The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 – Episode 1476

“Merry Quizmas, MNF Recap, BA Day with Bruce Arians, Oregon HC Dan Lanning, Dan Orlovsky, AQ Shipley, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk”

Date: December 23, 2025
Main Host: Pat McAfee
Regular Panel: AJ Hawk, Darius Butler (“D Butt”), AQ Shipley, “Toxic Table” (Boston Connor & Ty Schmidt), Tone Digs
Guests: Bruce Arians (BA), Dan Orlovsky, Oregon HC Dan Lanning

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This festive edition of The Pat McAfee Show combines Monday Night Football breakdowns, in-depth NFL analysis, and the debut of a new trivia showdown—Merry Quizmas. With cameos from iconic names in football—Bruce Arians, Dan Orlovsky, Darius Butler, and more—the discussion jumps from Brock Purdy’s dominance, Colts’ defensive struggles, and playoff implications, to coaching philosophy with Oregon’s Dan Lanning and lighthearted holiday-themed competition. The camaraderie and holiday energy are unmistakable, blending expert football breakdowns, insider stories, and the show’s signature humor.

MNF RECAP: 49ERS vs COLTS AT LUCAS OIL STADIUM

Key Segments and Quotes

[00:00–12:36]

• Pat recounts being at Lucas Oil for MNF:
  Energetic crowd, halftime included notable acts (Red Panda hit the 6-bowl headstack—“She’s just throwing a fastball” [02:01]); stadium about 1/3 San Fran fans.
• Brock Purdy’s showing praised:
  “He is not tall... but what Purdy’s able to do is so much more impressive. He is built like an ox... can’t see a damn thing, throws to spots... every time it seems to be right on the money.” — Pat [02:02]
• Offensive weapons:
  Christian McCaffrey (CMC) called a “robot, a machine... never celebrates,” while George Kittle, though injured late, was "unguardable."
  Juszczyk highlighted as fullback-slash-genius, Trent Williams gets props: “30 yards downfield, 37 years old, still a monster.”
• Consequence for the Colts:
  “No punts at all... had a turnover, which I guess is possible in the Brock Purdy offense... but everything else Brock Purdy does is elite. It was just an elite operation watching him live.” — Pat [05:25]
• Defensive perspective:
  Darius Butler: “Our defense was definitely the most disappointing... The 49ers offense, it was just a well-oiled machine. Brock Purdy—looked like routes on air.” [06:26] Strength of San Francisco is “matchups everywhere.”

Colts’ Silver Lining

• Philip Rivers’ return recognized:
  “To see him doing this five years removed from the game at 44 years old is unbelievable.” — Darius Butler [07:41]
• Jonathan Taylor’s struggles:
  “There was little to nothing for Jonathan Taylor... And then flip side, CMC hits a hole, just pops up and walks back to huddle.” — Pat [09:01]

Playoff Outlook Note

• 49ers “can still be the number one seed in the NFC... home games all the way through the Super Bowl” — Toxic Table [10:03]

BROCK PURDY DEEP DIVE

[11:04–13:57]

• How does Purdy compensate for not being tall?
  “He has to have everything else at a very high level. His command, timing, reading defense—off the charts. Drew Brees-level cerebral.” — Pat & Darius
• "His pre-snap and post-snap operation has been his superpower; he’s been small his whole life." — Darius [12:36]
• “Over the last couple of weeks since he came back from injury and got paid, this is starting to feel like his team.” — Panel [13:13]

NFL AROUND THE LEAGUE

Aaron Rodgers & Steelers Offensive Freedom

[19:19–27:24]

• Unique look into Aaron Rodgers’ improvisational ability; dissected a key mic’d-up play where he drew up a last-second route for Gainwell.
• “When you have a QB who’s been around, that trust between the staff and players means the QB gets to massage things late and make it perfect.” — Darius [25:51]

MERRY QUIZMAS – HOLIDAY TRIVIA CONTEST

[31:05–60:00]

Competition Details

• Host: Pat McAfee
• Contestants: Bruce Arians (BA) vs. AQ Shipley
• Format: 7 questions, $10,000 donation to winner's charity, multiple lifelines: phone a friend (Dan Orlovsky cameo), ask the show, chat help, mulligan via putting challenge
• Highlights:
  • Both contestants miss first question (worst franchise by wins: it’s Tampa Bay, not Cardinals). [35:09]
  • Dan Orlovsky fields a lifeline (driving with kids!), nails the Vikings answer. [38:44]
  • Double Down (“go for the throat”): BA uses it early, nails Franco Harris as SB rushing leader, vaults to a lead. [50:05–51:10]
  • Banter-heavy, rules bent often (Pat’s exasperated but delighted).
• Winner: Bruce Arians. He donates $10,000 to his charity (Arians Family Foundation).
  “Step on his throat. That’s what you do with a Double Down.” — Pat [51:03]
  “I feel like I made those four putts that day.” — BA on clinching victory [51:22]
• Notable moment: BA describes the key being to “go for the throat early” strategically on trivia.

