The Pat McAfee Show 2.0, Episode 1466 – Overreaction Monday: NFL Week 14 Recap, College Football Playoff, MNF Preview, & More

Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Pat McAfee
Guests & Regulars: AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, Boston Connor, Ty Schmidt, Tone Digs, Adam Schefter, Dan Orlovsky, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza

Episode Overview

This episode of The Pat McAfee Show dives into the chaos of an Overreaction Monday, recapping NFL Week 14, unpacking the newly set College Football Playoff (CFP) field, previewing Monday Night Football (MNF), and welcoming a slate of insiders and guests. Expect raw reactions to playoff controversies, NFL grit, and the infectious energy of a championship weekend — all delivered in the show’s signature comedic, unfiltered style.

Main Themes

• NFL Week 14: Deep recaps of pivotal games, controversial refereeing, and playoff pictures across the league.
• College Football Playoff (CFP): Debate over team selections, the rise of underdogs (Indiana, Tulane, James Madison), and the controversy surrounding SNUBS like Notre Dame and BYU.
• MNF Preview: High stakes for Eagles vs. Chargers, Justin Herbert’s toughness, and playoff implications.
• Guests: Adam Schefter breaks NFL news. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza discusses the Hoosiers’ historic season.
• Debate & Banter: Introspective looks at football culture, playoff expansion, and the ongoing gripes from fan bases.

Key Discussion Points & Notable Segments

1. College Football Playoff: Field Set & Controversy

Timestamps: [00:14] – [22:38]; [31:39] – [41:06]; [65:52] – [77:54]

• Indiana, Tulane, and James Madison crash the CFP party—both cheered and decried by differing audiences.
• Notre Dame & BYU Snubbed: Heated debates about selection criteria; Notre Dame’s AD Pete Bavacqua’s Friday comments revisited.

  “Notre Dame in their mind was like, the committee’s already made their decision on us and Miami. … So what even happened here is how Notre Dame’s doing it.” – Pat [20:20]

• Playoff Expansion Debate: Panel debates value and drawbacks of moving from 12 to 16 teams.

  “After this I was like, you know what, I wouldn’t mind going back to 4-team playoff…” – Darius [23:43]

• Conference Champions vs. Best Teams

  “I’m done with it. Give me four teams. I’m sick of it. These teams earn it.” – Darius [68:31]

Memorable Moment:

• Indiana’s Historic Run

  “First Big Ten title in 58 years for Indiana. … Indiana is for real, and not a mockery.” – Pat [36:02]

2. NFL Week 14 Recap and Playoff Picture

Timestamps: [02:25] – [13:19]; [44:54] – [50:41]; [93:18] – [100:31]

• Green Bay Packers’ Defensive Dominance: Ty relishes defensive performance, team maturity, and Jordan Love’s emergence.

  “That defense: fun brand to watch. … Green Bay’s for real. Is that what we learned yesterday?” – Pat [43:14]

• Chicago Bears Struggles: Fans turning silent after defeat.
• Steelers’ Big Win & Ref Drama vs. Ravens:

  “Is it a catch, is it not a catch is always a topic … this one feels like the Ravens are robbed a little bit.” – Pat [05:24]

• Houston Texans’ Defense Ascendant:

  “They are a problem. … Possibly the greatest defense in the history of football. I mean, it’s amazing to watch.” – Tone Digs [48:10]

• Kansas City Chiefs’ Dynasty Over?

  “The current version of the dynasty is over, but they’re going to have Patrick Mahomes…” – Adam Schefter [52:48]

• Injury News: Updates on Daniel Jones, Zach Ertz, Justin Herbert toughing it out with a broken hand.

3. Special Teams Valor & DK Metcalf’s Leadership

Timestamps: [08:30] – [13:19]

• Unique praise for DK Metcalf, a star receiver, willingly playing gunner on special teams.

  “$30 million guy signing up to do a league min roster spot is awesome … shows incredible leadership.” – Darius [11:13]

• Pat’s reminiscences on first-round picks (Darius Heyward-Bey) embracing unglamorous roles.

