The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 #1460 – Watt Wednesday, NFL Thanksgiving/Black Friday Preview, Week 13 Picks, Nick Saban, AQ Shipley, AJ Hawk

Air date: November 26, 2025
Host: Pat McAfee

Episode Overview

This lively Thanksgiving Eve edition of The Pat McAfee Show is a jam-packed celebration of football, family, and gratitude. Pat and the crew (AJ Hawk, the Toxic Table, Tone Digs, Boston Connor) preview the landmark Thanksgiving Day NFL slate, the new Black Friday game, and Week 13 action. They're joined by recurring guests J.J. Watt (live from the beach), coach Nick Saban, and offensive-line guru AQ Shipley to break down the biggest matchups. The show’s signature blend: hard-hitting analysis, behind-the-scenes stories, locker room humor, and genuine appreciation for the football community.

Major Themes and Highlights

• Thanksgiving Football Tradition: The slate is touted as potentially the best ever, with buzzing anticipation around all three Thursday games and Friday’s Black Friday special.
• Deep Dives into NFL Teams: In-depth previews of Lions-Packers, Cowboys-Chiefs, and Ravens-Bengals; player storylines, matchups, and betting trends.
• Celebrating Evolution: Thanksgiving staples like the Lions and Cowboys are explored through a modern lens—old narratives vs. new realities.
• Behind the Broadcast: J.J. Watt and Pat riff on life behind the booth, game preparation, and the quirks of NFL facilities.
• College Football Chatter: A feature interview with Nick Saban covering coaching philosophy, the OSU-Michigan rivalry, and the coaching carousel.
• The Value of Gratitude: Throughout, the hosts express genuine thanks for the game, their careers, and the show’s community.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Thanksgiving Football Preview and Tradition ([00:00]–[17:00])

• Opening Thoughts ([00:00]): Pat sets an excited, communal tone for the holiday:
  "We hope you have a great one with your family and friends... We hope everybody kumbayas around the fact that we're together and celebrating life and celebrating football."

• Lions-Packers History:

  • The transformation of Thanksgiving in Detroit is discussed, from annual heartbreak to legitimate excitement—courtesy of coach Dan Campbell ("MCDC") and a resurgent roster.
  • Foxy (Lions fan): "Now we're sitting here, we're 7-4. Did we look great against the Giants? No, but we won. A win’s a win... If you’d have told me 10 years ago... we'd be 7-4 with a chance to win the NFC North, a chance to win the Super Bowl, I'd be fired up on Thanksgiving." ([02:30])

• Game Dynamics:

  • Will the Packers D-line disrupt Jared Goff and the high-scoring Detroit offense?
  • Jameer Gibbs’ elite speed highlighted—worth "the price of admission." ([05:07])

• Halftime Shows & City Energy:

  • Jack White (Lions) and Post Malone (Cowboys) as halftime acts, with speculation about surprise appearances (Eminem, Taylor Swift).

2. Cowboys-Chiefs Preview & The Big D Question ([06:30]–[09:49])

• Game of the Day? Two playoff-hopefuls:

  • Chiefs: Rebounding with a full-speed offense, but missing RG Trey Smith (big concern for protecting Mahomes).
  • Cowboys: Hot run, defense finding its groove, but will it be enough to push into playoffs after an early hole?

• Keys to the Game (AQ Shipley):

  • On Chiefs’ O-line injuries: "Not having his best offensive lineman in Trey Smith, I think it’s a huge problem." ([08:14])
  • On Andy Reid's adjustments: Chiefs establish the run at playoff time, opening up play-action and crossing routes.

3. Ravens-Bengals: Prime Time Showdown ([11:51]–[15:29])

• Joey B Returns: Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase back for Cincy against a tough, if uneven, Ravens squad.
• Prediction—Fireworks Expected: "This one has fireworks written all over it...Joe Burrow always plays really well against the Ravens." ([12:47], Tone)
• Halftime Performer: Lil Jon at “the Bank”—expect a wild atmosphere.

4. Black Friday’s Emergence ([15:31]–[19:29])

• Bears-Eagles on Friday: The NFL “owns” another holiday window, now on Amazon Prime. More games, more days:
  "And Black Friday is here to stay...this was sold to Amazon for probably a billion-something." ([16:08])
• Turkey Bowls/Pickup Games:
  • Panel reminisces and celebrates the ongoing tradition of local, “shirts off” Turkey Bowl games coast to coast.
  • "Maybe football is back to its state of: Hey, this is a good time...maybe we understand that because we live it every single day." ([18:46], Pat)

5. "Watt Wednesday" with J.J. Watt ([20:01]–[37:38])

• Watt joins (from the beach)—balancing dad life, broadcasting:
  • On the Colts’ offense vs. Texans’ defense:
    "This is going to be immovable force vs. unstoppable object. Colts offense vs. Texans defense is an analyst’s dream." ([22:30])
  • Praises Houston's fast, ferocious defense, Colts’ consistent scoring, and the storylines for the AFC South clash.
  • Reflects emotionally on brother T.J.’s career milestone (breaking his sacks record), adding insight into the rare sibling dynamic:
    "I could not be happier for him. He works so hard...He’ll break everything I got." ([38:40])
  • On Turkey Day gratitude:
    "I'm very thankful for you guys...I thoroughly enjoy it. I'm unbelievably thankful. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice—it might change your life." ([56:02])

