Coaching Hot Seats: LaFleur Debate

Wild Card Weekend was chaos — and it reshaped how we should think about the postseason with one AFC spot still up for grabs.

What was the most impressive performance of the weekend — a coach winning a chess match, a QB putting on the cape, or a defense stealing points in the red zone? Which team gained the most belief from a win that felt bigger than the scoreboard? And which winners still left you uneasy even after surviving?

The coaching carousel is already heating up. James Palmer and Chase Daniel share their thoughts, including why moving on from Matt LaFleur would be “utterly insane." The guys also share potential best fits for Mike McDaniel — where would his offensive creativity hit fastest, and what kind of situation would actually maximize his strengths?

Then the conversation turns to the most impressive performances of Wild Card weekend. Chase points to Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers’ ability to win the schematic battle — even with injuries — and how their plan created answers in the middle of the field when it mattered. James adds his own standouts, including the Patriots flipping a major red-zone weakness into a winning formula, plus the reality of what it looked like watching Justin Herbert under constant pressure.

Which team gained the most momentum? James makes the case for Buffalo, why Josh Allen's moment carried historical significance, and how their say-it-with-your-chest style travels in January. Chase counters with Chicago, focusing on the Bears’ late-game identity and what their comeback DNA says about their ceiling when the pressure spikes.

Not everyone who advanced convinced. The guys dig into the winners that still raised red flags — what needs to clean up immediately, what could get exposed next, and why surviving isn’t the same as proving you’re built for a deep run.

They also look at the teams whose seasons ended and what we actually learned in defeat. Chase breaks down what the Eagles’ loss revealed about their offensive construction and how fragile it becomes if the run element disappears. James points to the Jaguars as a team worth tracking into the offseason — what changed late in the year, what’s real, and why big swings could still be coming.

To close, we chat about the thin line between competitive and petty. Ben Johnson’s postgame moment sparks a real debate: how much emotion is too much after a win like that — and who’s actually offended by it? James and Chase then share their own hang-ups - what are you irrationally competitive about that you probably shouldn’t be?

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What was the most impressive performance of Wild Card Weekend — and who made you a believer after the first round?

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