PMS 2.0 1460 - Watt Wednesday, NFL Thanksgiving Day/Black Friday Preview, NFL Week 13 Picks/Preview, Nick Saban, AQ Shipley, & AJ Hawk

18:06Pat McAfee:We'll definitely want to show it at some point. Good idea. Yeah, we love a good turkey ball highlight. Oh, nothing better. I mean, I'm still living off of one of them. I had one highlight. We lost it by 20 in that game. Nobody will know. We run that highlight all the time. Look at his completion. Good times. Everybody's celebrating. I'm dancing, doing our thing. We lose by 20. I get called in the office the next day. Remember, that kind of – That kind of – That was it. It does kind of – That was the beginning of the end. Well, the beginning of the end, as you know, was years before that. True, true, true.

18:31Pat McAfee:I mean, retirement was being talked about for years. It's fire. Really? I think it's one that even you guys would be like, okay, maybe Turkey Bulls are back. Okay. I am happy to hear that there's optimism that Turkey Bulls are still happening. Have you seen the shirts off, boys? No. Basically at every university. Oh. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. It feels like we've gone back in time. Yeah, yeah. Like there is a lot of that happening. Now, I did a journalistic piece on that. Burt Kreischer, the OG of being shirtless in public was in there. and we told a story and made a couple stats up about how shirtless in stadiums is up 7 ,000 % or something like that.

19:09Pat McAfee:I think that number's only going up. I love the community and the camaraderie that's happening. Maybe football is back to its state of like, hey, this is good time. This is special. This is what we need to be. Maybe we understand that because we live it every single day and we doubt that others do. I think others understand that as well. How could you not whenever you see everything that's happening on a field? How could you not with the story? How could you not with the people coming together? Isn't that what Thanksgiving's all about? Yes, it is, brother. Turkey bowls are all about. We need to have these turkey bowls still happen.

19:33Pat McAfee:And I have faith that the next generation of turkey bowlers is going to put together a highlight reel of a turkey bowl this particular turkey day. Now, here's the highlight. This is from 2009, it says. This is a little bit of a throwback. It looks like it's Indianapolis, maybe. Throw. Oh, wow. Boom! Gee! Yeah. Gee. Who is that? Is that an old start? My God. Might be. Oh, my God. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, that might have been him, actually. That was unbelievable. A man who's in the bullring of honor for the Houston Texans. This weekend, he's calling the Houston Texans versus the Indianapolis Colts.

20:09Pat McAfee:Feels like there's going to be some biased journalism taking place. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, future first ballot Hall of Famer, CBS broadcaster, J.J. Watt. J.J. Watt. Wow. Whoa. We just talked about it.

20:26JJ Watt:Tarp it off. Tarp it off. Come on. I'm not going to do it.

20:28Pat McAfee:pop that thing pop that top big dog i'm not gonna do it i got the uh i got the ears thing the whole yeah i just i got in a bad spot i can't do it especially with that's fine that's fine especially

20:37JJ Watt:with him so let's your so it's a predetermined thing on game day every week because you got

20:41Pat McAfee:to get the ears off you got to get the wires off no it's wired underneath good beard everything's under wired underneath never on my show do i wire underneath because i don't need to be shirtless in a thunder though you know i didn't do that everything in game day is wired underneath though hey you look you look pretty good do you look super jack where are you just kind of hanging out

20:58JJ Watt:house i'm uh um my son wanted to uh go to the beach this morning i said i got the show at 10. he said i want to go to the beach he just started screaming so we went to the beach i tried to do the show from the beach and uh foxy said this ain't gonna work pal you got no reception i said that makes sense so i ran back to the casa and uh there's better wi-fi here but i am now sufficiently out of breath.

21:25Pat McAfee:And also, very away from your kid. Is your kid okay on the beach or what?

21:29JJ Watt:I hope so. Who knows? Not me.

21:36Pat McAfee:Go on, Koa. Go on, boy. Go on. J.J., thanks for making this happen. Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Beach Day to you and your boy. Traps look good, bro. You look really good. You're kind of glistening right now, too, kind of glowing from the run. You should feel good about where you're at. Beard looks phenomenal as well. Really, all things going good for you right now in your face and upper shoulder area thanks yeah i realized there's

21:57JJ Watt:no bye weeks in broadcasting that was a slight shock so no bye weeks 18 road games in a row had to find a way to hit a beach somewhere in there and this is it hey smart good for the family

22:09Pat McAfee:good for the mind let's talk about what you have this weekend now you better enjoy that beach now brother because it's gonna be hostile in the lot of house for the houston texans what is your film study saying about what the environment's about to be like in Lucas Oil Stadium, officially known as the Loud House. Mr. J.J. Watt?

22:30JJ Watt:You know, I love myself some Lucas Oil. I'm looking forward to this game. It's a massive, massive, massive matchup in the AFC South. And I also have the Colts Jaguars next weekend. So you're getting me back to back here. Very excited. Obviously, I've had a couple of Colts games already this year. Know a lot about them. Looking forward to seeing them and number one offense versus number one defense this is going to be immovable force versus unstoppable unstoppable force versus immovable object there we go i got it we'll get there keep it rolling um really looking forward to this game my biggest question for you are the fireplaces going to be on the screens pre-game when does that start what fireplaces are you

23:10Pat McAfee:talking about why are you bringing fireplaces no it's a loud house it's not a fireplace we're not sitting with a book.

23:15JJ Watt:I loved it. That's one of my favorite parts of going to Indy was the fireplaces on the scoreboards pregame. I just want to know if it's going to be there or not.

23:23Pat McAfee:Do you feel that way yourself or is that a Houston Texans thing? You guys like the fireplace?

23:30JJ Watt:I personally, I don't even know if anybody else ever knows about it. I know about it. I loved it. It was always nice and festive. I'm just curious. Is it only like Christmas week or is it November, December?

23:41Pat McAfee:remember listen we'll do it for you because we would like you to feel welcomed and we would like you to feel comfortable at the loud house okay because we understand that you have night terrors about what that stadium was like for you whenever you were in your playing days and we understand that you can't even prepare this houston texans team for how loud that place is about to be this weekend so we would love to put that up there to make you feel comfortable up there in the booth if that makes you feel better.

24:05JJ Watt:Will you be in attendance? The Loud House? I mean, I have no clue. You have an unbelievable schedule. You fly everywhere. You're also a great family man. You have 16 different jobs. Number one, being father and husband. I just don't know. I don't want to put you on the spot and be like, I guess I actually put you exactly on the spot and was like, are you going to be in the stadium?

24:28Pat McAfee:Yes, yes. I will be. And guess what? There might be a surprise appearance by a little person, a tiny younger person that has never been to a game either. Yeah, there's a chance. There's a chance that this is a first.

24:39JJ Watt:You're pulling out all the stops. This is a big game. We need to win.

24:44Pat McAfee:We can't have a two-game slide, and we cannot be losing to the Houston Texans right now. We played the Texans twice and the Jaguars twice, as you know, down the stretch here, and everybody's within a game. So, I mean, we had a great start. We're winning the Super Bowl, and all of a sudden we look down the stretch here, and it's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. We got a lot to do. The boys understand that, though. Daniel Jones, if he was to participate in practice, it would have been limited. It's a walkthrough. It's a walkthrough. So ain't no problems there. You know, his name popped up in a notification from a fantasy football app on Tone's phone, and it said something that was very alarming to me.

25:16Pat McAfee:I immediately FaceTimed my source in the building and go, excuse me, what the hell is happening here? We don't give out their designation until Friday. It's a walkthrough. What are we talking about? Thank you. Okay, we need to make sure that's what we're talking about this entire time. How do you think the unstoppable force and the immovable object are going to kind of square off? What did you see from the Chiefs game? Have you watched the film of what the Colts did? And do you think the Houston Texans, CJ Stroud, we assume is going to be a quarterback if he gets out of concussion protocol. Do you think they'll be able to do the same thing that the Chiefs did to the Colts defense, which was literally just crossers, every play, every fucking play.