6. Bears’ Resurgence and Caleb Williams' Growth ([42:18]–[47:45])

• JJ Watt on Bears’ outlook:
  "8-3 is 8-3. They’re playing great...But they do give up a lot of yards on defense—they either get a takeaway, or they're giving up yards and points." ([42:35])
• Caleb Williams lauded for “Superman mode,” but improvement needed in rhythm, accuracy. Play-action stats show marked growth.
• "If he gets on that page with Ben Johnson’s offense, the Bears do have a chance to be scary." ([47:45])

7. College Football with Nick Saban ([70:37]–[105:56])

• O-Line Play in the Modern Era: Saban unpacks the effect of the RPO revolution and why his system still prepares linemen for the NFL:
  "Offensive line and defensive line are the most technique-centric positions in football...They’re the guys with the most pride. They’re the most competitive." ([72:57])
• Ohio State-Michigan Rivalry: Saban emphasizes trusting the process, not changing routine amid big-game pressure:
  "Do nothing different—because if there was a better way to do it, we’d already had done it..." ([79:56])
• Coaching Carousel: On Penn State, Dayball-to-college scenarios, NIL & roster-building—candor and keen perspective.
  • "If you don’t have an opportunity to build a roster—and it’s financially based, that’s where it’s at—then you’re not going to have a chance to be successful." ([95:55])
• On Legacy:
  • Saban affirms he wouldn't take any new job over his segment on the McAfee Show:
    "I would not give up being on this show for 20 minutes a week to go coach someplace. That's just how much I like it." ([104:42])
• Holiday Preferences: Saban’s Thanksgiving—traditional, simple, and "whatever Miss Terry makes, I'll be eating." ([105:30])

8. NFL Offensive Line Rankings with AQ Shipley ([118:24]–[132:33])

• Top 5 O-lines of Week 12 (analysis, cut-ups):
  1. Seahawks
  2. 49ers
  3. Cowboys
  4. Chiefs
  5. Bears
• Technical tidbits:
  • Why some lines excel at run blocking vs. pass protection.
  • The importance of receiver buy-in/blocking for explosive plays.

9. Picks & Betting Trends / Thanksgiving & Week 13 ([132:33]–End)

• Thanksgiving Picks:
  • Packers at Lions (Lions -3): Sharp analysis on the matchup; possible upset vibes.
  • Chiefs at Cowboys (Chiefs -3): Surprise that public confidence is so low in KC; panel sides with the defending champs.
  • Bengals at Ravens (Ravens -7): Cincy seen as undervalued with Burrow’s return.
• Betting Nuggets:
  • Home teams on Thanksgiving (especially the Lions) have a poor spread record over two decades.
  • Cowboys universally popular with public bettors (69%).
• Week 13 Sunday: Targeted picks for Colts-Texans, Steelers-Bills, and more.

10. The Thanksgiving Spirit: Gratitude & Good Vibes ([141:18]–End)

• Closing thanks:
  "We are so incredibly thankful. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice. It might change your life—especially at this Thanksgiving...you can disagree with people and still get along. That's what life's all about." —Pat ([141:18])
• Host/AJ/crew all reflect on enjoying the moment, honoring the old days, and appreciating their platform, their audience, and the sport itself.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Pat McAfee, on Thanksgiving football:
  "Football is magical. And I'll tell you what, the next couple days might be the greatest we've had in some time." ([00:00])

• AJ Hawk, on Packers-Lions:
  "I just hope it’s a good one...We don’t need to be sleepy that early in the morning, going into your second plate." ([03:59])

• JJ Watt, on calling Texans-Colts:
  "This is going to be immovable force vs. unstoppable object...My biggest question for you: Are the fireplaces going to be on the screens pre-game?" ([22:30])

• Pat to Saban, on coaching pressure:
  "You have a chance to win a national championship...What's it like being in a position where your fanbase is just psychotic about The Game?" ([81:02])

• Nick Saban, on life in the NFL & CFB:
  "I had two sets of notebooks...wherever I was, I just pulled that drawer open and that’s what I went to work from." ([100:42])

• JJ Watt, on family and legacy:
  "We used to play in the backyard in Pewaukee...That was the first time I think where we truly were like, 'This is crazy.'" ([39:25])

• Pat, on the show’s purpose:
  "Thank you so much. We'll try to enjoy it every day as long as you'll have us. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change their life." ([114:44])

Conclusion

This episode is a joyous, unfiltered ode to football culture: from the NFL’s Thanksgiving showcase to family rituals, the evolution of iconic teams, and the gratitude felt by those in and around the game. With marquee guests, deep analysis, genuine camaraderie, and sharp humor, it’s a perfect listen for anyone hoping to connect with both the game and the spirit of Thanksgiving.

For listeners who missed the broadcast:

• All major NFL Thanksgiving games are previewed with smart Xs-and-Os and storytelling.
• J.J. Watt offers insider analysis and personal perspective on life after football and broadcasting.
• Nick Saban brings unmatched wisdom about coaching, team-building, and the pressures at the top.
• Betting trends, offensive line breakdowns, and lightning-quick banter round out a loaded pre-holiday show.

Summary in the show’s own words:
"Football is up and to the right. We hope you enjoy it with your family. And remember—be a friend, tell a friend something nice. It might change their life." (Pat, [141:18])