DAN LANNING INTERVIEW – OREGON HEAD COACH

[61:56–72:53]

• Holiday/football calendar overlap:
  “The playoffs should be played like every other sport...home games until the national championship.” — Dan Lanning [64:57]
• On Oregon's success:
  “Our superpower is our love for teammates, strength in numbers, and players making unexpected impacts.” — Lanning [63:53]
• Lanning focuses on maintaining routine, learning from last year’s Rose Bowl letdown, and how his team's buy-in is their secret weapon.
• Texas Tech preview: “They're a complete team...big at wideout, great run game, and a healthy QB.” [68:12]

NFL COACHING & CULTURE DISCUSSION

[74:25–79:44]

• Coaching philosophy:
  “It’s not just humans, it’s individuals and a collective; managing a group toward the same target.” — BA [74:39]
• On offensive/defensive play calling freedom; player input/trust as the biggest pro-level difference [79:05]
• Josh McDaniels content to stay as OC, “put your ego aside and do what's best for you and your family.” — BA [79:23]

GAME BALLS & PLAYER/COACHING STORYLINES

BA’s Weekly Game Balls

[83:26–87:29]

• AFC: Drake May & Stefon Diggs — highlighted for leadership/chemistry in New England’s resurgence.
• NFC: Brock Purdy & Christian McCaffrey — unstoppable in MNF, cited as “on fire.”

Coaching Culture: Vrabel & Patriots

• Panel gushes over Vrabel’s “supreme leader” status and steady hand, as well as McDaniels’ commitment to remaining at OC post.

THE TOP FIVE OFFENSIVE LINES (with AQ SHIPLEY)

[132:53–149:35]

• #5: 49ers – “Trent Williams blocks two LBs, looks like a spider monkey.”
• #4: Eagles – “Saquon goes over 100...enormous holes, physical, ground-game dominant.”
• #3: Bears – “Old school power...line investment paying off.”
• #2: Bills – “Took advantage of Browns’ upfield rush, trap and crack tosses.”
• #1: Steelers – “Backups playing better than starters; look like old school Pittsburgh football.”

“That’s December football, as you’d say, Bruce Arians—just pound the football.” — AQ Shipley [136:41]

THE BEST AND WORST OF DEFENSE (with Darius Butler, "Everything DB")

[151:33–171:11]

• Best D:
  • Derek Stingley (Texans): “Best corner in the league—pick six, only CB with 4+ INTs three years straight.”
  • Derwin James (Chargers): “Relentless hustle, peanut punch. Game over. Sets tone for that D.”
• Peanut Punch Philosophy:
  • “Make the tackle and punch. If you're just swinging and missing, you’re not playing football.” — BA [163:22]
• Bad D:
  • Cowboys: Blown coverage for a Chargers TD, more injury/comedy of errors (Trevon Diggs concussed by TV falling—“Appreciate him trying to be a handyman, but that thing was never going to be flat” [175:00]).
  • Packers: Lose in overtime, “Packers D on the ‘bad D’ board for the first time—life comes at you fast.”

BONUS SEGMENTS: HUMOR & INSIDER STORIES

• Halftime Carnival Recap:
  Red Panda conquers new turf, Pogo team from Pittsburgh stuns crowd, jugglers from Peru, Indiana (“She’s just throwing a fastball”).
• Fullback/TE Appreciation:
  Juszczyk and Kittle’s jobs highlighted for their versatility and blocking skill.
• Banter on BaseBall Catchers:
  Spirited debate: “Jason Kendall, Benito Santiago, Piazza?”
  “Grandpa Rossi gave me a bat...I was only hitting .200, I can do what I want” [127:27]
• Faith & Holidays:
  Pat sends Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Hanukkah best wishes; church anecdotes with "E Ball" (Colts chaplain).

MEMORABLE QUOTES & MOMENTS (with Timestamps)

• “She delivered six for six up there! Brock Purdy, he’s built like an ox, but he’s not tall...What he’s able to do is insane.” — Pat [02:01]
• “To see Philip Rivers doing this five years removed at 44 is unbelievable.” — Darius [07:41]
• “You go for the throat early.” — Bruce Arians on Double Down in Quizmas [49:36]
• “Our superpower is our love for our teammates...Strength in numbers.” — Dan Lanning, Oregon HC [63:53]
• “It’s all about just managing humans...individuals as a collective.” — BA on coaching [74:39]
• “Peanut Pagano.” — Panel-joking about DB punch technique and who invented it [160:49]
• “If you’re a wide receiver and you’re watching that (SF offense), how can you not be like, ‘Boy, I want to play with those guys.’” — Connor [99:16]
• “Just keep pressing.” — BA, on golf and trivia, closing segment [121:51]

IMPORTANT SEGMENTS & TIMESTAMPS

• MNF Recap (Colts/49ers): 00:00–13:57, 95:55–101:53
• Brock Purdy Deep Dive: 11:04–13:57
• Aaron Rodgers & Steelers Flexibility: 19:19–27:24
• Merry Quizmas Segment: 31:05–60:00
• Dan Lanning Interview: 61:56–72:53
• Coaching/Team Culture Panel: 74:25–79:44
• Game Balls, Stefon Diggs/Drake May: 83:26–87:29
• Top 5 Offensive Lines (AQ Shipley): 132:53–149:35
• Everything DB (D Butt): 151:33–171:11

FINAL WRAP-UP

Amidst the football expertise, comedic storytelling, and Quizmas mayhem, PMS 2.0 1476 delivers a comprehensive end-of-year celebration—recapping crucial NFL moments, showcasing coaching philosophies through guests like Dan Lanning and Bruce Arians, and revealing the show’s unique blend of sports analysis and entertainment.

Closing vibe:
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays, one and all—“Be a friend, tell a friend, something nice might change your life. We’re in this thing together.” — Pat [181:23]