25:55Pat McAfee:It was just this. And then you got literally, that's all they did the whole time. and you just got sauce chasing the entire time across the entire field, Ward chasing the entire time across the other way. And it's like this is what everybody expected from the Chiefs. They have speed. They use it. They got guys that can go underneath. Now they're going to have a run game too coming back. It's like they did what we have seen old Chiefs do, which is basically run our defense off the field. And then they do a four-and-a-half-minute drive at the end of the fourth quarter to tie that thing up and then get the ball right back in overtime after three and out.

26:28Pat McAfee:It's like our defense, did they get exposed or was it just Kansas City Chiefs are very, very good? Like, how should I be viewing what happened to us? Because it got to a point where we could not stop them if they wanted to really go, even though we had the lead for most of the game.

26:41JJ Watt:Yeah, I mean, the end of that game obviously did not go anywhere near the way you guys wanted to go. It's with the three and outs on offense, which at times your best defense is your offense. It's keeping the ball, time of possession, moving it down the field, getting first down after first down, and just being able to build up those leads, which you've done so many times this year. And then that fourth quarter in overtime was just three and out city. And then what I look at is I think back to that Pittsburgh game where the Colts had some struggles in Pittsburgh. And that was they stopped the run and then they got after Daniel Jones and had tons of takeaways that game, obviously.

27:18JJ Watt:and then you look at the Chiefs here and something that the Colts have done there's there's a few things on offense they went with a ton of block up they did have a whole lot of max protection and trying to give Daniel that time but not having as many guys out in the routes and then you look at the defensive side since Sauce has come over their man coverage rightfully so obviously has gone way way way up so some of those crossers where you're talking about Sauce chasing guys across the field and some of these other DBs that man coverage is kind of what puts you into those situations and we all know and I feel like it's not talked about enough DeForest Buckner being out is so so massive man that guy is unbelievable I love watching DeForest play so the Texans defense as everybody in the nation saw on Thursday night against the Bills is for real they are very legit and when you turn on the film and you watch the way they communicate you watch the way that they fly around it's it's incredible and so the Colts offense with Shane Steichen's mind and their ability to do so many things and Jonathan Taylor and Tyler Warren and everybody involved versus this defense is an analyst dream.

28:25JJ Watt:I cannot wait to watch this game and see. I believe the stat is the last five times the number one offense has played the number one defense, the number one offense is 5-0.

28:35Pat McAfee:Yeah! Wow. Yeah, we like that.

28:47JJ Watt:be used to it is what you're saying we'll see houston's houston's held eight teams under 20 points this season most in the nfl colts obviously the only team in the nfl to score 20 or every single game and i believe again back to the last five times the number one has faced number one the offense has scored over 20 points each time so history is certainly on the offensive side in this which would say it's on the colts side um this houston defense is just nasty and mean and flies around it's crazy man you watch the tape and it looks like they're in fast forward so this is going to be a heavyweight matchup i'm so excited we're on the call you want to do a

29:24Pat McAfee:couple more stats too i i think the colts have only punted like 22 times going into week 13 i think they've only had to punt that and obviously turnovers from a couple different if you were eliminated two games you know i think the turnovers are at like next to zero but on that note you know who knows what we are at this stage of the season you know jonathan Taylor for a long time was the MVP conversation. Now CMC is the running back that's in that conversation. We can obviously flip it around against the number one defense, but it's going to be tough. It's not just a run game that we have to get going.

29:54Pat McAfee:We're going to have to be able to protect Danny Jones just a little bit. And it feels like Houston's built to kind of dominate the Houston sack station is certainly becoming a topic of conversation. Go ahead, AQ. Yeah, JJ, I really like the two tackles in Buffalo and they struggled mightily against those two edge guys I know you've talked about the whole defense as a whole but having the Neil Hunter and Will Anderson and what they're doing 21 sacks between the two of them how important was it to see them with the rush lane integrities and keeping Josh Allen bottled up yeah I D 'Amico actually talked

30:28JJ Watt:about this on his radio show this week and it was really interesting the Bills did go with heavy five-man protection they didn't they didn't give a ton of extra help and against those guys you just can't do it no matter how good your tackles are and like you said those are two good tackles so for those two guys it's pretty crazy they have this thing where it seems like they've synced it up before every play where one guy may rush high and the other guy rushes low so that they're never off kilter but it's not how it is i've talked to them both about it and they said it just naturally happens that way and you watch that game and you see him win with speed you see him win with power.

31:04JJ Watt:You see him win with spin moves. You see him win with a rip move. They do it. And then you see Will win with relentless effort, just 15 second sack. Like they have everything you want in a pass rusher and they also stop the run. It's, it's pretty cool. And then you flip it over to the cold side and you have Latu who is tied for the team lead in interceptions with three also has five sacks in his last five games. He's coming on heavy. It's a lot of fun to watch him play. You got Grover, who's got an interception. That D-line is making plays. I mean, this game is going to be great.

31:37Pat McAfee:It is, and it's going to be in the lot house. We know what that means.

31:43JJ Watt:I can't wait to see it. Are you going to get on the mic?

31:46Pat McAfee:You're going to feel it, brother. No, I don't get on the mic for that.

31:50JJ Watt:Just play off basketball. I'm excited to see the booth. I feel like Lucas Oil would have a good booth. That's something I'm learning this year. Every stadium, very different booth setups. I feel like

32:00Pat McAfee:lucas oil is going to have a nice setup it's all in how old the stadium is i think from my understanding of the booth setups you know the newer stadiums have a little bit nicer booths because i think they think about like hey the tv broadcast very important to the entire business here you know back in the day i think it was like yeah these pieces of shit they got to call the game somewhere just put them in there basically some of those booths are bad right some of these

32:21JJ Watt:places are not good yes yeah yeah yeah biggest biggest thing for me if you got a bathroom in it i can't be running down the hallway at the end of the first quarter if i gotta take a piss

32:31Pat McAfee:because i drank six coffees before the game just think about what media was at that point though you know whenever those stadiums were being built it was like we have to deal with media as opposed to hey our entire business is basically media now so those like i think the cowboys whenever they built their stadium they asked troy to come in and help build it and there's like double layer there's a like an apartment i think there's like a bathroom in there there's a spot for and then some of the older stadiums it's like you walk in there and you're actually can't see like down the end of the thing and it's like this is a multi-billion dollar business right now and this is how we are brought we can't even see the end zone on this side it's like yeah massive also

33:07JJ Watt:food atlanta mini beef wellingtons in the booth i mean i'm sorry you toss a mini b wellington you're you might get a favorable discussion on playing the game i'm sorry i'll tell you that

33:21Pat McAfee:I don't like to think that I'm just like spineless and be won over by small gestures, you know, like that. But every time we go to game day, we go to some school. Somebody that is like, hey, I'm from the equipment room, just brings like a box of stuff. I'm like, this place is really nice. I love this place. It's really cool, man. And then I'll go to like a restaurant. Sir, we would love. It's all on us. Don't you worry about us. Like, I fucking love this place. And then I'm supposed to go on game day and pick against them. Okay. Yeah. And then all these people are doing this thing. It's like, yeah.

33:50Pat McAfee:I don't know. and then I have to sell myself. Like, if I'm picking against the home team with how these people treat me, like, it is not. I get treated so kindly by all these people. It is, like, it's uncomfortable, to be honest. It's like, I'm just going to lock myself in my room here so I don't have to see anybody because it's almost uncomfortable how nice everybody's going to be. But I have to see, like, they're really going to have to lose that game in my eyes for me to pick against them. You know, but there's some places that have an SID or something that I don't like. It's like, yep, we're picking against this place every time.

