The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 – NFL Week 5 Preview & Picks, TNF Recap, Dan Orlovsky, Nick Saban, & AJ Hawk

Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Pat McAfee (& crew: AJ Hawk, Boston Conner, Ty Schmidt, “Toxic Table,” Tone Digs)
Guests: Dan Orlovsky, Nick Saban
Location: Pat live from Tuscaloosa, AL; AJ Hawk holding down Indy HQ

Main Theme & Episode Purpose

This episode kicks off a “Feel Good Friday” by recapping Thursday Night Football—a dramatic, overtime win for the 49ers—then dives deep into the NFL Week 5 slate, college football storylines, betting insights, and team psychology. A special highlight: Pat broadcasting live from Alabama, with football legend Nick Saban joining for an extensive conversation on the state of the sport. The crew collaborates on picks and analysis with their trademark blend of ball expertise, locker-room banter, and sports media mischief.

Episode Breakdown & Key Discussion Points

1. Thursday Night Football Recap: Niners Outlast Rams (00:00–07:30)

• Game Recap: 49ers win 26–23 in overtime against Rams. Discussed key decisions, especially Sean McVay’s bold fourth-down call and special teams blunders impacting outcome. Pat hails Mac Jones for a breakout performance (“absolute monster in Kyle Shanahan's system,” 00:43), likening his Niners fit to other recent QB resurgences.

  • Pat McAfee (00:43): “Mac Jones has an opportunity here to have the second career that all these other quarterbacks have been having…This guy out of Alabama had one of the most prolific college football seasons in the history of college football.”

• Kicking Woes: Kicker “Carty” repeatedly pulling kicks, possible side effect of frequent squib kicks with the new kickoff rules.

  • Pat McAfee (07:13): “I don't like the kicker seeing hitting fat balls all the time. I don't like kickers...I think every punter should learn how to hit a squib.”

2. Mac Jones Rebirth, Shanahan’s QB Dilemma (07:30–13:00)

• Mac Jones’s Journey: From New England struggle (poor coaching fits, regression after rookie year) to redemption in San Francisco. Discussion about how coaching and context shape young QBs.

  • Boston Conner (09:36): “When it comes to quarterback development…Mack is kind of the epitome of the opposite of what you're supposed to do.”

• QB Controversy?: Discussion pivots to Brock Purdy’s injury, Mac’s hot hand, and backup dynamics.

  • Nick Saban (guest, speaking as Mac Jones at PC, 11:15): “They brought me here to play as a backup and that's my job. And Brock's the starter of this team…I'm just trying to get some wins for him so it helps us down the line.”

3. Gambling Angles, “Public Versus Sportsbook” (13:00–16:00)

• Betting Recap: About 58% of bets were on Rams, public loses again.
  • AP Tone (13:05): “It closed 58% on the Rams…Just another one for the sportsbooks last night, Pat...the public is 10–25 when 58% or more are on one side.”

4. College Football: Alabama Scene, SEC State of Play (16:00–19:00)

• Pat At Alabama: Pat describes the revamped Bama tunnel, soaking in the game day aura.

• Vandy’s Rise: Vanderbilt now has “some money,” could emerge as a legit SEC contender.

  • Pat McAfee (15:43): “Vandy has some money from what I've been gathering…Wait, is Vandy about to be, like, legit?”

• SEC Needs Win Assistance: Texas-Florida game looms large for SEC playoff hopes, as Tone explains.

  • AP Tone (16:48): “If Texas loses to Florida, the SEC could potentially lose a playoff team…The SEC needs their big dogs to be big dogs.”

5. Dan Orlovsky Joins: Quarterback Talk, TNF Breakdown (19:21–29:31)

• Orlovsky’s Mac Jones “Victory Lap”: Dan recaps how he always believed Mac would thrive in Shanahan’s scheme.

  • Dan Orlovsky (23:32): “If he went to San Francisco at three that year, he would be one of the top, you know, 10 quarterbacks in the NFL…I was blown away how good he was.”

• Deep Breakdown: Dan credits Mac’s timing, quick game, and growth in maturity. Notes elite timing on deep/intermediate throws and O-line resilience.

• Coach/QB Fit Theme: “Quarterbacks can only play as good as their play caller…It all matters where you go.” (Dan, 27:10)

• Shanahan’s Dilemma: Mac’s performance puts pressure on Shanahan’s upcoming decisions.

  • Pat McAfee (27:48): “If your first love shows up…it's hard, I assume, for [Shanahan] not to be like, I knew it, I knew it.”

6. High-Level Football Strategy: McVay's Fourth Down, Rams’ Sloppy Loss (29:08–33:50)

• McVay's Decision: Dan says going for it was right, but the repeated play call “shocks” him given McVay’s creativity.
  • Dan Orlovsky (29:26): “I'm not shocked that he went for it. I'm shocked that he went to the same play that he had gone to so much in that game.”

7. AFC North & NFL Team Issues + Must-Win Scenarios (35:20–39:38)

• Ravens in Crisis: Lamar out, must-win vs. Houston, running game strangely ineffective despite star RBs.
• Eagles 4–0, but...: Statistically ugly, running game stalling, AJ Brown’s route tree “basic,” Jalen Hurts conservative.
  • Dan Orlovsky (43:00): “No team has more negative runs than the Philadelphia Eagles…And so I think his [Brown] route tree is a little minimized.”

