Loading summary
Host
It's time to get to the top five. Top five, top five, top five, top five headlines coming out of week 15 of the NFL season driven by Ram Truck. And what you do know about Ram trucks is the Hemi V8 is back. It's fired up and raring to go. Motortrend has chosen the Ram 1500 as its truck of the Year.
Co-host 1
Wow.
Host
Wow. We're at awards. Wow. There it is. Motor Trend is Ram 1500 Truck of the Year for 2025. Congrats to them. Ram Trucks also back on the track, returning in the NASCAR Craftman Truck series for the 2026 season. Obviously, we talk about all the time now. I don't want to talk about racing too much because the boys might take it in a different way because they watch Brad Pitt race this weekend and all of a sudden we might have some new G1 fans around the Thunderdome, which I certainly did not expect. But let's get to the top five headlines of Week 15 of the NFL season. Listen, we're in prime football season. We're in meaningful football season. We're in the time of year where football teams are playing their absolute best. So your team's going to lose a game, potentially your team. It's not over until it's over. If you're still in it, it's okay if you lose. So if you're the Patriots and you lose to the Buffalo Bills after having a 21 point lead, it's okay. That's going to happen. A lot of good football teams, what you can have happen is you can't be deemed from the playoffs and gone. Listen, new teams have been added to the playoffs gone list now, obviously, Jets, Browns, Titans, Raiders, Commanders, Giants, Falcons, Saints and Cardinals have already said, what are we playing for? Absolutely not the future. Add in the Bengals and I'll tell you what, with this Bengals team, oh, man, they get their ass beat by the Baltimore Ravens still lurking in the afc. The Baltimore Ravens. But from what Joe Burrow said last week, where Joe Burrow was saying, like, what's the purpose of doing this? Period? This kind of sucks, man. Not fun. Not having any fun. This kind of stink. I don't know, am I a football player anymore? Then you think to yourself, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe. We need you to be enjoying this. We need you to be loving this. Also, you're the quarterback of an NFL franchise, Cincinnati Bengals, who have bet good on you. Can't have you wondering in the middle of the season whether or not this is what you're supposed to be doing. Then he had the opportunity to get on the field in AFC north battle against Baltimore Ravens, another team that's kind of been in a year, and make up for it, maybe start having some fun. Nah. Yeah, he stunk.
Analyst 1
Zero fun.
Host
They stunk. They get absolutely obliterated by the Baltimore Ravens. Kyle Van Noy makes a heady decision. Get the ball out of his old ass hands and they take a pitch six all the way back. But the Ravens absolutely thump the Bengals. And going into the game, we wondered if Joe Burrow likes football. Now, we know there's no way he can enjoy anything about this. So D. But my question for you about this Bengals team is like, hey, whenever you sign Ja' Marr Chase and T. Higgins to number one wide receiver contracts and you pay Joe Burrow and it doesn't seem as if you're investing in the defense at all. And your offensive line moves have never really worked. Will you ever win with this particular recipe? Everybody that knew ball going in the season said, probably not like in history, this is not a way to win. But if you don't win, life is not fun. Is Joey B at the situation now where because they suck and because there's no super bowl dreams and aspirations, he's not enjoying what he's doing? Or do you think maybe Joe Burrow is a human and there's some stuff going on in his life plus the fact that they're ass that maybe it's combining right now for not a great time of his life? And we shouldn't worry about what the future holds for Joe Burrow. This is just a chapter or an era that will move on.
Analyst 2
I'm not worried about Joe Burrow. I'm not worried about his future. You mentioned it. Humans, they are dealing with a bunch of things. But when you are a franchise quarterback, you know, people don't necessarily care about that unless it's, you know, something huge, a huge tragedy everybody knows about. If you're a franchise guy, you know you're getting paid a ton of money. You talked about the receivers getting paid. Joe Burrow was a big part of the receivers getting paid as well. Now people in charge of putting the team together, you can still have to put a team out there that can get out there and compete. So to be on this list, to be eliminated before week 15 is even over, that's, you're, that's, that's never where you want to be with one of the best young quarterbacks in the National Football League. But I'm not worried about the future of him. I don't think we knew Butter was going to be in the building. I think that had. That had a huge effect on the game. Obviously, Lamar showed up in the AFC north battle, but I hate to see Joe Burrow at this point in the season potting.