34:22Pat McAfee:every time we come here i am letting these people know that i do not like them hey and i'll get like a message from the coach coach would be like you don't like our team like what's the deal it's like no no no actually this piece of shit right here don't like them don't like them at all hate them and also who won the game thank you let's keep it moving but i am trying to get it right jage but it's hard whenever these people are so kind i couldn't even imagine for you jj i'm obviously

34:48JJ Watt:joking about the beef wellington before anybody writes an article no you're not obviously it's a joke he's not joking about that he's not joking also you're you're absolutely right though like there are it's it's pretty wild the difference in whether it's sids at that level or whether it's just communications directors or people within the stadium like there is certainly it's like with facilities in the nfl where you you got to the nfl and you assumed everything is going to be the best of the best and unbelievable. And it's not always the same. It's really been a fascinating journey through this whole year.

35:24JJ Watt:And I really love this job. I thought I was not going to love this. I thought I would not like it. But man, it is so much fun calling these games every week, especially when they turn out like they did last week. You got the Bears-Steelers coming down to the end. We had the Jags Texans where it was the fourth quarter comeback. This

35:42Pat McAfee:is awesome yeah and you're doing a great job i want to let you know that and i think you as an owner of another team couple other teams seeing how other uh operations go from the back end which is what you're getting a chance to do great learning piece especially for you as a person as a entrepreneur mindset yeah getting a chance to watch how places operate and being a part of it is a very cool thing and you're doing a great job brother you're doing a great job we're about sick of you calling tj's games or texans games though it feels like that's a little bit of a

36:09JJ Watt:After, I think after this game, it'll be eight out of 13 is either a Steelers or a Texans game. And like, people are like, oh, wow, what a nice perk. You got them to put you on these games. This is 100 % literally based off of market sizes. And this is, I and Eagle had Steelers and Texans games all last year. But it is harder because I literally have to go, like, people automatically assume you'll be biased. So then you try really hard not to be biased, which I feel like I've done a good job of. But when 8 out of 13 are situations where you've had a direct relation to the game, I do feel like 8 out of 13 the other way would have been an easier start for me.

36:52You know what the problem is? The Steelers aren't good enough to get the number one crew at CBS, but they aren't small enough, a fan base size, to get the number three game. So JJ's right in that sweet spot right at number two.

37:03Pat McAfee:And his brother just so happens to be a Hall of Famer for them right now. who has more sex than he does. Let's talk about that. What a bum. What do you do now? Say, hey, Derek, tell me how many sex you got. Is that how you just take a shot at somebody else? How's this kind of work? And I'm very thankful that you got a chance to be there. The whole thing was sick. And your preposterous line about putting the pads back on, beautiful reaction. Felt like it was in the moment, even though you certainly had to have thought about how you would think you would react whenever this would happen. What are your thoughts on it?

37:34Pat McAfee:There has to be a great sense of pride in what your little brother's doing?

37:38JJ Watt:It was my reaction in time of saying, if you're going to do it, that's one hell of a way to do it, was just pure and spontaneity and accurate because what a way to do it. A sack, I don't believe he's ever directly caused a touchdown with a strip sack before. It was really, really cool to have my brother and his kids there, to have my parents there. I did not think it was going to be that big of a deal, I swear to you. We never talked about it until the actual day of the game. We talked about it in our production meeting with my crew and everything, just how are we going to handle this. TJ and I did not talk about it until in the tunnel before the game, like, hey, today might be the day.

38:19JJ Watt:And it turned out to be much cooler and more special than I thought it would. I've always said I'll be unbelievably proud of him whenever it happens, and I believe he'll shatter every record I have. And I could not be happier for him. He works so hard. he's done it at such an insanely high level for so long he deserves it and he'll break everything

38:39Pat McAfee:i got yeah well i think that's why you do what you do and you lend the game to your little brother so he'll take it to the next place it's a beautiful story of uh sport and football and brotherhood i think the way you two have kind of handled it all especially with how there's clear admiration from both of you for each other which goes back to you being incredibly biased on every fucking call uh that we have to hear you battling against that is hilarious to kind of take place what did you say before the game whenever you said hey this could be the day was there do you guys ever find you feel like such a hard family right don't they feel like such a hard family oh yeah was there ever a moment of like hey this is really cool that the entire nfl that we kind of grew up watching and idolizing players is kind of looking at what two doofuses from the same family who just so happen to be stronger and work harder than ever like did you have that moment before the game have you ever

39:23JJ Watt:had that moment i i can tell you exactly it's funny that you bring that up so we we i met him in the tunnel before the game just to say, you know, cause I don't get to see him really, uh, on these trips. And I meet him in the tunnel and we were talking about random stuff, not about that. And the last thing I said, as I was walking away, I gave him a hug. I said, I love you. And then I literally looked back and was like, Hey, today could be the day. And he goes, could be. And we, we separated now after the game, obviously everything happens. And, um, you get photos sent to your phone from the team photographer.

39:54JJ Watt:Every player gets them sent to their phones uh and there was one photo of us pre-game in the tunnel talking to each other and he goes he texted me he goes this is pretty crazy huh and it wasn't a photo of the sack it wasn't a photo of any of our plays on the field and i just texted him back and i was like think about how wild that is we're two brothers in the bowels of an nfl stadium you're about to go out there and break something that i did at a very high level and we used to play in the backyard and piwaki me you and Derek, you know, down the punt inside the one yard line and pretending that we were on the high school football team.

40:30JJ Watt:That was the first time I think where we truly were like, this is crazy. Being in the bowels of the stadium, not being on the field.

40:38Pat McAfee:Yeah. And having a photo of that moment, knowing that in that conversation, you say, Hey, today could be the day. And he just goes, could be. And then goes out there. That's like fairytale movie type stuff. Now we leave the tag game show out of it. You remember when he had, that was awesome. We keep that one out of the

40:53JJ Watt:movie but i i think this is no tag this is you're i swear it's like you have like a a pre-interviewer because i tag has a scene in this weekend so at the hotel the night before the game i have to go to the hotel and interview mike tomlin aaron rogers mason rudolph hitter derek goes to the hotel so he can see tj before the game derek's kids watch tag reruns on their tv because they just love tag and obviously like to see their dad on tv so in the defensive meeting room at the steelers hotel when i finished my meeting with mike tomlin i walk in they're playing tag with tj in the meeting room saying they're the characters on tag see you have like a esp or some shit it's

41:38Pat McAfee:crazy i mean maybe there's a reason i do this job but there's like uh there's a lot of things that could potentially come together for a perfect fairy tale movie and even the tag thing with you You guys, you refused to do anything without your brothers for a while. And it was like, that's so cool. Like, that is a very cool thing that you guys can remain this tight, especially with the amount of money, egos, pride, drama that could come into play for all of this. You guys are a beautiful family, a wonderful family. And TJ's going to make sure nobody remembers your name, brother. And that's just, that's a sweet thing.

42:10Pat McAfee:That's a sweet thing. All right, we'll talk about the Pittsburgh Steelers side and obviously the bowels of that particular stadium. Let's talk about the team that calls that stadium home. Go ahead, Ty. Yeah, on the flip side, Jage, how impressed were you with the Bears on Sunday? I think a lot of people still don't really want to give them the credit for how good they are. Do you think that this team could ultimately make a pretty deep run in the playoffs? And how do you think they're going to fare on Friday against the Eagles?

42:35JJ Watt:So the Bears are one of those teams where you say we're never going to apologize for winning. I mean, 8-3 is 8-3. They're playing great in a lot of facets of the game. I think there's two areas currently that can take them even higher. So first, I want to start with the stuff they're doing incredible. Takeaways on defense. Unbelievable. Insane level. Nishan Wright's playing at an incredible level. They were missing three starting linebackers in that game, over 30 % of their tackles on defense. And DeMarco Jackson fills in, takes the green dot, communicates the whole defense, has 15 tackles. But they do give up a lot of yards on that defense.

43:11JJ Watt:They're a feast or famine. They either get a takeaway or they're giving up yards and points. So they need to get that part figured out. You can't just live and die by the takeaway. And then on offense, Ben Johnson, extremely impressive. In our meetings with him this year, we've had two games, two meetings. He has been not only unbelievably knowledgeable, clearly a schematic genius, but also really personable, clearly has a great pulse on his team, knows how to motivate them, knows how to be funny. Like, he really is a good, good head coach in the making, you can tell. And then Caleb is playing well to minimize a lot of the risks.

