Podcast Summary: The Ryen Russillo Show

Episode: The Caleb Game, the Eagles’ Hurts Problem, and More Round 1 Reaction w/ Nate Tice and Willie Colon
Date: January 12, 2026
Host: Ryen Russillo
Guests: Nate Tice (Yahoo, Football 301 podcast), Willie Colon (NFL Analyst)
Platform: Barstool Sports (now available on Netflix)

Overview

This football-packed episode finds Ryen Russillo breaking down the wild events of the NFL playoff weekend. He puts particular focus on Caleb Williams’ breakout “legacy” performance in the Bears’ dramatic comeback over the Packers, analyzes the mounting questions swirling around the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense and Jalen Hurts, and explores the strengths and shortcomings of multiple playoff teams. Russillo is joined by football analysts Nate Tice and Willie Colon, who add expert insight to the key games and stories from Wild Card weekend.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Caleb Game”: Bears vs. Packers Breakdown

[03:30–13:00]

• Russillo sets the stage: Early in the Bears/Packers game, Green Bay seemed in complete control (three touchdowns on their first three possessions) and Chicago’s defense looked "a mess." Caleb Williams throws two fourth-down interceptions, but Russillo argues these aren’t as “egregious as other interceptions.”
• Caleb Williams’ fourth quarter heroics:
  • Williams threw for 167 yards in the fourth quarter, making a series of clutch completions (22, 21, 17, 27, 22, 23, 25 yards).
  • Notable: “The throw to Rome, when he sprints left…and gets his body back and throws it right…the fourth and eighth throw to Rome…when you see that end zone replay…it’s insane.” – Russillo [07:30]
  • Bears offense looked “completely in control…like basketball stuff,” describing Williams orchestrating the comeback.
• Packers’ late-game mismanagement:
  • Russillo’s detailed sequence of Matt LaFleur’s play-calling and clock management on Green Bay’s final drive, which ran only 1:16 off the clock before a missed field goal.
  • Quote: “At some point you’re like, guys, maybe throw something that’s going to be caught in front of you, make them use their timeouts…They’re trying to get to a perfect play, doing everything, and sometimes you just gotta flow and go.” [38:33, with Tice]

2. The “Hurts Conundrum” in Philadelphia

[10:45–12:00, 22:26–29:57]

• Russillo’s skepticism on Jalen Hurts:

  • Despite Hurts’ Super Bowl win and strong numbers, Russillo questions his ceiling, saying, "Whenever I’ve watched the Eagles’ offense this year…I just go, imagine if they had somebody better than him, how good this team would be.”
  • Draws analogy to a World Series team with a shaky pitching staff: just because you can win without a superstar QB doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to find one.

• Nate Tice on Philly’s QB situation:

  • Tice floats the possibility of Philly seeing what they can get for backup Tanner McKee, even considering a “tryout” year with both QBs.
  • Memorable analogy: “What have you seen more of: Hurts in a successful Eagles passing game or a struggling, frustrated AJ Brown reading books on the sideline?” [24:09]

• Systemic Eagles offensive issues:

  • Tice: “Everything has to be perfect. It has to come down to third downs, fourth downs, go balls, Tush Pushes...there’s nothing that happens in the flow of the offense with Hurts.” [27:34]
  • Tice argues that Hurts’ playing style handcuffs offensive creativity, turning it into “iso ball basketball” instead of the orchestrated flow seen in top Shanahan/McVay schemes.

3. 49ers, Rams, and Playoff Offenses

[17:05–20:15, 40:03–43:06]

• 49ers adaptability under Shanahan:
  • Tice praises Shanahan’s evolving play-calling, his knack for stripping down to what's working. “Adjustments don’t really happen at halftime, it’s more in between series…He knows how to strip down to what’s working.” [19:04]
  • Russillo and Tice highlight that playoff coaches study full seasons of tape and that NFL playbooks leave no room for “wasted plays.” [20:50]
• Rams’ third down problems & Stafford’s finger:
  • Despite picking the Rams as “his” Super Bowl team this year, Russillo notes persistent third-down inefficiency: “My Rams, this is a statistical problem.” [12:15]
  • Tice says Rams’ undersized corners may struggle against Chicago’s big receivers, making them “a little more pickable.”

4. Jacksonville’s Playoff Ceiling and the AFC South

[13:30–16:00, 44:13–46:58]

• Jaguars fall to Bills, but future is bright:

  • Russillo: “Jacksonville sucks…I still like Justin Herbert. Thanks for asking.” [16:00]
  • Tice's analysis: Both teams are “good but flawed.” Jags had more explosives and higher success rate, but turnovers doomed them: “You just can’t have turnovers in the playoffs against a freaking monster at quarterback on the other team.” [44:42]
  • He praises Trevor Lawrence’s improvement and the Jaguars’ progress as a franchise, stressing perspective for fans.

• AFC South remains an afterthought:

  • AFC South’s last AFC Championship appearance: 2019; very few recent playoff wins for division teams.