Host
Yeah. And I don't want to get it. It does seem like he's. Like he's potting, but we would like to let him know we're big fans. Joey, we love you in the football world. We appreciate everything you've done, but it feels like with the way that team is constructed, we didn't know if you were ever going to be able to win a Super bowl or not. So we hope that's not necessarily what is keeping your hat. Happiness alive. We hope it's the process. We hope it's you becoming the greatest, which you certainly can. And maybe I don't want to throw it out there, but we've seen some people in the past have been going through some things, go down to a rainforest in central South America and come back with a whole new mindset and maybe. And win an MVP and do it again and win another mvp. So whatever it is, Joey, we hope you find it again. The Cincinnati Bengals are officially gone from the playoffs, as are the Vikings after a huge win. J.J. mcCarthy goes for 250 yards. He's grading in the end zone in prime time, playing his best ball. Still missing by a mile on some.
Co-host 1
Sure.
Host
But. And even admitting that he needs to get a lot better in the off season, so hopefully the future is brighter for this Minnesota Vikings.
Analyst 2
Important games left for him. Yeah, well, for him, because this is. These are valuable, very valuable reps for J.J. mcCarthy.
Host
Yeah. And what I was. Yes, I think very valuable reps down the stretch here for this Minnesota Vikings team. But what we're saying is there's no meaningful games, actually, because they are gone from the playoffs. On that note, the Dallas Cowboys, who lose in primetime, the 2 9, they are damn near gone from the playoffs. What is everything that needs to happen for the Cowboys? Yeah.
Co-host 1
So they have about a 1% chance to still make the playoffs. They're not dead yet. They just need the Eagles to lose all of their games and they need to win all of their. The Cowboys need to win all of their games. So we'll see. Hey, stranger things have happened.
Host
Yeah, stranger things. Not a bad show from what I've been told. Never watch it. Stranger things certainly do happen in the NFL. But the Dallas Cowboys damn near gone from the playoffs and what the fuck is a walkie talkie doing anyone? Now they're saying it's for direct communications to the sideline for medical. So is every owner have a walkie talkie that's not trackable or anything like that in communication? Is that going directly to that guy with the cowboy hat? Is that a walkie talkie? Strictly to the big cowboy hot medical guy. Nonetheless, we know the Jones family took some big swings this year. We know that they got rid of superstar Bonafide who is no longer finishing the season with the Green Bay packers because of a believed to be torn acl, which we are all hoping not to be a torn aco. And Micah make a couple trades, do their thing, lose the nine in primetime and now they're damn near gone. And then also the team that is eliminated from playoffs, which is very abnormal at this stage of the season. The Kansas City Chiefs are officially gone from the playoffs.
Co-host 1
Yeah, they are.
Host
Which leads to number four headline, a decade of dominance. A dynasty delayed or deleted. Will this dynasty have to have a new chapter? Will this dynasty be able to continue for another 10 years? Maybe another 15 years? Will Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes be able to carry it from one chapter to the next a la the New England Patriots? Remember the story of the New England Patriots? There was a 10 year gap between Super bowl wins. Now there was two Super bowl losses in between those 10 years. Both the Eli Manning and the New York Giants. Eli Manning probably getting into the hall of fame for those two in 2007 and 2011. But 2004 to 2014 is a 10 year gap where the Patriots didn't win a Super Bowl. They're still considered a dynasty. Will that be what happens to the Kansas City Chiefs? Is that what we're staring down or, or Chris Jones a little older?