43:46JJ Watt:He's making some great throws. The one area that will take him to that next level is there were a good chunk of throws in that game that he would like to have back. Ben Johnson's great at scheming up these primary receivers, and a few times in that game, Caleb wasn't able to hit him. Now, obviously, you have three touchdowns, zero interceptions. He had plenty of great plays, but there are some out there that he's going to go look at and be like, I can be even better. And if he gets on that page with Ben Johnson's offense, the Bears do have a chance to be scary.

44:17Pat McAfee:Just natural dumb eye of mine, and I was third string quarterback in the NFL, thank you so much, and had the greatest cue bar in the history of Turkey Bulls in the NFL. Just natural eye looking at Caleb. Feels like there's a lot of movement with ball. feels like as his career goes, I assume, during the offseason to get more accurate, that thing will get tightened up, and all of a sudden he'll just become a pinpoint accurate passer because his arm talent is outrageous. He throws like 25-yard lasers, so he's strong enough that he'll be able to tighten that up a little bit, but I think he'll be able to get that thing into laser lock, which, once again, happens to most quarterbacks.

44:54Pat McAfee:Not everybody's coming in as a rookie and has pinpoint accuracy. Normally, there's some other training they're great at. Go ahead, Jade.

45:01JJ Watt:and this game was really interesting because coming into it, Caleb had the longest time to throw in the NFL. He held the ball for like 3.38 seconds on average every game this year. Didn't have a single game where his average was under three seconds. This game against the Steelers, 2.68 seconds average time to throw. So that means there were guys open for him to hit. And the Steelers, this zone defense, and it's been talked about a lot this week, but there were just quick throws. and when Caleb throws on time in rhythm, he can put it on him. In the Steelers, it's kind of been a theme of this year.

45:35JJ Watt:The ball has gotten out unbelievably quickly against them all year long. They have to find a way to buy that pass rush up front a little bit more time.

45:43Pat McAfee:Okay, so let's also continue to add with stats and Caleb Williams. I think what I saw out of this game a couple different times, there's one right there, play action, turning his back completely to the defense, turning around, not even a thought and letting it fire, which means pre-snap he knew what the hell he was supposed to do with the ball after he snapped it. So I think he's starting to understand defenses, but I think he's also starting to trust the system of like, hey, I'm allowed to turn my back completely to the defense and turn around and fire it. Here's Caleb Williams on play action, some stats from Hembo.

46:11Pat McAfee:In 2024, they did it 18 % of the time, 56 % under center, 10.4 % sack rate, 28.4 QBR. In 2025, they're doing it 30 % of the time, 86 % of the time it's under center, obviously getting more comfortable with the exchange. 4.1 % sack rate. He's getting it out on time as soon as he turns around. And 77 out of 100 QBR. So it's like play action was Jared Goff's weapon up in Detroit. All the other shit was just ready to go. Caleb's such like a creative player. Would he be able to buy into the robotic stuff? And would he be able to trust turning around completely to the defense, knowing that your brother is on the other team?

46:46Pat McAfee:It's like it feels like he's buying into all of it, Jage. Do you get that sense as well?

46:51JJ Watt:Yes, I agree. I think the one play, obviously the TJ strip sack in the end zone, like you got to find a way to get rid of that football. Now I know his arm was pinned and all that, but you just can't take that in that situation. But yes, this offense and with his ability, because there are times where Ben Johnson has the primary receiver schemed up and they don't get the coverage they thought they were going to get. So now he looks at one, two, three, they're not there. And he goes Superman mode and that's, he is incredible at Superman mode. So finding the balance of when to go into Superman mode and when to stay within the parameters of the offense is key.

47:23JJ Watt:But Ben Johnson himself told us, like, Caleb gets me out of some fires sometimes because of what he's able to do. So the better they get at finding that simpatico balance, the better that they will be. And they have a chance to be real scary. And if you give them a full offseason to really get under each other's hood and see how they can make this thing home as best as possible, it'd be special.

47:45Pat McAfee:The Bears might be the problem in the north for some time. time you know going forward there's a chance that's the case let's stay they believe in themselves

47:54JJ Watt:too like i mean they get in some of these games and like you you look at the score you look at the situation and the phrase that they view is this isn't me is same old bears and they said we're not going to be the same old bears and very very clearly they are not the same old bears they

48:08Pat McAfee:believe in themselves you know what they are they're the brand new bears feels like the nfc North's got a lot of brand new teams. Now, there's one old-ass team taking on a potential brand new team to kick off Thanksgiving. Go ahead, Con, man. Yeah, Jay, it's brand new Lions taking on the Packers at home tomorrow. First game to kick off the Thanksgiving slate. What do you expect out of that type of game? And do you have a good read on Green Bay or Detroit? A lot of people are saying, hey, Detroit, rag now, long in the tooth. But Foxy gave a nice little stat. They're still second in the league in scoring.

48:43And then for Green Bay, everyone kind of expected the offense to kick into gear at some point, and we just haven't really seen it yet. But their defense with Michael Parsons is flying around. What do you expect to see tomorrow out of these two teams?

48:56JJ Watt:First of all, I've seen a lot of buzz about it, but I haven't looked in depth. Is this game a half hour later than it normally is?

49:02Pat McAfee:Yes. Yes. We don't like it. We've been loud. Just know that we have been loud. I actually remember, too, Goodell answered this question when we were in Green Bay on the show at the draft. He said it's because they want to have it aligned with their traditional kickoff windows.

49:18JJ Watt:It's not traditional. That's exactly what I said. Thank you. That's our tradition. Thanksgiving is our tradition.

49:24Pat McAfee:I don't want to hear it. I don't like that we went back in time and he said that. I don't like hearing Roger Goodell say that in my head. I think we gave him hell for it at the time as well. We better have. What's he thinking? What's he thinking? Why are they thinking this? What are we going to do?

49:40JJ Watt:What are we going to do?

49:41Pat McAfee:Well, I think the Watts probably get along. Everybody else, we got a potential Thanksgiving table before these things. You know? Because the traditional time for Thanksgiving was when's ball on? I can distract everybody. Well, now they move it. The families are still doing traditional time. Everybody get there around noon. Everybody get there around noon. And then you can immediately have a distraction. Go to a different room if you have to. The game's on. We can all hang out here. Go grab some food. When's the food? 12.31. Perfect. We do this entire thing. We got ball in the background. Second half of that first game, normally when everything, because we just got done doing the whole thing.

50:16Pat McAfee:Now they're like, hey, listen, actually, guys, all that time, no distractions. It's like first time we're seeing some people in a long time. We've seen them post some shit online. Don't you think we should maybe have a distraction? NFL's like, you guys need to talk to each other. No, they don't. No. A lot of pressure on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Huge. That's come up in the clutch now. I'm not going to say it because my wife loves watching that thing. You don't like seeing Snoopy every year? I need a little bit more. The Rockettes? I need a little bit more sauce. What do you want, Pecker?

50:43It should not just be a, this is what it is.

50:47Pat McAfee:I agree. Shut down the whole city. It's entertaining. I do enjoy it, but it's the same thing every year. Can we get a little sauce?

50:57JJ Watt:The lip sync has increased heavily.

50:59Pat McAfee:What? The weather is so ass, though, normally. They're standing up there in the rain and they're singing this super high note in the morning. I'm like, yeah, right. There's no way you got that. And then their lip sync is like, what do you think it would sound like? It's 8 a.m. It's 15 degrees.

51:12JJ Watt:Who would be the best guy from the show to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?

51:19Pat McAfee:Just like do something?

51:23JJ Watt:A, sing, and then B, just do anything.

51:26Pat McAfee:Interesting.

51:27JJ Watt:I mean, Mad Mel could be up there.

