilliantly captured the feverish anticipation for NFL opening night, blending expert analysis, genuine locker room insight, and trademark McAfee show humor. Pat and crew navigated the big-picture NFL narratives—the business, the fan psyche, international ambitions—while never losing their connection to the fan experience and the game's unique joy. The spirited Cowboys/Eagles breakdown, candid industry talk, and high-wattage guest insights make this a must-hear for any football diehard eager to launch into the 2025 NFL season.