Co-host 1
Yeah.
Host
Travis Kelce obviously maybe at the end of his entire thing. Andy Reid, it's talked about every single year. Is he going to keep going? Patrick Mah, is he going to be able to continue to just put the team on his back? Or are they going to be able to reload and kind of re navigate what the future looks like for a potential dynasty? Or are they deleted and are they done forever? Oh no, that's the question we have to ask because they didn't make the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. You're talking about record breaking stuff. Throughout the history of the NFL, teams have made it to the playoffs consecutive amount of times. Patriots obviously won forever. The Chiefs number two team in the longest running consecutive playoff Run. And then we see one pick from Derwin James, ratings front of Travis Kelce and all of a sudden it's over completely, officially. And the Internet was waiting for their demise. The Internet was celebrating in all of our faces about the Chiefs being dead. But we've seen this before with another dynasty now granted. The Patriots once again, they continued to go. They continued to do their thing. Chiefs missing the playoffs. Are they dead? Is it done or is it just simply delayed, con man?
Analyst 3
Yeah, definitely not done. Maybe delayed. There's a chance, you could argue maybe the Mahomes Reed dynasty together is done. You know, that's the one thing that is the glaring difference between the two. Andy Reid is basically how old Bill Belichick was at the end. You know, right now, 67. Yeah, they probably have 10 more years. As long as Mahomes is there, their dynasty will never be done. But it's definitely going to change a little bit. And I would assume that maybe they saw the writing on the wall. You know, not many teams release a 10 part docu series before a season, you know, to commemorate the three Super Bowls they went to. Straight to three. They've already won as well. But definitely sad. Anytime it goes out with a player on their shield, you know, Mahomes getting carried out, the vibe changes and it is a bummer to see. You never want to see anything end like that.
Host
Yeah. And if you think about the beginning of this entire run that the Chiefs had back in 2014, life was a lot different then. You remember the ice bucket challenge got launched. Then remember Flappy Bird?
Co-host 1
Oh yeah, Great game.
Host
Flappy Bird was in too many people's phones, taking up too much time of people's lives. The person that created it was like, we gotta get rid of this game. Yeah, deleted the game. People who had phones that accidentally still had Flappy Bird on it for some reason because they didn't update the software, were being sold online for like hundreds of thousands of dollars because they were an ancient artifact. Basically. This flap that was in 2014.
Analyst 3
Graduated high school, then high school, graduated from Boston.
Host
Connor his second time getting that done. Happy was the song Shake it Off from Taylor Swift. You think she was even think about Travis Kelce whenever she was singing Shake it off. I mean, 2014, long time ago. A lot has changed in the world. And now we're sitting at a time wondering if this Chiefs team's going to be able to continue to go in the future.
Analyst 1
Yeah, for the future when you look at it. I saw a tweet yesterday about, you know, The Chiefs have a lot of work they need to do to this roster and they are 31st in the league in cap space next year. They are $35 million over the cap for next year currently. So with, with all that needs to potentially be fixed with the Mahomes injury that happened yesterday and then the cap situation, it might be tough for a couple. I mean you still have Patrick Mahomes.
Host
On that note about the Patrick Mahomes injury. We're at that time of the year and we have been here for a while where an injury to the wrong position can derail everything going forward. Ladies and gentlemen, it is, it is my not honor the opposite dishonor to say number three headline coming out of week 15 NFL Sunday slate is injuries are dookie. Okay? There's no other way to describe it. When you talk about dookie, you're talking about absolute shite. You're talking about nothing good. You're talking about negativity at the highest degree. You're talking about dookie, man, runny, stinky, absolute crappy Dookie is what these injuries are. And if you were following along on Redstone or all the different games, these injuries all took place within about a two minute period. Micah goes down, Patrick goes down and then Devontae has sniper to his hamstring. You're talking about three mega stars who have had record breaking years in record breaking season and record breaking careers for these particular teams all going down in a matter of two, three minutes. Micah Parsons, that was nasty little hyperextension situation whenever he was just heating up and becoming a closer. Ty, your negativity about this particular injury has scared me a little bit. But Mike has become this damn important to this defense so damn quickly.