51:29Pat McAfee:Mad Mel performing would be good. D-Bone could dress up like, D-Bone could be one of the mascots that walks. I think he could be you know they could tie some strings to him and just walk him down he could wear a suit

51:41JJ Watt:and walk it was his birthday yesterday he's not a blimp

51:45Pat McAfee:he's not a blimp don't say that that's very rude what are you laughing it was his birthday yesterday

51:50JJ Watt:happy birthday D-Bone

51:51Pat McAfee:happy birthday D-Bone that was fucked up they were saying that stuff I didn't like that terrible but he would be a good walk with flag maybe he'd be good with walk with flag yeah I mean to get him in the air you'd have to call NASA to get a couple rocket boosters but alright oh my god this is unfair whoever sent this in is not right this is come on that's barney that is not debone that is not debone okay turbo man also had to figure this whole thing out i think it might have been christmas i don't know if it was thanksgiving yeah but the parades in new york are obviously a very real deal and uh we will watch it but you're right i think it's done at noon

52:26JJ Watt:11 right isn't it done earlier yeah who knows yeah we we got a lot of space to fill there like you said you start going through the likes list on aunt cindy's on aunt cindy's accounts so you

52:37Pat McAfee:got some conversation starters and if you haven't seen what old whoever has liked definitely going to tell did you see what i posted on blah blah blah and then it's like no i'm not on that particular one oh it was just good hold on let me show you and then boom well don't you think

52:53JJ Watt:maybe there's that extra half hour is going to be did you see what pat mcafee did on veterans

53:03Pat McAfee:there's no reason for that happy thanksgiving everybody happy thanksgiving let's remember we're thankful we're thankful for these things we're thankful for these things going to the

53:10JJ Watt:barracks it was all good all good yeah 4 a.m light lights light light light light light that's not nobody talks about that for that it is the first thanksgiving as well where ai is really kind of stepped it up so the amount of videos that these old people are gonna be like did you see this and it's just not real.

53:28Pat McAfee:I'm witnessing that with some of the old. I assume, yeah. That I'm around. This lady bungee jumped and she fell and they didn't even save her. They just laughed. Stephen Hawking won the Coca-Cola 500 in a wheelchair. Came off the top rope against Helen Keller. Michael Cole was on the call. Those things actually happened though. See, there is Youngs that are also getting baited but it's not just the videos too. It's just like the screenshot of posts that are just like too easy to make these days. Time Magazine. People are shaping... Person of the year might be AI.

54:01JJ Watt:We got people believing these driving around on the streets, you know?

54:04Pat McAfee:Not just driving around the streets. They're also rolling their window down to let me know they believe them. You know, because they saw something that I said that I certainly did not. Who said that? You did. It's right here. That's an AI picture of me, clearly. No, it's not. I would have never said that. That guy's much more handsome than me. Thank you for that picture. But that is not my words. Yes, it is. You said it clearly. I know you did. You did Veterans Day done it, right? That's you? This is the same guy? Yeah, but I didn't say that. Okay. That's my own family, probably, if I go to one of these things.

54:36Pat McAfee:You know, like an aunt or something like that. And I don't... Come on, Rog.

54:40JJ Watt:Are you cooking? Are you the chef?

54:44Pat McAfee:My wife is a great cook. My wife is a great cook. Like, she's very talented in the kitchen. Now, granted, I would say Foreman Grill, I'm top three, four guys maybe in the history. I'm Rushmore Foreman Grill, George Foreman Grill guy. I was unbelievable.

54:59JJ Watt:What's your top dish off the Foreman?

55:02Pat McAfee:Any meat, basically. Also sandwiches. I'll put some sandwiches in there. Is there anybody's meat? Not anybody's meat. I guess we would need certain meat. I had an Australian Wagyu. Ooh. That was down in Texas. Japanese Wagyu and an Australian Wagyu. And once again, how was I supposed to pick against them? These people just spreading this thing out in front of me. This is$7 ,000 per bite, basically. It's like... Brand new Raygon. All right, I'll pick you.

55:29JJ Watt:Where was this? Who was whipping out the Japanese Wagyu at the...

55:32Pat McAfee:Buddy Beach, brother, down there. Texas Tech, you need to go stop by Buddy Beach. Listen. Real money. Hey, they got money down at... The ground, the ground, it is very kind to those people, which is why I would say it has to be God's country. I mean, I would literally just plant them right on top of that stuff. Jage, have an incredible Thanksgiving. We hope your family enjoys it. We hope Ko is okay on the beach as he's been running around a lot.

55:55JJ Watt:We're going to find out here in about five minutes. Haven't heard anything or seen anything, so I think we're okay. That's the scariest. I just want to say, before we sign off, I am very thankful for you guys. I have a lot of fun doing this every week. Your fans are awesome. I really enjoy interacting with them. This is an opportunity every single week for me to come on here and just talk some ball and shoot the shit with the boys. I thoroughly enjoy it I'm very thankful for all of you I'm very thankful for everybody who gives me the opportunity to have a job in sports greatest job in the world I'm unbelievably thankful be a friend tell a friend something nice might change your life

56:27Pat McAfee:wow wow 30 seconds we got I don't know what I'm supposed to do here just thank you Jage for the compliment Jage

56:37JJ Watt:Jage I didn't know how much time it left I did not know how much time it left I knew I was getting kicked off that was very kind of you I just had to say it

56:43Pat McAfee:also we found the photo I believe that you guys were referring to. So cool that in that moment, you acknowledged that history was about to be made. Thank you so much for joining us every week. We're thankful for you, Jage. Thank you for everything you've done for us and for Ball. You're the man. Be your friend. Tell your friend something nice. It might change their life. We'll see you on the other side. Goodbye.

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58:02Pat McAfee:Auto Parts

58:27Pat McAfee:We'll be right back. helmets to 10 random purchasers of the helmets i think we're going to restock those those are very cool we're going to try our best shout out to riddell putting that together everything else still 25 off at store.patmcfyshow.com but it's called the meaningful football sale because we're at thanksgiving right now you're every coach chit chat about hey we want our team to be playing our best ball after thanksgiving well guess what tomorrow is thanksgiving every team is going to want to be playing their best ball every team kind of knows what's in front of them some teams know they're desperate and they're going to have to win out and have some other things help them out like the Dallas Cowboys.

59:06Pat McAfee:Other teams know that they kind of control their own destiny at the moment. The Detroit Lions can potentially be one of those types of teams. Green Bay Packers can also do the same. Cincinnati Bengals need a lot to happen, but Joey Burrow is all the way back. And the Baltimore Ravens have been the favorite to win the AFC North, both in the sports books and in actuality, for the entire season, even though they've looked like ass for a majority of it. There's so many special storylines that can develop, let alone Is Taylor Swift going to beat her in Kansas? The Cowboys. She has a song with Post Malone, doesn't she?

59:37I believe so. Does she? Interesting. I don't want to start banging a pout

59:43Pat McAfee:or giving out any free performances from anybody that is a multi-billionaire because of her incredible talent and work ethic. But there's a chance that these games, not just on the field, but at halftime, put together the greatest Thanksgiving slate in the history of the NFL. So we appreciate the hell out of it. Hell yeah. Talks to the tables here. We have Boston Conner and that's Ty Schmidt. One half of the hammer. Done. Cowboys. AP Tony. is every somewhere over there. It's hunting season, baby. Let's go. You going out there? This is all my brothers going to be up in a tree stand this weekend or in a duck blind or whatever you want.

1:00:13Whatever your weapon of choice is.

1:00:15Pat McAfee:Yeah, see, Tim McAfee already used one of his tags out here in Indiana and then he's going back to Pennsylvania this weekend actually to see if he can go find one of them up in the hills. I saw Riley Green pull down some monster over there and somewhere left of wherever we are right now. It is hunting season, which once again, meaningful football season. That's right. All these things tell one story. Oh, there's a little briskness in the air. You're heating and air can't keep up with the proper temperature, so it's either one extreme or the other. Thanksgiving is happening. Wait a minute, it's hunting season.