8. Quick NFL & QB Roundtable (44:39–49:53)

• Carson Wentz Preview: In trouble vs. Browns’ D.
• Dylan Gabriel (rookie starter): Low but realistic expectations, needs early-down efficiency, lacks weaponry.

9. Chiefs Offense: “Showgirl Bump,” Run Game, and Mahomes Evolution (51:14–53:56)

• Chiefs Turning the Corner: Getting Rashee Rice, more under-center, six-OL looks.
  • Dan Orlovsky (52:18): “If they stylistically do what they did this past week—yes…It was my favorite game plan of the Chiefs in like the past two seasons.”

10. Baseball Segment: Yankees Advance, Boston Meltdown (54:52–61:07)

• Ty’s Yankee Recap: Rookie Cam Schlitler dominates his Boston hometown rivals. Emotional context—Boston fans attacked his family online, drove him to “find a chip.”
  • Ty Schmidt (61:07): “Boston's fans, that's just how it is…They just happen to pick the wrong guy to do it to and the wrong team to do it to.”

11. College Football Deep Dive: Nick Saban In the Tunnel (67:08–101:18)

Nick Saban's Interview Highlights

• Alabama Legacy & Life After Coaching: Investing in children’s learning center, enjoying Alabama’s impact (“Legacy is what you leave behind” – 69:44)
• Vandy Respect & SEC Expectations: “Expectation is to win every game…I like that standard.” (73:00)
  • Nick Saban (73:00): “There's perception…the perception of the Alabama folks after being here for all these years is win every game…It doesn't matter if it's Vandy, Florida, Georgia…”
• Coach Insight: On locker room psychology, rebounding from adversity (Tua’s injury, QB injuries), player development, and leadership.
• Mac Jones Anecdotes: “I used to call him John McEnroe…You can't do that and play quarterback. You’re affecting the whole team.” (96:14) Saban reflects on Mac’s growth, pride in his journey.
• Alabama Transition: Praises new coach DeBoer for psychological turnaround after FSU loss; details culture, pressure, and the “one play at a time” mindset (83:35).

12. NFL Picks & Betting Slate (119:09–146:36)

• Full NFL Week 5 Board: Crew gives rapid-fire picks in their usual rowdy style; chat about public vs. house, foul lines, “stinky” lines, and gut calls.
• Important Trends: Public once again getting hammered in high-% betting matchups.
• Running Gags: DoorDash ad with Gumpy, pizza glove visual, shoe wall banter.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pat McAfee (00:43): “Mac Jones is in his greatest form. It’s just like a perfect marriage [with Shanahan].”
• Dan Orlovsky (23:32): “That’s the best game I’ve ever seen Mac [Jones] play in the NFL. I was blown away.”
• Nick Saban (73:00): “I like that standard...I'd hate to coach at a place that didn't have an expectation you're going to win the game.”
• Nick Saban (96:14, on Mac in college): “I used to call him John McEnroe…You can't do that and play quarterback.”
• Pat McAfee (83:35): “You got to figure out a different way for the players to approach the competition. Simple things like, play one play at a time.”
• Ty Schmidt (54:52): “The story here…was Cam Schlitler. He had arguably one of the best outings in the history of the postseason.”
• AJ Hawk (18:27): “The Big Ten is almost the cock of the walk right now. And it feels like the Big Ten knows that.”

Guidance for New Listeners

• The show mixes insightful football breakdowns with high-energy jokes, tangents, and banter. NFL segments blend gambling, fantasy, roster analysis, and league-wide storytelling; college football gets both a boots-on-the-ground and macro-season view, especially via Nick Saban’s extended appearance.
• The crew’s irreverent tone is balanced with genuine admiration for athletes and coaches, and consistent respect for the “grind” of football.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01–07:30: TNF recap: 49ers–Rams, Mac Jones ascends.
• 07:30–13:00: Mac's journey; QB development discussion.
• 13:00–16:00: Betting recap/stats.
• 16:00–19:00: Alabama on-site color, Vandy & SEC talk.
• 19:21–29:31: Dan Orlovsky on Mac, QB development.
• 29:08–33:50: McVay’s fourth-down call dissection.
• 35:20–39:38: Ravens’ must-win, Eagles’ underlying struggles.
• 43:00–49:53: NFC offensive trends, rookie QBs.
• 51:14–53:56: Chiefs' offensive changes, prediction.
• 54:52–61:07: Yankees' win, Boston drama, emotional anecdotes.
• 67:08–101:18: Nick Saban longform interview.
• 119:09–146:36: NFL Week 5 picks, betting angles, laughs.

Final Thoughts

This episode captured the unpredictable energy of a classic McAfee Friday: passionate sports analysis, industry insider perspective, and plenty of comedic chaos. Mac Jones’s story, the ever-evolving coaching carousel, and the traditions of major football programs intertwine with NFL bets and baseball highlights, always anchored by genuine, if quirky, love for “ball.” Nick Saban’s cameo underscores the show’s unique access and respect across all levels of the game.

Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three. Team!