Co-host 1
Yeah, without a doubt. I mean, you know, yeah, the packers are still a good team, but like he is the difference maker. He has eight and a half sacks in the fourth quarter. Like there's a reason they were calling, you know, playing enter Sandman and calling him Mariano Rivera because the packers haven't really been blowing anybody out this year. Like the offense has been doing enough and then boom, in comes Micah to close out the game. And it's not just him, it's. I mean it's no question if you watch the games, he makes everybody better. And you know, is, is it one of those things, where am I all doom and gloom? Do I think that it's just completely done with now? No, I don't believe that. The packers are still 94 and 1, but it is very hard to imagine seeing him being out for the year like now.
Analyst 3
Do you.
Co-host 1
Do I think they can make a deep run in the playoffs and win a Super Bowl? Like, no, I don't necessarily believe that that is still on the table. They could still do it, but Micah Parsons is the best player on their team and one of the best players in the NFL. And for it to happen at this point in the season when they're just starting to get healthy, like it's a backbreaker.
Host
Green Bay packers, obviously team we thought could win a Super bowl right now, odds on favor to win a Super Bowl, Los Angeles Rams, they lose their touchdown machine, their touchdown factory, their Devontae Adams snipered while running a go route middle of the game, obviously didn't look good. Anytime somebody pulls up with a hammy, obviously not good when you're 30 some years old. What are your thoughts here, D. Butch on them losing Devontae? Still have Puka. He's obviously insane. Puka is insane. Still have Kyron Williams, still have Blake Corum, still have multiple tight ends, even guys that I've never heard of making plays for him. But losing Devontae, this added weapon not only down in goal line but in third down and in red zone. Is this going to be a big enough hit to derail the Los Angeles Rams or what should we expect?
Analyst 2
I don't think it'll derail them. I think they'll still finish fairly strong. The thing about them is they've kind of changed throughout the system and morphed this offensive to using a bunch a lot more tight ends. So a lot of 13 personnel. So that's only one wide receiver on the field. So now Puka can obviously be that one wide receiver even though Devonte was that one wide receiver and 13 personnel for the majority of the season. But when you have another superstar like Puka who would still demand that coverage, still get the production, I think they will still be okay, especially with the run game in the defense and hopefully with this soft tissue injury, he can be back full go by the playoffs. So this isn't as a huge of a blow as these other injuries on this graphic.
Host
We'll stop by with schefter here about 1240 to kind of see everything he's hearing. Devonte a little older now though.
Analyst 2
Yep.
Host
Any muscle injury, obviously in theory, the older you are. But he's gonna hop in that ammortal chamber. Yeah. Is that what's happening right now?
Analyst 1
Slept in there in his game.
Analyst 2
You, you know, it's not like he's, you know, Christian Watson or Like a burner who he got hurt too, you know, Jameson. Yeah, Williams. A lot of injuries over there. So his game is finesse and making big time catches. Reading coverages being that matchup in low red area. So I think when he is back in there for a goal, he'll still be the Devonte that we know.
Host
And then obviously Patrick Mahomes is the injury that we chatted about to even start this entire injuries are dookie. I mean this is face of the NFL. This is the man leading, you know, a dynasty right now in front of our eyes and our face. Before he was like 27 years old, he had already built up a goat type legacy, a goat type resume, multiple times super bowl champion, always remained a human. You know, everybody started hating him obviously because he's Patrick Mahomes. He's on top of the world, still would have beers with the boys, still kind of do his thing was trying to live his life while being under the microscope of being the guy who's leading the entire the biggest league on earth. He put out a tweet, obviously that was like, hey, I'll be back stronger than ever. But whenever you see these types of stats, you understand that we're in, we're watching greatness happen. And he said he'll be back stronger than ever. Don't know why this had to happen. And not going to lie, it hurts. But all we can do now is trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chief's Kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers, I'll be back stronger than ever. And we love that type of work ethic. We love that type of mindset. That is why he is who he is. But this sucks for the league, Dee. But this sucks for the league that we lose Patrick Mahomes. Whether you love him or you hate him, when he's on TV, he's must watch.