1:00:42Pat McAfee:Wait a minute, it's meaningful football season. We are in the middle of it. Let's enjoy the hell out of it. Our stats on 60 % more of the bets on teams have been absolutely abysmal. As we look ahead to the Thanksgiving slate and the Black Friday game, how many heavy favorites or heavy betted teams are there, and what is kind of the public saying about where they think these games are going so when you look at that first one uh tomorrow that is tomorrow thank you thanksgiving we just talked about it uh green bay at detroit 52 you're so you're so locked up in a blind or a tree stand up there in pennsylvania you were asked if i was hunting this weekend i was not animals hunt winners so let's talk about those uh detroit 52 percent of the uh money right now is on detroit 50 50 basically so i'm not surprised by that one.

1:01:26You go to the next one, Dallas. 69 % is on the Cowboys. They are America's team right now.

1:01:33Pat McAfee:I promise you that. What? Hunting winners. Just watching the pure joy that came through your entire soul whenever you thought of that. A little bit too late, but still thought of it. We were going to force it in there no matter what. And guess what you are doing every day. You're a full-time hunter. Yes, we are. Yeah, we're looking through the esports books and we're hunting winners. And wake up early. Hey, it's meaningful football. Yeah. Early risers. Wakey, wakey. Hands off, snaky. Bingo. Find our cakey. Let's beat the sportsbooks is basically what you were saying is a full-time winner hunter.

1:02:08Pat McAfee:And I hope you can find some for us here because I'll tell you what, it hasn't been great for a lot of people. Also, don't forget to eat your eggs and bakey. But as we talked about Detroit, Green Bay, basically 50-50. Dallas is getting almost 70 % of the bets because everyone loves watching them. They are very, very exciting, and they're coming off a huge comeback win. Kansas City Chiefs getting 31 % of the bets. Isn't that crazy? And there's a stat about road favorites, I believe, on Thanksgiving. I believe they're undefeated. I think they're like 25-0. Ever? I'm pretty sure they're like 25-0.

1:02:37Something ridiculous got sent in yesterday.

1:02:39Pat McAfee:John Ewing says since 2004, road favorites are 25-1 straight up and 20-6 against the spread on Thanksgiving per BetLabs. Chiefs minus three at Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. And if you have a gambling problem, go ahead and call 1-800-GAMBLER. This is me covering my ass, John Ewing. Use some gambling stats letting you know that if you have a problem, do not read these. You are choosing to read these. And if you have a problem, you need to go get your help. Thank you for doing that, John Ewing. Also, if you do have a gambling problem, 1-800-GAMBLER is where you need to go to. That is obviously an addiction that is not funny, not enjoyable.

1:03:11Pat McAfee:But gambling is something that is very prevalent and also something that can indicate what future games are going to have. Since 2004. So when did the Lions get good? Three years ago? Yes. So probably 17 of those Lions were probably always home dogs. So just 17-0 probably against the Lions. Oh, I didn't even think about the Lions being home dogs every single Thanksgiving. Every year. Okay, so that's that. John Ewing actually said it looks like BetLab just kind of took a look at what the Lions have been, which is home dogs. There's probably a big factor in that. Yeah, and this ain't the same old Lions as the brand new Lions, but the Chiefs getting or favored by three and a half in Dallas and only getting 31 % of the bets is crazy just to think about where the Kansas City Chiefs are in public perception-wise.

1:03:54Pat McAfee:Ty, why do you think that is the case? Is it strictly because the conversation has just been they don't look good, they don't look good, they don't look good? That's kind of how everybody feels? Yeah, maybe, and I think, you know, like Diggs mentioned, everyone's kind of just infatuated with watching the Cowboys right now. Their offense is very fun to watch. They obviously got a couple of those guys on defense, and I don't know, I think maybe public perception-wise, people think that the Cowboys win over the Eagles is a lot more impressive than the Chiefs win over the Bulls. Okay, there's no reason for that.

1:04:23I had no idea that's where you were headed. That's not what I'm saying. Did you know that's where he was headed?

1:04:26Pat McAfee:Public perspective. 12-year NFL vet AQ Shipley had no idea that's where you were headed. Defending Super Bowl champions, you know? I mean, so maybe that has something to do with it. And we're talking about George Pickens, you know, out of nowhere, becoming maybe the most dominant receiver in the NFL this year. And then again, it's like at the start of the year it was, hey, the Cowboys are going to have to score 40 to 45 points every single week to win. And that's not really the case anymore. Their defense has come a long way. And then again, they are America's team. So, you know, anyone who is maybe on the fence about wanting to bet on the Cowboys, if there was ever a time you want to do it this year, you know, you're kind of in the sweet spot right now.

1:05:01Pat McAfee:Here's some more Thanksgiving trends from our friends at Covers. The Lions have lost seven of their last eight Thanksgiving games. Jack Harlow won was a loser, we think, immediately upon how that was set up going in. Right? I think that was potentially a reason why. Since 2000, road favorites have gone 22-11 against the spread, which is obviously two-thirds, and 29-4 straight up on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys have gone 3-11 against the spread on Thanksgiving since 2011. Is this team different? Is this situation different? 69 % of the bets on the Dallas Cowboys getting 3.5 down in Jerry World. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is a man who's an all-time leading tackler for the Green Bay Packers.

1:05:40Pat McAfee:He's a college football national champion, a Super Bowl champion, a Ryder Cup winner, father of 10, a man who loves Thanksgiving. Ladies and gentlemen, AJ Hall. of course who doesn't love thanksgiving is that my shirt uh do you have one of these i mean it's an amazon special so it's definitely possible is that kufandi is that kufandi i think it might be actually yeah mine's long sleeve yeah welcome to the world brother that's what i wear those literally four out of five days of my life they're so comfortable yeah the long sleeve one's great it fits perfect i mean they're doing they i'll tell you kufandi's showing up for me i i don't love that that is where uh i'm at shopping wise and what i'm wearing and i think people you know who um maybe are are suit wearers or nice clothes wearers anytime they hear that i literally pulled this shirt out of a bag that was packed airtight that got delivered to my house this morning from ordering it last night and i'm wearing it in a super professional setting i think people would say is uh disgusting and i would like to let them know nobody knows that this thing was seven bucks That's right.

1:06:41Nick Saban:Yeah. No. Why do they vacuum seal? All the cheap ones I always get on Amazon, they vacuum seal everything, I feel like.

1:06:48Pat McAfee:That's because the shipping needs to be very cheap, too, brother. If we take the air out of that thing, we get that thing smaller, we can put it in a smaller package. So not only is the material very cheap and not worth a lot, but also the packaging is going to be worth half of what it could be because we're going to suck the entire air out of that thing. I will say the static sometimes coming out of that thing makes it difficult to wear fresh out of the bag. And also, because it's air-sealed, you get those big ones. I've been exposed a couple of different times because of those big blocks. People saying, you just got that out of a bag.

1:07:18Pat McAfee:No. No. No, I have not. And it's literally right across your chest and right across your stomach. They're right here. Yeah, that's the shirt. I mean, this shirt, obviously, because you feel good this morning when I saw it. Yeah. Holiday season with baby girls. She's old enough to understand what's going on, too. It's so cool. Saw her on a drum yesterday, both hands, with drumsticks on a drum like this. On a kick drum? No, she's good at the foot, though. She is good with the foot. I think she would be able to get the kick drum. She's a dancer. She's a groover. She loves Dookie. Hell yeah. Yeah, Kenz has heard Dookie since the beginning.

1:07:56Pat McAfee:Every time Dookie comes on, she starts dancing. Kenz is a big fan of what's going on in that particular one, especially with the messaging as well. AJ, we're talking about the Thanksgiving slate. We're talking about Dallas Cowboys. Obviously, they got 69 % of the bets is the chatter right now. Chiefs getting 31 % of the bets as favorites on Thanksgiving, taking on Dallas Cowboys, bigger story. Dallas Cowboys getting 69 % of the bets on Thanksgiving against the Kansas City Chiefs, bigger story. Which way do you kind of view this? Because it's crazy to me that people view the Chiefs this low, seemingly.

