The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 – Episode 1475

TOP 5: NFL Week 16 Recap
Date: December 22, 2025
Host: Pat McAfee with AJ Hawk, the Toxic Table, and Tone Digs

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the biggest stories emerging from a packed NFL Week 16, featuring action from Thursday through Monday. Pat McAfee and the crew break down the most significant headlines, analyze improbable team turnarounds, question coaching decisions, critique officiating, and spotlight playoff clinches. True to The Pat McAfee Show’s blend of insight and humor, discussions swing from tactical nuance to relatable banter, keeping things lively even when debating contentious moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. From "Ass to Class": NFL Rebuild Success Stories

Segment: 00:00–11:36

• Teams Highlighted: Bears, Panthers, Jaguars, Patriots

• Theme: Inspiring turnarounds for "bottom-dweller" franchises, now playoff contenders.

• Pat echoes hope for fans of struggling franchises, noting rapid rebuilds:

  • “If your team stinks, look no further than Charlotte, North Carolina, because the Carolina Panthers can bring you some real hope for what the future could hold.” (01:42)

• Panthers:

  • Once a punchline, now on track to win the NFC South and host a playoff game after years of mismanagement and empty stands.
  • Darius Butler draws parallels between the new-look Panthers and vintage Bucs:
    • “The Panthers really are kind of the new team of that division.” (02:31)
  • Praise for rookie QB Bryce Young’s play-making, evoking memories of Baker Mayfield heroics.

• Jaguars:

  • Quick transformation behind Trevor Lawrence, now on a six-game win streak, blowing out opponents and thriving with new coaching hires (Liam Cohen, Campanelli).
  • Stat of the Day: Jaguars outscored opponents by 113 points during the win streak; Lawrence: 14 TDs, 0 turnovers in 4 games (04:06).
  • Pat:
    • “Jacksonville Jaguars win. In the old days…he potentially tears ACL…Now…he looks like a stud.” (04:44)

• Bears:

  • Massive wins behind rookie QB Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson; snapped long-standing team issues and created a cohesive, confident culture.
  • Conman:
    • “He [Caleb Williams] already has the most fourth quarter comebacks for any Bears quarterback in history. He’s just unbelievable. I’m calling him Iceman going forward.” (07:34)
  • Ben Johnson’s leadership and dramatic onside kick recovery critical to overtime victory against the Packers.

• Patriots:

  • A return to glory with Mike Vrabel coaching and “perfect guy” QB Drake May, drawing comparisons to young Tom Brady in leadership and preparation (per Stefon Diggs).
  • Darius Butler:
    • “Drake May throws for 380 yards, down by 11 in the fourth quarter. Goes on 89 yard drive to win the game.” (11:36)
  • Multiple rookies emerging as potential Hall of Famers; team culture returns.
  • Pat:
    • “Your team goes from ass to class of the league. Life is much better on this side.” (12:55)

2. AFC North Chaos and Coaching Scrutiny

Segment: 13:20–19:55

• Ravens:

  • Under fire for blown leads; questions swirl around John Harbaugh’s tenure after historic collapses.
  • Conman:
    • “Blowing fourth quarter leads…12 games at that point with seven-plus leads in the fourth quarter and you lost them. Like, that’s historically bad. So something’s got to change.” (15:21)
  • Pat highlights frustration: seeing Lamar Jackson diminished due to injuries and missed electrifying play.

• Steelers:

  • Mike Tomlin’s streak of non-losing seasons continues (19 years). Team wins gritty, dramatic games:
  • Pat Freiermuth:
    • “They had almost 500 yards of total offense, 230 on the ground. Aaron was unbelievable.” (16:54)
    • Notes defense limited opponent’s rushing, lauds Tomlin’s increased aggressiveness on fourth downs (5/5 last two weeks).
  • Steelers’ playoff optimism remains, despite injuries (notably to TJ Watt).
  • Pat:
    • “Can we win it all?” (18:53)

• Notable Banter:

  • Light-hearted riff on offensive linemen and running backs’ nicknames:
    • “Ass and cheeks…Ass cheeks. That’d be the starting five.” (17:27–17:47)