4. Indiana’s Meteoric Rise and College Football Culture

Timestamps: [13:42] – [41:23]; [101:08] – [113:33]

• Legendary turnaround under Coach Signetti; transfer portal, NIL investments, and culture-building.
• Fernando Mendoza Interview:

  “Most losing program in college football history until this year … but we have nothing to lose and we do belong here.” – Fernando Mendoza [102:29]

• Camaraderie, shared sacrifices, and a long wait between games as a new challenge.

  “My team’s all for it. We have that chip on our shoulder. We’re humble, we’re hungry, we’re ready to get to work.” – Mendoza [113:04]

5. MNF Preview: Eagles vs. Chargers

Timestamps: [45:55] – [47:53]; [132:47] – [135:07]

• Stakes: Chargers fighting for AFC hope; Herbert “warrior mode.”
• Notable preview banter:

  “Quarterbacks, head coaches—great, check all those boxes. The fact that the Eagles are coming in… I think Fangio is going to have the boys ready.” – Darius [134:11]

• Hembo stats on Eagles against the spread, injury watch, and betting perspectives.

Notable Quotes / Memorable Moments

• On CFP Selection Chaos:

  “You’re always going to assume that maybe you are potentially getting [screwed] if you’re left out of this whole thing.” – AJ Hawk [65:52]

• On NFL Playoff Clarity:

  “We can all see it, right? … Green Bay, Seattle, LA, and the Eagles … that’s probably the NFC Super Bowl representative.” – Pat [44:54]

• On DK Metcalf’s Gunner Play:

  “Never seen somebody who has a $30 million salary ask to play gunner on a punt rep in the fourth quarter.” – Pat [08:30]

• On Notre Dame’s Outrage:

  “Permanent damage to the relationship. Oh, you want to [leave] us? … All right. Okay.” – Pat [138:24]

• Fernando Mendoza’s Postgame Reflection:

  “I would literally need to be dead for [Coach] Braum to take me off the field.” – Mendoza [105:01]

Important Timestamps

• College Football Playoff Field & Reactions: [00:14] – [41:06]; [65:52] – [77:54]
• Indiana’s Big Ten Title Story: [13:42] – [41:23]; [101:08] – [113:33]
• NFL Week 14 Deep Dives: [02:25] – [13:19]; [44:54] – [50:41]; [93:18] – [100:31]
• DK Metcalf Gunner Story: [08:30] – [13:19]
• Adam Schefter Segment (Injuries, Chiefs’ Dynasty): [50:44] – [56:05]
• MNF/Eagles-Chargers Preview: [45:55] – [47:53]; [132:47] – [135:07]

Tone & Atmosphere

Pat and crew deliver the show with high energy, mix candor and humor, and embrace the passionate, sometimes “overreactive” nature of fans and insiders alike. The panel is quick to poke fun at themselves, commiserate with fan outrage, and acknowledge the flaws in the current playoff systems. Their conversational flow jumps between NFL war stories, CFB culture shifts, and debates over what makes football (and its fans) unique.

Takeaways for Non-Listeners

• College Football’s seismic season: Major upsets and Cinderella stories (Indiana, Tulane, JMU) upend the blueblood status quo, but spark controversy and heated debate about selection fairness.
• NFL’s playoff races heat up: Defensive powerhouses dominate, injuries shape the narrative, and former dynasties (Chiefs) may be transitioning.
• Culture matters: The show repeatedly returns to the themes of grit, leadership (DK Metcalf, Mendoza), and community—whether on special teams or in fighting for a playoff spot.
• Plenty of laughs—mixed with real analysis: From dissecting college football governance to memorable banter about DK Metcalf’s unselfishness or Suit Button Debacles, the show offers both expertise and relatable, lighthearted moments.

Best summed up by Pat:

“It’s a beautiful time to be alive. It’s a great time for football. … Our sport is the greatest. Our show’s the worst. So thank you for watching.” [114:08]