1:08:29Pat McAfee:It's just crazy to me, especially because they still have Patrick Mahomes.

1:08:32Nick Saban:Yeah, I think people, I think the majority of the public picking Dallas here, the spread three and a half, that's not a whole lot. The spread was six and a half. Maybe I would understand more people on Dallas. But I tell you what, something about the hot hand in Dallas, they figured it out the last couple weeks. I think people kind of, they trust Dak, and they like what that Dallas defense has been doing.

1:08:51Pat McAfee:We like Dallas as well. We've actually chatted about, like, Dallas might be one of the best teams in football, but they're not going to be able to make the playoffs because they dug themselves too early of a hole. Is that how you're viewing the Cowboys as well? I love their offensive line. I love their run game. Dak's been fantastic, and we can talk about, obviously, the defense, and the defense was obviously an issue, but then Jerry made some big trades. They went and got some guys. They improved their defensive line. How about Tyler Booker, AQ?

1:09:12Nick Saban:What's that? How about Tyler Booker, the old young guard? How do you like his play? He's playing fantastic, and the left guard, Tyler Smith, might be playing as the best left guard in football.

1:09:21Pat McAfee:Is Tyler Booker an Ohio State Buckeye? No, Bama. No, no. I love that you know the offensive line for the Cowboys' age.

1:09:28Nick Saban:I've been seeing some baldy breakdowns. I'd like to check stuff out. I mean, some of these young guys, these young linemen, they come into the NFL and they seem like they are, I don't know. It's a very tough position to come in and play very well at a young age. And these guys are surprising me, and it's very impressive to see what they can do.

1:09:43Pat McAfee:I do appreciate the fact that we are finding young dogs because we thought we were going to go on a drought of dogs at the offensive line position because seven-on-seven, skills, camps, what the rules are going to be, and not enough training. It's nice to hear that Tyler Booker out of where? Alabama. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, the greatest college football coach of all time has won 100 national championships with Alabama and I assume can tell us more about Tyler Booker on that offensive line. Ladies and gentlemen, Nick Saban. Yay, Coach! Coach, how are you? Good, guys. Happy Thanksgiving to you.

1:10:12Pat McAfee:Happy Thanksgiving to you. I know you'll enjoy it with your family. Absolutely. I hope you will as well. You're at the office right now or are you at home? I'm at the office. Working, man. Working. Yeah, me too. You know, not as much good football work that you are having. I assume you're watching film, breaking it down, Thanksgiving obviously good time for teams to know what their team is in the NFL and college Thanksgiving is basically like hey here we go final push can we talk before we dive into college ball with you Tyler Booker and the offensive line thing that they thought there was going to be what was it like two years ago three years ago I forget what it was maybe three years ago four years ago recent history we've been doing a show there started to become a theory that we weren't going to be able to have a young offensive lineman that are good in the NFL almost as if guys were getting soft or the game of football is getting soft and there wasn't enough time to make dogs to have enough NFL offensive linemen.

1:11:04Pat McAfee:I think you guys were very worried about that from an offensive line position about young people coming in. Now Tyler Booker gets a shout out here from AJ Hawk and it feels like offensive line play is actually developing in a big way. Was there a time where you thought you weren't going to be able to find offensive linemen or was there a downtime and then an uptime? Like what do you think about this state of offensive line as they are the most important position in all the ball all balls i think yeah i i think it is it's all about the guy i mean tata booker is a really smart guy he's a really mature guy he's a pay attention to detail guy when it comes to technique assignment um and you know studying the player he's going to have to block whether it's pass block and run block and whatever it is so he is the kind of guy that i think can play early he played early for us here doesn't surprise me that he's doing well in dallas you know for them you know now he was actually back I think for the LSU game came up in the box and talked with them and you know he's really happy with the situation that he's in and I think doing really well and I'm kind of very proud of him yeah what do you think it is about offensive I mean you say the guy just is it a uh like a work ethic what do you think it is that really creates the best offensive lineman in your eyes no I think that offensive line and defensive line are probably the two positions in football that are the most technique-centric.

1:12:24If that explains footwork, hand placement, knowing the right angle, you've got to go to block a guy, when to come off of zone block to get up on the next level. I mean, all these things are kind of coachable and technique-centric in terms of who can understand the concept and be able to go apply it on the field. So, and I think some guys struggle with that. Some guys don't. It's a place to me where the guys have the most pride in what kind of competitors they are, how smart they are, how smart they play. And they're usually a really tight-knit group because they don't get a lot of accolades for what they do, and they have a very difficult job.

1:13:10So, you know, he's that right kind of guy, I think. And that's what we always look for in guys. We had a lot of guys here play when they were freshmen. But I think if you're drafting guys, you've got to draft guys. If you're going to draft them with the salary cap and all that, they need to play. So obviously a good pick for Dallas, and he's working out well for them.

1:13:32Pat McAfee:Yeah, and I love the mindset of an offensive lineman. Hey, you're going to get no credit. You're going to be in hand-to-hand combat. Yeah, you're going to take on maybe the best athletes on earth, and you make one mistake out of 60 plays. They're going to talk about that one particular play, not the 59 good ones. But we need the best. We need the best. You need to keep going. You offensive linemen are weirdos, bro. Yep, absolutely. Absolutely weirdos. We like it just that way. Yeah, absolutely. Was there a time when they were down? I think there still is a little bit. I think there's, and Coach can probably talk more to this, and just the fact of all the RPO, all the spread, everybody just telling offensive linemen to run nakeds and boots all day and not really, hey, we're going to run downhill duo, downhill power.

1:14:12or Bama does, and there's some other teams that do, but there's a lot of teams that just live and die by the RPO system, and I don't think that translates right away to the NFL system.

1:14:21Pat McAfee:Okay, here's a quote from Draft Night with Tyler Booker. It feels like they knew they got the right guy. People get so excited to play football until they come across Tyler Booker. I start to see that love leave their eyes. That's what makes me love the game, says Tyler Booker. Love that. We'd like 10 of those guys on our team at all times. All right, look at you. Coach Saban loved it. Yeah, we liked it. One thing I'd like to add to the whole offensive line thing is I think the advent of RPOs has minimized the development of offensive linemen in college when it comes to drop back passing, which is a much bigger part of the NFL.

1:14:58So they don't learn not only the technique of pass blocking, but also systematically, you know, who do I have to block? who's the back got you know all those things now that the quarterback redirects the protection you got to change your whole thinking on the run I think those types of things are not things that are being coached in college the way they used to be but my theory as a coach was always I know that every player on our team wants to play in the league so our systems are going to reflect the development they need to make to be able to play in the league that's what helped recruiting since i couldn't coach bad players to play good that was a really good big big piece of it for me

1:15:41Pat McAfee:yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah not a good coach unless it was good players and i think you took good players and made them great and i think your culture was one that everybody is trying to uh replicate there you are a fascinating individual bro you know what part of football you think you know the least what because obviously you're a db coach right and you you spend time on the defensive side offense would be the thing but yeah right you break down offensive film every single weekend like when is there do you coach every position when you were coaching like we hear from uh the other are you hitting every single position group are you bouncing around do you stay on the defensive side do you go mingle with the offensive lineman like what was your style because i remember you always had that hat on right you always had that hat on and you're about to get it if somebody's i asked you know everyone's while you're mic'd up but what were you coaching every position every day how'd you kind of operate well first of all the hat had resiliency.

1:16:32A straw hat you can take off and throw as hard as you want to throw and there's no damage done. I mean, that's important in the selection of a hat. I wish the headsets had the

1:16:44Pat McAfee:resiliencies of those hats. Yeah. The headsets, not quite so much durability. But I spent like, I probably told you this story before, but like 80 % of my time on the defensive side of the ball, I like coaching the DBs, but I had coached linebackers, so I understood the front seven. And that was helpful in being a coordinator, which gave you a leadership opportunity with the entire group, which I enjoyed as well. So I spent more time with the defense because I wanted to be my best assistant. In other words, I was special teams guy and defensive guy, so why would I go try to call plays on offense, which is what some people try to do?