Analyst 2
Yeah, you want 15 playing, you want him in the playoffs, you want to see him play. I mean, it's super unfortunate not only for this season, but we don't know how next season looks now for him or the Kansas City Chiefs. But unbelievable hit to the National Football League. It's crazy. He still hasn't and won't take a snap. You know, being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs in his career. And that list you just put up with him having five more wins at this point in his career, like that is ridiculous. If he's done, let's say, obviously he's not done. This Chief this dynasty, if this chief's dynasty is over, like we talked about a little bit ago, that'll still go down. It's probably a Mount Rushmore dynasty. When it comes to the NFL, he's got.
Host
I believe he's got two kids under the age of four or two right now. I mean, but he'll be back.
Analyst 1
He's got nine months till September, so that's right on time.
Analyst 2
Right?
Analyst 3
He'll be back.
Host
I agree. But let's just think about the human. Like, hey, Mama Mahomes, good luck out there, man.
Co-host 1
Yeah.
Host
Got a guy.
Co-host 1
Yeah.
Host
Not that, you know, he's mvp. He's a starting quarterback in the NFL. Obviously, a lot of time is allotted to that. But now he's not gonna be able to move. I mean, that is. There's a lot of stress. Just like whenever we're talking about Joey Burrow, it's not just like, hey, in the facility, it's in my life. It's like, hey, we got humans here, not just a video game. So whenever you talk about everything else happening with Patrick Mahomes, we're only pulling for him for the good of the league.
Co-host 1
Yeah. And I think, you know, like, he's. I mean, he's obviously been banged up before, and I don't know about college, high school, all that kind of stuff, but, like, this is the first time he's had an injury of this magnitude, you know, same with like, Micah, like those guys, where all of a sudden, for the most part, you stay healthy throughout your entire career, and then you get something like this where it's like, hey, you're going to be down for nine months like that. Learning how to deal with something like that when you've never had to deal with it before, like, you can understand how it's quite the blow.
Host
Hey, we'll miss you, Mahomes.
Analyst 2
By far the longest break he's had. I know it's rehab and it sucks, the injuries, but like, every season he's gone at least to the AFC Championship or the Super Bowl. So like, like, that's a much shortened off season. So now you gotta offseason starts now. And you know, that'd be the longest by far that he's ever had.
Host
A LeBron run.
Analyst 3
Yeah, yeah.
Host
Remember, LeBron was making it to like the Eastern Conference finals every year for like 10 straight years, and then somehow, shortest off season and doing it again going forward. Patrick Mahomes had to do that. And this year he was running more than ever.
Co-host 1
A lot more.
Host
Running more than ever. Hitting people more Than ever. And that rarely happens as a goat's career goes forward. You know, normally as the goat goes forward, the contact gets less. This year, he was running more, hitting more, getting hit more. And it's kind of a crazy how it's all gone. But to your point about the rest, I mean, recovery is not rest. It sucks. What he's about to go through sucks. All these injuries, every injury you hear about, all you hear is a timetable. Like, hey, nine months, he'll be back. Hey, this guy should be back by the playoffs. From that point of injury to when they come back, sucks. That whole thing sucks. Hurts. The amount of time that it takes. The monotony of just having to do this little tiny things every single day very rarely gets talked about. We try to point it out. Patrick Mahomes, life is about to suck to get back being healthy, as is, obviously Micah, as is every other injury that we see take place. So all we can say is Godspeed.
