PMS 2.0 1268 - NFL Week 17 Preview/Picks, Thursday Night Football Recap, Nick Saban, Kyle Van Noy, & AJ Hawk
Dec 27, 2024
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Nick Saban, the legendary seven-time national champion coach, shares insights on the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals and his intriguing matchups. Kyle Van Noy, a two-time Super Bowl champion and NFL linebacker, discusses the Ravens' impressive form and his standout season. They dive into playoff complexities, team dynamics, and how the NFL can better schedule thrilling matchups. The crew humorously laments a snooze-worthy Seahawks-Bears game, highlighting the need for adjustments in game selection as the playoffs approach.
The Seahawks vs. Bears Thursday Night Football game showcased the need for the NFL to improve its scheduling to enhance viewer experience.
Nick Saban's insights on the College Football Playoff highlighted the importance of intriguing matchups and the significance of surprise plays in captivating fans.
Kyle Van Noy shared valuable lessons about resilience and work ethic, inspiring young players to persevere through challenges in their careers.
The hosts discussed how fluctuating NFL ratings are closely tied to game quality and star power, reflecting the complexities of sports broadcasting today.
As playoff excitement builds, expectations rise for thrilling matchups, emphasizing the intense competition that often elevates player performance during this critical season.
Deep dives
A Dismal Game Recap
The podcast discusses a dismal Thursday Night Football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Chicago Bears, which resulted in an incredibly low score of 6-3. This marked the lowest scoring game since 1980, leading to a poor viewing experience for fans. Caleb Williams, the starting quarterback for Chicago, struggled toward the end of the game, ultimately throwing an interception that sealed the win for Seattle. The hosts express frustration over the quality of prime-time football matches, suggesting a need for better scheduling.
Bowl Game Highlights
The conversation shifts to more exciting college bowl games that happened simultaneously, particularly highlighting a memorable moment from the Ventures Bowl where Arkansas State secured a win against Bowling Green. An intriguing play unfolds when Bowling Green sends out their punter, only to have a third-string quarterback in disguise throw a successful pass. This clever play caught the attention of viewers and brought a spark of excitement to an otherwise dull night of football. The hosts reflect on the importance of creativity and surprises in football, showcasing how moments like these can captivate fans.
A Promising Outlook
Despite a lack of excitement in recent games, the hosts remain optimistic about the upcoming football playoffs. They emphasize that the law of averages suggests that after a series of poor games, thrilling matchups are likely just around the corner. The hosts anticipate that the final weeks of the NFL season will deliver outstanding performances from teams, especially with playoffs on the line. With college football playoffs also approaching, the excitement for quality games is palpable.
The Importance of Scheduling
The podcast explores the challenges of scheduling in the NFL, particularly the reluctance of networks to flex games for fear of upsetting fanbases. The hosts debate the need for more flexible scheduling to ensure engaging matchups, especially in the highly competitive end-of-season games. This conversation highlights how teams invite scrutiny when matchups fail to deliver excitement, underlining the consequential impact of scheduling decisions on viewer engagement. It raises questions about whether changes will be made to improve the fan experience.
NFL Ratings Insights
Discussion turns to NFL ratings, where the hosts reflect on how fluctuating viewership numbers are tied to game quality and the star power of teams. They note that promotions around Netflix's coverage of football have led to impressive viewership, but they still believe traditional cable channels, such as CBS and Fox, hold significant sway in ratings. The ongoing debate about streaming versus traditional TV ratings unveils the potential complexities behind how audiences engage with the sport across different platforms. Amidst this, the hosts acknowledge the ever-evolving landscape of sports broadcasting.
Injury Updates and MVP Discussions
The hosts discuss Injury updates on key players like Jalen Hurts and Anthony Richardson, emphasizing the importance of player health as the playoffs approach. There's a lighthearted debate about who's the rightful MVP for the season, considering the nuanced definition of 'most valuable' as opposed to merely being the best player statistically. This leads to conversations around how narratives and perceptions shape the MVP race and what constitutes true value in the context of team success. The ensuing debate showcases the passion that fuels discussions around player accolades.
Kyle Van Noy's Insight
The podcast features a special guest, Kyle Van Noy, who shares his experiences playing for the Ravens and his journey within the NFL, including important tips for younger players. He elaborates on the importance of resilience and maintaining a strong work ethic throughout the ups and downs of a sports career. Van Noy's insights reflect a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed, from overcoming adversity to maximizing opportunities on the field. His experiences serve to inspire up-and-coming players to never give up on their dreams.
Anticipation for Future Games
Looking ahead, the hosts express excitement for the upcoming playoff games and the potential for thrilling matchups. They discuss how the burst of energy and competition during the playoffs often elevates the level of play, igniting fans' passions and drawing significant attention to the sport. There are high expectations for how teams will perform in the postseason, anticipating that many will rise to the occasion and deliver memorable moments. This optimism creates a buzz about the football atmosphere as the playoff dates draw nearer.
Cultural Reflections in Sports
Throughout the podcast, there are reflections on how sports culture impacts players and fans alike, particularly in the context of controversial moments and passionate rivalries. The hosts discuss the fine line athletes walk when engaging in off-field antics, like celebrations or comments that spark heated debates. They note how rich team cultures, rivalries, and traditions all contribute to the anticipation and narrative surrounding significant games, giving depth to the sport beyond mere statistics. Conversations about medaling, rivalries, and cultural identities provide a rich context for the emotional stakes involved in each competition.
Final Thoughts and Weekend Plans
As the podcast wraps up, the hosts reinforce the importance of enjoying the weekend's games while celebrating the love of football. They encourage listeners to remember the joy that sports bring to life and to appreciate the camaraderie that often forms around these shared experiences. The conversation turns lighthearted as they discuss their expectations for the upcoming slate of games and share personal stories from their sports journeys. With the anticipation for exciting games and personal anecdotes, the hosts end on a feel-good note, wishing everyone an enjoyable weekend.
On today’s show, Pat, AJ Hawk, and the boys chat about last night’s Thursday Night barnburner between the Seahawks and the Bears that ended with a decisive 6-3 victory for the Seahawks in what was possibly the worst watch of the season. They discuss the NFL needing to figure how to to appropriately flex games so we don’t have to worry about those type of games this close to the playoffs, before looking at the entire week 17 slate and making their picks against the spread. Joining the progrum to preview the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals, and which matchups he thinks are the most intriguing is 7x National Champion, College GameDay panelist, the GOAT, Nick Saban. Later, 2x Super Bowl Champion, member of the Patriots 2010’s All-Decade Team, and current pash rusher for the Baltimore Ravens, Kyle Van Noy joins the show to chat about the Ravens current hot run, why he thinks he’s having such an unbelievable year, their defense hitting their stride at the right time, playing with Lamar Jackson, and much more. Make sure to subscribe to youtube.com/thepatmcafeeshow or watch on ESPN (12-2 EDT), ESPN’s Youtube (12-3 EDT), or ESPN+. We appreciate the hell out of all of you. We’ll see you tomorrow, cheers.
