The Pat McAfee Show 2.0, Episode 1427 - NFL Week 6 Preview & Picks, TNF Recap, and Special Guests

Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Pat McAfee (ESPN)
Co-hosts: AJ Hawk, The Toxic Table (Boston Connor, Ty Schmidt, Gumpy), Tone Digs
Notable Guests: Adam Schefter, Dan Orlovsky, Kirk Herbstreit, Coach Nick Saban, Matt Rhule

Episode Overview

This fully loaded Friday broadcast delivers an unfiltered, in-depth look at NFL Week 6—breaking down Thursday Night Football (Giants vs. Eagles), making picks for every upcoming game, and featuring a “who’s who” of football minds including Adam Schefter, Dan Orlovsky, Kirk Herbstreit, Nick Saban, and Matt Rhule. The crew bounces from lively banter to tactical breakdowns, hits college football, and explores wider issues like team culture, player development, and even the business of college athletics.

Key Segments & Discussions

1. Thursday Night Football Recap: Giants Dominate Eagles

[00:02–16:14]

• Giants take down Eagles: The show kicks off hot with AJ Hawk and Boston Connor reacting to the Giants' stunning win over the Eagles. Giants rookie QB Jackson Dart and RB Cam Skattebo (“Bam Bam Cam”) are widely praised for sparking new energy and hope—“First time in five years where you watch a Giants game and it’s like they got something. Like they have some sort of future.” (Boston Connor, 00:51)
• Giants Defense: Brian Burns is highlighted for leading the league in sacks; the D stifled the Eagles’ offense in the second half.
• Locker Room Drama in Philly?
  • Multiple panelists question the Eagles’ offensive predictability and brewing locker room unease, citing Lane Johnson’s comments and cryptic denial from A.J. Brown regarding a supposed team meeting.
    • “The culture feels weird in Philly. It just doesn’t feel on the same page.” (Boston Connor, 04:36)
  • Eagle’s “Tush Push” play (run 4 times in a row) is scraped over. Debate erupts about whether the controversial QB sneak should be banned, with universal agreement that constant uncalled false starts are souring the play.
    • “Last night was the first time where it was like, okay, this sucks.” (Boston Connor, 06:36)
• Pat’s Perspective from Oregon:
  • Pat dials in from Eugene, sharing stories from an elite New York event and analyzing the Eagles’ identity crisis and the Giants’ surprising energy.
    • “The Eagles are currently in an identity crisis... Are these the old problems creeping back in?” (Pat McAfee, 14:43)
• Giants' Tent Incident:
  • Discussion of Giants coach Brian Daboll entering the medical tent (against rules) after Jackson Dart’s injury. Adam Schefter explains there will likely be league discipline.

2. Adam Schefter Joins: Eagles’ Offense, Trade Market Heating Up

[17:18–44:00]

• On the Eagles’ predictability: Schefter references Orlovsky’s film breakdown and the challenges facing new play-callers like Kevin Patullo.
  • “There aren't a lot of great play callers... it's not something you just pick up.” (Adam Schefter, 19:03)
• On the Giants’ Rookies:
  • “Cam Skattebo runs like he’s a character out of the Flintstones. Call him Bam Bam Cam.” (Schefter, 24:18)
• Medical Tent Rules:
  • Schefter confirms NFL will review Daboll’s tent incursion, in a week already marked by coach fines.
• Trade Deadline Trends:
  • NFL trade market is getting hyperactive compared to a decade ago; October trades now common (“We might get 20 this year.”)
  • Colts, at 4-1, are suddenly a buyer and potential AFC #1 seed contender.
• Quarterback Carousel:
  • Updates on Lamar Jackson (expected to return after bye), Mac Jones (starting for San Francisco), Kyler Murray’s uncertain status for the Cardinals.