Analyst 3
Yeah. And we talked about the cap there for a second. He actually might get a pretty sweet extension, which is gonna maybe kind of motivate him even more in the middle of this offseason. Continue to work.
Host
Yeah, maybe he gets that ammortal, couple of those in his backyard.
Analyst 3
Creates a lot of cap space. Maybe gets a receiver, maybe one back from Miami.
Host
I don't know.
Analyst 3
Just. Just things that could happen.
Host
They see Tyreek, you okay?
Analyst 1
I was just thinking about him.
Host
I'm not. I'm not getting. I don't want to get too negative about it, but, like, I'm not gonna say it. I'm not gonna say it. Well, it's like. I don't wanna say it. Joey B. Saying he's not having fun. It's like the way you guys built the team, we all thought you guys weren't gonna be able to win, right? Like Tyreek Hill, when you took the bag to go to Miami, the thought was, you're not. You're not gonna win. No. When you go.
Analyst 2
That was not a thought.
Host
That was kind of the thought. No. Hey, you're leaving a dynasty to go get paid down there. You're not. You're not probably not going to win as much. And then there's like a. Well, I want to win. It's like, well, we kind of all. We all knew that this is kind of what the case was. It's just like Max Crosby, like, Max. Max knows they're not going to win, right? Like, that is kind of the thing. He just continues to show up, which we massive respect. Miles Garrett, you know, if he next year says like I'm tired of not winning, it's like, well, we told you. You knew. You even wrote it.
Co-host 1
Yeah, you wrote, you even wrote it.
Host
Like you're not going to win. So it's like there's certain situations where it's like you kind of, I don't want to say sacrifice, but you did kind of acknowledge that this was not going to be kind of with each other and then it kind of all happens. But once again, want everybody to be happy. Want everybody to have cake and eat it too. Eat it too. Speaking of, let's go to the number two headline out of week 15, the Legend of old man Rivers. Hey, Phil. Thank you, man.
Analyst 2
Proud of you, Phil.
Host
I am proud of you, Phil. I'm very proud of you, Phil. It's not just us, obviously. The boys in which he coaches down there In Alabama, the St. Michael's Super Duper football team that has made back to back playoffs. Them watching Uncle Phil coach old man Rivers score his first touchdown in five years in an NFL game as he finds Josh Dines over the middle. They have an incredible lead. Wait a second, are the Indianapolis Colts and Phil Rivers all the way back? This guy Phil Dines got back up. He looked agile. Maybe the most agile grandpa in all of football. And after the game, whenever he gave a quote that I think everybody needs to hear, I think the baby face turn for Phil Rivers was in full effect. A lot of people burying the Colts for signing Phil Rivers. Now once again I would like to reiterate the fact I am a Cam Newton fan, always have been. It's because I watched him play live. I think anybody that watched Cam Newton play or had to play against Cam Newton.
Analyst 2
Yep, my teammate too play with him.
Host
Exactly. Says Cam Newton's allowed to say whatever he wants about football. Cam Newton is football. He can do whatever he wants. The whole thing about is Cam Newton a better quarterback than Phil Rivers? Is a wild conversation to have because I don't know if Cam Newton just knows the entire Shane Steichen offense, which Week 15 in the middle of a playoff run. I don't know if it's the right time to put somebody in that doesn't know the offense. Now was Riley Leonard, who's been in the building all year, who's very athletic, was he a better option than Phil Rivers? I think that argument is certainly viable. But somebody that doesn't know the offense coming in in the middle of what the Colts are thinking and hoping is a playoff run doesn't seem Sound to me, it sounds like you live in a video game world, as opposed to real life world where you don't just drop into a building and then download the offense and then you're on the same page as everybody so that you can operate a football team efficiently. Matt Ryan in the Colts had problems for his entire time because he couldn't learn the offense or the verbiage and then the offensive line couldn't and it was an absolute catastrophe. So bringing in Phil Rivers felt like a move. The Colts were like, hey, we're not giving up on the year and we need somebody that's able to fucking do our offense and do our things. And also somebody that commands a little bit of respect. You know, defense, offense, special teams, everybody in the building like, hey, we like that guy. And also a guy who happens to be doing something from a coaching standpoint that is incredibly inspirational. Listen to this quote from the postgame.