3. Sideline Incidents & Fan/Athlete Code

Segment: 20:00–23:04

• DK Metcalf–Fan Interaction:
  • Physical confrontation between DK Metcalf and a fan sparks debate on acceptable conductor athletes and spectators.
  • Pat:
    • “Cannot happen. Actually cannot happen. But there are standards for both sides that are going to be obviously examined.” (22:57)
  • Show recognizes athlete restraint is paramount, but acknowledges fans can provoke:
    • Conman:
      • “…Outside of that, like you said, as a professional athlete, you gotta kinda have some restraint. And then fans, you know, there gotta be some line there with what can and can't be said.” (22:15)

4. Referee Scrutiny: "Contract Year" Woes

Segment: 24:13–28:25

• Officiating Under the Microscope:

  • Multiple bad or controversial calls from the week’s high-leverage games.
  • Pat:
    • “Is there a chance these guys and girls are saying let's show them what it could be like with ass officials? Let's remind them of what it was like whenever we had the replacement refs.” (24:24)
  • Deeper discussions of:
    • Bad pass interference and roughing calls in the Patriots game
    • Complicated fumble advancement rules from Thursday night
    • Impact on playoff seeding

• Darius Butler:

  • “This play right here is going to decide the 1 seed in the NFC. Like, we're talking about the playoffs. A bye…the most important thing some of these teams need…” (27:41)

• Calls for improvement in officiating optics and consistency as postseason looms.

5. Team Resilience & Playoff Picture: "Mary Clinchmas"

Segment: 28:40–End

• Teams Clinch Postseason Berths:
  • Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, LA Rams, San Francisco 49ers (NFC); Denver Broncos, New England Patriots (AFC).
• Eagles Spotlight:
  • Back-to-back NFC East champs for first time in 21 years.
  • Pat:
    • “When you talk about flying over fuss, it's every day with this team…And Nick Sirianni and the boys somehow remain focused.” (29:05)
• Outlook on Competing Teams:
  • Debate on Philadelphia’s Super Bowl prospects; Lane Johnson’s return expected to revive run game.
• Playoff Race Notables:
  • Panthers and Bucs still vying for NFC South; Packers, Lions, Panthers, Bucs for NFC wild card.
  • AFC largely set, but Colts and other “lurkers” not out yet.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pat McAfee:
  • “If your team stinks, look no further than Charlotte, North Carolina, because the Carolina Panthers can bring you some real hope for what the future could hold.” (01:42)
• Darius Butler, on Panthers' transformation:
  • “The Panthers really are kind of the new team of that division.” (02:31)
• Pat McAfee, on Jaguars:
  • “Jacksonville Jaguars win. In the old days of Jacksonville Jaguars he potentially tears ACL…Now you have a sick jump over guy…he looks like a stud.” (04:44)
• Conman, on Caleb Williams:
  • “He already has the most fourth quarter comebacks for any Bears quarterback in history. He’s just unbelievable… I’m calling him Iceman going forward.” (07:34)
• Darius Butler, on Drake May:
  • “He’s the next Tom Brady path. But we don’t have to say it. It’s very obvious.” (11:36)
• Pat McAfee, on officiating:
  • “Is there a chance these guys and girls are saying let’s show them what it could be like with ass officials?” (24:24)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–04:44 – Top 5 headlines intro; rapid rise of previously bottom-tier teams
• 05:49–09:15 – Chicago Bears, Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams' heroics
• 09:54–12:58 – Patriots turnaround, Mike Vrabel’s culture, Drake May MVP case
• 13:20–19:55 – AFC North: Ravens woes, Steelers resilience, playoff hopes
• 20:00–23:04 – DK Metcalf vs. fan, debate on player/fan conduct
• 24:13–28:25 – Refereeing controversies; complaints on calls, impact on playoffs
• 28:40–End – NFC East champ Eagles, playoff clinching overview, playoff race outlook

Wrap-Up

Throughout the show, Pat and the crew mix humorous analogies with hard-hitting football analysis, tracing how quick team revamps, bold coaching, and resilient quarterbacks shift the competitive landscape. They preserve the show's high-energy, irreverent tone even while dissecting serious matters like officiating and sideline incidents.

The recurring rallying cry: for fans of “ass” teams, redemption is always possible—if you make the right hires and build the right culture. The crew closes on the playoff picture, leaving listeners energized for the final push of the regular season.