3. Dan Orlovsky: Giants’ QB Situation & Eagles’ Offensive Woes

[45:27–56:14]

• Jackson Dart Evaluation:
  • “When you watch him last night, there are moments when you’re like, dude, that looks like early Josh Allen. That looks like early Lamar Jackson. ... You just make a play. Make a play!” (Dan Orlovsky, 47:34)
  • Dart’s confidence and contagious energy have transformed the Giants.
• Referencing the Show:
  • Giants’ QB Dart quotes watching Pat McAfee Show in his postgame press conference—“We don’t care about the spread... we feel like we’re confident to go out there and put on good performances and win games.” (~50:06)
• Eagles’ Offense Deep Dive:
  • Orlovsky argues their shotgun reliance gives away play calls, passing concepts are too predictable, and the lack of play-action makes life easier for defenses.
    • “They’re running the same pass concepts on a consistent basis... You can’t do that in the league.” (Orlovsky, 53:14)
  • Predictability is so high, defensive players are reportedly calling out their plays during live action.

4. Kirk Herbstreit: Giants’ Energy & Eagles’ Identity Crisis

[58:40–67:54]

• On the Tush Push: Herbstreit gives the officials’ interpretation—it’s only a penalty if the guard is early in real time, not replay. (62:22)
• Giant’s Culture Shift:
  • Shares a story from a 40-year Giants stadium usher: “I haven’t seen or felt [this kind of juice] in decades.” (64:03)
  • “Jackson Dart is affecting the entire franchise because of his belief... I want to watch the Giants next week.” (Herbstreit, 64:22)
• Eagles’ Injury and Consistency Issues:
  • Injuries, O-line shuffle, and play-caller continuity have led to offensive stall-outs.
  • “They’re searching for an identity... But there’s enough superstars to think they’ll get it going.” (67:38)

5. College Football Talk: Oregon’s Resources, Uniform Wars, NIL Impact

[72:04–88:10]

• Oregon’s All-In Commitment:
  • Pat and Herbie marvel at Oregon’s facilities, constant building, and boosters’ investments (Phil Knight/Nike influence). Lanning’s culture-building praised.
• Uniform Banter:
  • Herbie asserts Miami and Indiana’s (Adidas-made) uniforms are “hideous” and “disgraceful.” Saban and others push back, championing ‘iconic’ traditional gear.
    • “We like whoever pays the most.” (Coach Saban, 78:12)
• Saban on NIL & Culture Shift:
  • “Kids are not growing up wanting to go to Alabama... They want to go wherever is going to pay them the most. ... The regional advantage that the SEC had for years is no longer an advantage.” (Saban, 93:19)

6. Nick Saban: Team-Building, Culture, and Modern College Football

[78:00–107:09]

• On Transfer Portal/Draft Model:
  • Quick roster turnover can work (“It’s sustainable, but a challenge”), but only if you set the standard up front and recruit to your program culture.
    • “If you bring free agents in, and they’re the ones setting your culture, you’ve got issues.” (Pat McAfee, 86:47)
• On Dealing with Success:
  • “It’s much more difficult to deal with success than it is failure... Being self-absorbed, disease of me, becomes a part of a problem on a successful team more than a team that’s struggling.” (Saban, 97:54)
  • Saban says he’s spoken to Sirianni and Hurts about the challenge of keeping focus and drive.
• On Communication in Loud Venues:
  • Saban details the hassle of silent counts, snap strategies, and how “noise penalties” can kill promising drives.
    • “I hated to go on the silent... If we had a QB who didn’t clap loud enough, the QB coach was responsible for fixing it, or he’d get his ass chewed out.” (Saban, 104:09)

7. NFL Week 6: Betting, Picks, and Team Trends

[109:02–146:31 & throughout]