Phil Rivers
From Phil Rivers, hopefully. You know, certainly I think of my sons and those ballplayers, you know, that I'm in charge of at the school, that they'll say like, crap, coach wasn't scared. You know, I mean, it's like, shoot, sometimes you, there is doubt and it's real. And you again, you can, you can. The guaranteed safe bet is to, is to go home or to not go for it. And the other one is, shoot, let's see what happens. Happens, you know. And so, yeah, I, I hope that in, in that sense that it can, it can be a positive to, to some young boys, you know, or young people, not just me boys, but yeah, it was Phil.
Host
Oh yeah, anybody can do nothing, as the legend Ted Williams said. And then him going on there, go for it. And the boys seeing it, his kids seeing it, and also all of us getting a chance to see that was a special thing, a beautiful thing, and almost won it. Blake Groupie, 60 yard field goal with less than a minute left to put, put the Colts in the lead. That's the longest field goal in the history of the Indianapolis Colts. Blake Groupie this big. This guy is a monster. Groupie shout out to you. Coming back to the state of Indiana and making a big time kick for us. He walked right on the field, too. There's no question. It was fourth down and there was probably a little bit of an indecisiveness. Fourth and three, what are we going to do? Groupie just walked his ass onto the field. Shane Steichen had saw it and had to go, well, dad Gummit, I guess we're going for this. Field goal, he puts it through. Sam Darnold gets a big return from their special teams, then they make a coup plays. And then Jason Myers puts his sixth field goal through the uprights and the Seahawks beat the Colts 18 to 16. But the story for me coming out of this is not only Seahawks are a damn good football team and Jason Myers is unbelievable. He leads the league in field goals made this year. He's going to be all pro and a Pro Bowler. He's a special talent out there for Seattle. But also the Indianapolis Colts didn't give up. They showed up. And Phil Rivers, obviously the arm isn't what it used to be. Made a couple big throws whenever we had to and they protected his ass. And his messaging about, you know, you're allowed to go for it in this life. If you get asked something was special. I'll remember yesterday for a long time.
Analyst 2
Yeah, man, I really, really wanted the win, obviously for a ton of reasons. But Phil, for him to go out, this is something that I know I've never seen before. Somebody take five years off and they actually come out there and have to play. And then he was in full control. Like the first drive he was up, you know, checking with seven, you know, eight seconds on the clock, you know, changing plays. Obviously his arm, it was what I expected, I guess to see from his arm. Wouldn't have dropped it down the field a ton. But he made plays and he had us in position to win a game in a hostile environment against a very good football team. So I'm encouraged for him and I think this definitely gives us the best chance to compete going forward with, you know, all the available quarterbacks that are out there right now.
Host
You talk about a very good football team. Let's just talk about the number one headline coming out of week 15. In our eyes, the NFC west is the NFL's best. This group out here is outrageous. Seattle Seahawks obviously not on their home home field advantage. This dude, no laces, sick. Looks so cool. This dude, very good at football. McDonald, his defense, unbelievable. A lot of people are saying you needed a 50 some yard field goal to beat the Indianapolis Colts, who are playing Phil Rivers. Colts are good football team. Colts are a good football team. And Phil knows everything that's going on. The Los Angeles Rams, outrageous. Matthew Stafford had an MVP like year. And then the San Francisco 49ers. Brock Birdie's doing his dance.
Co-host 1
Oh yeah.
