Hang Up: The Chiefs and the Week 2 NFL Panic Button

Sep 15, 2025

The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the Chiefs' alarming 0-2 start, questioning if their aging roster is catching up with them. Sidney Crosby's potential exit from the Penguins is explored, raising questions about the loyalty owed to legendary players. Angel Reese's public criticism of her teammates in the WNBA adds spice, alongside an analysis of playoff dynamics. The legality of the 'tush-push' play creates further debate, and the panel reflects on deeper issues, including domestic violence allegations in the NFL that demand attention.

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INSIGHT

Chiefs' Dominance Shows Cracks

The Chiefs' 0-2 start suggests their decade-long dominance may be waning as age and missing pieces catch up.
Patrick Mahomes remains excellent but the roster and clutch margins that hid weaknesses have narrowed.

INSIGHT

Defense No Longer Bailout

Kansas City's defense has looked ordinary through two weeks, raising questions about aging stars like Chris Jones.
The team has lacked timely turnovers and playmaking in big moments that previously masked other flaws.

INSIGHT

Tush-Push Controversy Returns

The 'tush-push' kickoff-era play resurged and rekindled debate about banning it after controversial examples.
Week two already revived calls to reconsider the rule change during the next offseason.

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Hosts Alex Kirshner, Ben Lindbergh, and Lindsay Gibbs discuss the beginning of the NFL season, and the Kansas City Chiefs’ 0-2 record; their worst start since 2014 when they last missed the playoffs. Has their aging lineup started to catch up to them? Plus, the return of tush-push discourse.

Next, the 38-year-old Sidney Crosby has played a whopping 20 seasons for the Penguins and is arguably the best player of his generation. But as the Penguins continue to flail, Crosby’s management is signaling he may not be long for the team. What do teams owe to their oldest, most storied players, and is it the end of the one-team legend?

Then, Angel Reese publicly criticized her Chicago Sky teammates in the Chicago Sun Times, calling out weak recruiting and their reliance on injured players. Reese and the team have reconciled, but for how long? We also catch up on the WNBA playoffs: The Lynx may feel inevitable, but Lindsay argues there may be some meaningful challengers as the playoffs roll on.

In afterballs, the Tyreek Hill’s domestic violence allegations are barely registering in conversations about his rumored trade to the Kansas City Chiefs. Lindsay looks back at the details of the claims against him, and why they’re important to remember.

On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the panel discusses Phillies Karen, the ball hawker who went viral after demanding the return of a ball from a child. After several false accusations and an ongoing campaign to unmask the ball-taker, have we taken bad ball park etiquette too far?

NFL Week 2 (3:52): A panic button for the Chiefs

Sidney Cosby and the Penguins (19:22): The end of an era?

The WNBA Playoffs (34:54): Angel Reese and Lynx domination

(Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.)

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You can email us at hangup@slate.com.

Podcast production and editing by Benjamin Frisch, with production assistance from Patrick Fort.

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