5. Steelers-Texans Matchup & Locker Room Insights

[49:25–54:05]

• Willie Colon sets the stage:

  • “We’re flawed, riding on the wings of destiny…It’s all about fate and faith.” [50:00]
  • Explains how bulletin board material and being an underdog genuinely motivates a team, sharing personal playoff war stories from his Steelers days.
  • “Sometimes agitation just leads you to say, you know what, we just gotta go out and fight, and if we do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll come out on the other side.” [55:26]

• On Steelers’ O-line criticism:

  • Colon reflects on years of being scapegoated despite context (injuries, teammates’ play style). “If you were going to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, you block for Big Ben Roethlisberger, you know he’s going to run around and you just do your job.” [56:23–56:59]

6. The Ongoing AJ Brown Drama

[58:16–60:41]

• Willie Colon: “It’s done. Feels done.”
  • He eviscerates Brown for “causing that much conflict” and then disappearing after critical drops: “When you’re that noisy as a receiver and it’s time for the answer, we need you to answer.” [58:42–60:22]
  • On sideline outbursts: “Receivers are going to be noisy...comes with the position.”

7. Coaching Carousel: Is John Harbaugh a Fit?

[71:43–78:35]

• Russillo and Colon weigh pros and cons:
  • Harbaugh’s lack of offensive identity is a concern for teams with young QBs; he’s best as a stabilizing presence for struggling organizations rather than a schematic savior.
  • Colon: “If you have stability, I believe in running it back with a coach who can build.”
  • On the Jets and Giants, Colon warns that Harbaugh wouldn't fit as a “developer” or trendsetting play-caller.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Caleb Williams:

  • “All these things are playing out…there just wasn’t really much other than the idea of Caleb Williams and then Caleb Williams happened.” – Russillo [05:45]
  • “That’s the whole reason any of us loved Caleb…that 4th quarter.” – Russillo [07:00]

• On Matt LaFleur’s Packers:

  • “The problem becomes the collective—it’s like, you ran 1:16 off, they still have a timeout, you didn’t even score.” – Russillo [36:40]

• On Eagles/Hurts:

  • “I would equate it to a baseball team that wins the World Series without good starting pitching. Of course you’d want better pitchers next year.” – Russillo [11:50]
  • “Everything has to be perfect…there's nothing that happens in the flow of the offense with Hurts.” – Tice [27:34]

• On Shanahan’s play-calling:

  • “He knows how to strip down to what’s actually working, speaks to how he’s evolved his entire attack.” – Tice [19:04]

• On the Philadelphia sports environment:

  • “Eagles fans love being mad at everybody…I love ‘em, ECW fans, they’re the mutants.” – Tice [26:36]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| MM:SS | Segment | | ------ | ---------------------------------------------------- | | 03:30 | Bears–Packers “Caleb Game” Breakdown starts | | 07:00 | Caleb Williams’ clutch 4th quarter—play-by-play | | 10:45 | Russillo questions Jalen Hurts’ long-term fit | | 17:05 | Start of interview with Nate Tice | | 19:04 | Shanahan’s evolution and playcalling philosophy | | 22:26 | Nate Tice on Philly’s QB future / Hurts alternatives | | 24:09 | Tice on AJ Brown, Hurts, and Eagles’ dysfunction | | 27:34 | Tice’s in-depth critique of Hurts’ limitations | | 38:33 | Deep dive: Packers’ last drive clock mismanagement | | 40:03 | Rams offense, third down conversion issues | | 44:13 | Tice: Jags-Bills game, turnovers, playoffs insight | | 49:25 | Start of interview with Willie Colon | | 54:05 | Steelers O-line and bulletin board motivation | | 58:42 | Colon on A.J. Brown drama in Philly | | 71:43 | Is John Harbaugh a fit for teams in the coaching carousel? |

Tone and Style

• Russillo’s Tone: Analytical, unsparing, and self-deprecating; often mixes in analogies from other sports and pop culture references.
• Tice’s Style: Technical, coach’s-eye football talk with some deadpan humor (see: “the mutants” ECW Eagles fans).
• Colon: Direct and candid, delivers honest “locker room” stories and holds players accountable for both performance and attitude.

Conclusion

This episode delivers a dense, entertaining dive into the weekend’s biggest NFL stories—anchored by a marathon discussion of Caleb Williams’ “arrival,” the Eagles’ Hurts/AJ Brown saga, and the minute details of late-game decision making. Russillo’s hosting keeps things brisk and relatable, while his guests provide depth and vivid anecdotes from both film study and locker rooms.

Best for: Listeners seeking strong opinions, X’s and O’s depth, and real talk about what’s happening inside NFL teams during high-stakes playoff action.

For further insights, listen to these highlighted moments:

• [07:30] “The throw to Rome … it’s insane.”
• [24:09] “What have you seen more: Hurts’ success or AJ Brown reading?”
• [27:34] “Everything has to be perfect…with Hurts.”
• [38:33] “Trying to get to the perfect play…sometimes you just gotta flow.”