Host
Brock Perry's pump faking 20 yards down the field. San Francisco 49ers obviously beat the Tennessee Titans. Everybody's doing that. But this Niners team with Christian McCaffrey, with Brock Purdy, even though they're without Warner and Bosa on the defensive side, it's like, are the Niners going to make a run at the Super Bowl? Feels like everybody but the Cardinals in the NFC west can do that. And this has happened in the past. Whenever the NFC west has been absolutely dominant, they have shown up as a Super bowl champion.
Analyst 3
Yeah. 2021, the 4, 5, 6 seeds were the Rams, Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. So it is one of those things where you would think, okay, maybe the division will cannibalize itself. But rather instead, you know, the best of the best, the team that won the division, the Rams, ended up going on that super bowl run and winning the super bowl against the Bengals.
Host
Yeah. So there's a chance here that the NFC west does it again. And I will say, as a Colts team that had to play Seahawks this past weekend and we got the Niners on Monday Night Football, we're going to find out if this NFC west is for real. Feels like the NFC west is problematic. AFC west, also very good at the football. AFC east has a couple teams at the top with one lurking in the mountain. Dolphins. AFC north, everybody considers that to be the trashiest division in ball. The AFC south, the Jacksonville Jaguars in the league. Congrats down there in Duvall. And Texans are also problematic. Number one defense in the NFL. Texans actually have better odds to win a Super bowl than the Jaguars do right now. That's because I think the Texans defense is number one in the league. And I don't know if everybody believes in Trevor Lawrence, even though he goes for six touchdowns yesterday. Five through the sky, they are for real. NFC north, things have changed now with some injuries and then the NFC south, who's going to punch their ticket to the playoffs is really the entire question. So that's top five headlines coming out of the NFL.
Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Pat McAfee
Panel: AJ Hawk, the Toxic Table, Tone Digs, rotating analysts
This episode is a fast-paced and opinionated breakdown of the five biggest storylines to emerge from Week 15 of the NFL. Pat McAfee and his team bring their unique blend of player insight, blunt humor, and fan perspective as they analyze playoff eliminations, injuries, dynasties, and standout team and player performances. The episode captures the agony of injuries, laments the end of dominant runs, and celebrates both aging legends and powerhouse divisions, all while keeping the tone lively and relatable.
Timestamps: 00:00–06:53
Timestamps: 06:54–10:54
Timestamps: 10:54–19:31
Timestamps: 19:49–21:23
Timestamps: 21:23–26:26
Timestamps: 26:26–27:51
“But if you don’t win, life is not fun. Is Joey B... not enjoying what he’s doing?”
— Pat McAfee, 03:01
“Will Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes carry it from one chapter to the next ... Or are they deleted and are they done forever?”
— Pat McAfee, 07:46
“As long as Mahomes is there, their dynasty will never be done. But it’s gonna change a little bit.”
— Analyst Con Man, 08:49
“Injuries are dookie. You’re talking about dookie, man, runny, stinky, absolute crappy Dookie.”
— Pat McAfee, 10:54
“Micah Parsons is the best player on their team and one of the best players in the NFL. ... It’s a backbreaker.”
— Co-host Tone, 12:54
(On Philip Rivers’ comeback)
“Maybe the most agile grandpa in all of football.”
— Pat McAfee, 21:24
(Phil Rivers postgame)
“The guaranteed safe bet is to go home or not go for it. And the other one is, shoot, let’s see what happens.”
— Philip Rivers, 23:44
“Feels like the NFC west is problematic.”
— Pat McAfee, 27:51
The show is equal parts raucous, funny, sympathetic, and analytical. There’s plenty of locker-room banter and blunt, hyperbolic analogies, but also honest talk about the human element behind athletes and the grind of NFL life.
This recap gives you the major storylines, unforgettable quips, and emotional beats of Week 15’s NFL aftermath. Whether you want the pulse of the playoff picture, inside locker room takes, or just a good laugh at “agile grandpa” Philip Rivers, this episode delivers classic Pat McAfee Show energy with real football insight.