• Panel goes game-by-game:
  • Picks and analysis for every NFL game—leaning heavily on underdogs as stats point out that public favorites are underperforming against the spread (13-31 for 60%+ public ATS favorites).
  • Running jokes about how “it’s all too easy,” classic betting hubris, and reminders that Vegas nearly always “knows something.”
• Trade Watch:
  • Certain teams (Raiders, Dolphins, Ravens) are flagged as possible sellers if they lose badly.
• Colts, Giants Surge:
  • Both previously overlooked teams are now “must-watch” with rookie QB surges and coaching that “calls touchdowns before they happen.”
• Memorable Stat:
  • “Dogs are now 13 and 6 against the spread in 19 games this season.” (Gumpy, 65:48)

8. Matt Rhule: Big Ten Grit, Nebraska’s Rise, and Mindset

[154:08–174:10]

• On Adversity and Travel:
  • Rhule dismisses travel as an excuse; says Big Ten teams should embrace it and sees “mental toughness” as a hallmark.
    • “We get to go to places, not have to... In the Big Ten, you have to be a mentally tough team.” (Matt Rhule, 159:00)
• Player Development and Recruiting:
  • Notes QB Dylan’s rapid growth by playing early—a recruitment tool that helps “make Nebraska cool again.”
  • Explains how NIL and talent dispersal have made upsets more likely, so he deliberately cautions players against complacency.
    • “Nothing’s easy in today’s college football.” (Matt Rhule, 173:23)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Giants’ Culture Change:

  • “All of a sudden, it looks like this franchise has been infused with juice. Jackson Dart’s got so much swag to him and so much confidence that I don’t even know that he realizes that he shouldn’t be going out and beating the defending Super Bowl champions, but he did.” (Adam Schefter, 23:47)

• On Eagles' Locker Room Issues:

  • “There’s weird shit going on with this Philadelphia Eagles team that we don’t expect. ... This feels weird. This just feels very weird.” (Pat McAfee, 15:25)

• On Playcalling & Predictability:

  • “They’re running the same pass concepts on a consistent basis... That was the fourth time in that game they ran that pass concept out of that formation. You can’t do that in the league that much.” (Dan Orlovsky, 53:14)

• On NIL & College Football Culture:

  • “Kids are not growing up wanting to go to Alabama, wanting to go to Georgia... The regional advantage that the SEC had for years is no longer an advantage.” (Nick Saban, 93:18)

• On NFL Trade Frenzy:

  • “Four trades in October a decade ago. Last year: 18. I think we’re going to see a lot more activity this year... all these teams start seeing the other teams making trades and they want to get in the action.” (Adam Schefter, 41:54)

Tone, Style, and Flow

The entire show rides on a laid-back, insider vibe, blending football nerd talk, locker room humor, and first-person storytelling. Pat’s hosting is infectious, flipping between sincere gratitude, playful ribbing, and raw analysis. Banter and sincerity are equally present, with sharp transitions from technical points to off-the-cuff laughter. Guest contributions move the show with deep insight, especially during X’s and O’s or cultural football discussions.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is a robust “State of Football” session at midseason—a must-listen for fans who want to understand not just who’s hot, but “why,” and what’s really happening behind closed doors in the NFL’s most storied locker rooms. Don’t skip the trade talk, college coaching segments, or the rare moments where Giants, Colts, and Hoosiers share equal billing with Super Bowl champs.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02 — TNF recap, Giants hype
• 07:56 — Pat calls in from Eugene
• 17:18 — Adam Schefter segment
• 45:27 — Dan Orlovsky on Giants/Eagles X’s & O’s
• 58:40 — Kirk Herbstreit: Giants juice, Eagles identity
• 78:00 — Nick Saban: Unforms, NIL, leadership
• 109:02 — NFL Picks & ATS trends
• 154:08 — Matt Rhule: Nebraska, Big Ten, upsets

Final Thoughts

Pat and crew deliver their unique blend—hard-nosed football talk, betting trends, honest commentary, and comical asides—while drawing out top-notch insights from an elite guest list. The vibe is loose but sharp, making this an essential recap for those on the pulse of both NFL and college football.