1:17:27But that's not their expertise. So I coach the coaches. Like, you know, we're talking about offensive line footwork, hand placement, all those things. Being around good offensive line coaches like Joe Pendry and people that we had for years. Stoutland, who's at the Eagles now. Learn like exactly what their expectations are. So the next coach, you can coach the same way that that guy coached. And you kind of learn by osmosis. But that's probably the position, the run game on offense, which is not that complicated. But the techniques of playing offensive line was probably the thing that I learned most about while being a head coach.

1:18:06When you're a DB guy, you kind of know what the receivers are supposed to do, what they got to do to run good routes and all that type of thing. You understand the passing game and the passing concepts. So that was probably it for me. But I learned it through the years and tried to help develop our coaches. But I basically coached the coaches. other than the DBs. So I was always the defensive back GA, and that's where I spent most of my time.

1:18:32Pat McAfee:Yeah, you created some great ones. You got like league MVPs popping up out of there all over the place. All right, let's talk about college ball a little bit, the place that you won all the time in. Go ahead, AJ.

1:18:42Nick Saban:Coach, yeah, you guys are headed to Ann Arbor. We know Ohio State's taking on Michigan. Ohio State has not, you know, the last four meetings hasn't gone their way. I guess if you're Ryan Day, like what do you, how is this week? like leading up to a game like this, how do you make it? I don't know. Like, it's not another game, but how do you approach something like this when we know all this on the line? I know you spent some time in Ohio State. You kind of understand the hoopla around this rivalry and how big a deal it is. Like, how would you approach it, I guess, on Ryan Day's side? Yeah, well, here, I've been asked this question a hundred times.

1:19:15Great question, AJ. Thank you. What would you do differently to get ready for this big game? And my answer was always, I would do nothing different. Because if there was a better way to do it, we'd already been done it because every game you play is a big game. So you can't afford to lose to anybody, not if you're in Ohio State's position. But I think when you look at this game more as an opportunity for your players to have a chance to have a great win, which will take a lot of resiliency, a lot of overcoming adversity. That's what makes it a great win. rather than looking at it from a negative side and saying, oh, we haven't won the last four games, so we've got to win this game.

1:19:58So you create a lot of anxiety by changing shit for your players and doing all this crazy stuff. And then they're looking at you saying, don't you believe in us, Coach? I mean, we've been doing well all year, doing this same practice, this same time to come to meetings and do all this stuff. You already got Thanksgiving week, which is already a distraction on how you handle your players for Thanksgiving. So, you know, I do it the same way.

1:20:21Pat McAfee:Yeah, but you've got to understand that it's real, though. Let me ask you a question, Jay. Did you like routine as a player? Absolutely. Did you like routine as a player? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Yes. Yeah. So I'm going to change your routine because it's a big game and screw you up?

1:20:39Pat McAfee:Look how mad he is right there. He just got so mad at even the thought of doing that. And then at the beginning, your answer that you said, I've answered this 100 times. If there's a better way to win a game that we're trying for one particular game, we don't care last week. Why aren't we doing that every single game? I think that's the difference between having the pressure of winning every game versus having the pressure to win a couple of games throughout the year that your fan base are going to remember. Now, to that point, though, Ohio State's national champions. They're undefeated right now.

1:21:07Pat McAfee:Number one team in the league, in the country, I guess, in the entirety of it all. Ohio State Buckeye fans, all they care about these 2 ,188 days since they beat Michigan I mean that's like, Ryan Day's getting asked that the day or two after winning the national championship, hey congratulations that's so cool, I guess we can say you're certified now, okay way to go, you put a trophy into the trophy room Michigan, so they beat us here, they beat us there, it's all under your watch what are we, Urban Meyer has a bar down here called 7-0 you know he never did, then other stuff So when are you going to get that done?

1:21:42Pat McAfee:Ryan Day has to at least, I don't want to say acknowledge that, but he understands, and his players here too, I think I heard the Downs to Business podcast where Jeremiah Smith and Josh Downs, nope, Caleb Downs, yes, Caleb Downs, all three of them, but Caleb's Downs, we're talking about the importance of this game and them understanding it and calling it the team up north and all that shit. Do you know that your players know, like, for instance, the Iron Bowl, obviously every single year the Iron Bowl is a big one for Auburn. gigantic one for you guys. Now every single game you have to win. Cause it's a national championship conversation.

1:22:15Pat McAfee:Auburn wasn't at that stage. So like, do you acknowledge that there is heightened hype maybe from the other side or from fans? Like, how do you kind of address that? Or do you say, we're trying, all right, I'm not, we're not, we don't care what everybody else thinks. We're trying to win this particular game. How do you address that type of stuff with all the noise and hoopla? As AJ would say, I try to minimize the noise, knowing that the players are hearing all these things. So what I wanted our players to do was think that it's going to be about what we do. So let's focus on what we do to have to go execute and play our best football in the game, and things will take care of themselves.

1:22:52But I think when you play in these games, especially on the road, which Ohio State's going to do and Alabama's going to do, you have to have resiliency because it's going to be difficult to play on the road, but that difficulty is what creates an opportunity to have a great win. So if you focus on the right things and look at it as an opportunity, and, you know, I said it last year. I mean, these Ohio State fans, they're psychotic about this, man. They all need to go to see the doctor someplace. I'd rather win the national championship than beat Michigan. That's just me, right? Although I'd love to beat Michigan, don't get me wrong, when I was at Ohio State last year, we beat them up there, similar situation, except in reverse, they were ranked really high.

1:23:35We had already lost two games. And, you know, we had a terrible negative week of practice, but Woody came and talked to the team and said, this is an opportunity for a great win. And that was the difference in the mindset of how we played. And they played tight, and we played loose, and we played ass over tea kettle and won the game 14-9. I remember that game from 1981 as much as any.

1:24:00Pat McAfee:And that's because the Ohio State people let you know, finally. Yeah. finally you guys get a win up there i assume and you saying these people need to go see a doctor about it was i remember like it was yesterday up there at notre dame you're cold as hell and you're telling these ohio state fans you have a chance to win a national championship what are we even doing you were visibly upset in in the moment but i think that is uh if you don't have that from a fan base that's not good either you know so that's how the ohio state people view it it's like oh sorry we expect to win around here that go coach at colorado state what does that mean for uconn i don't even want to get into that i don't even want to get have you heard about mora going to colorado state coach saban no i have not heard that but i don't know why he would do such a thing well so should have called you

1:24:56Pat McAfee:congrats colorado state the uconn the uconn grads that we have talked to you know dairies butler dan rolovsky this morning just saying what guy's going to call her he's leaving uconn to go to colorado state and we told him this is actually doing this or is this just a talk this has happened done deal it happened last night done deal left yukon to go this is the this beat them you know it's real this is the authority right here you left yukon have two nine year nine game wins uh seasons you get it massive for yukon brings them back they have a blitnikoff finalist a potential heisman playing quarterback they're not in a league they're independent just like notre dame nobody ever talks about yukon you know nobody talks about the downside of being independent we're starting to learn it right now here more goes to colorado State.

1:25:47Pat McAfee:We didn't know Colorado State was in the Jim Moore market, and I don't think the UConn people fully understood that. Colorado State's a better job than UConn right now. That's a little slap-and-face reality, I think, for UConn folks, but Darius Butler wanted to go on the record as saying, we thank Jim Moore for his time and services to UConn. Thank you, Coach. We do appreciate that. Crazy time right now, Coach. Crazy time for coaches right now. I like Jim Moore. I think he's a really good coach and thought he was a good coach when he was in the NFL as an assistant and as a head coach. So it's great for Colorado State, I think.

1:26:19Pat McAfee:We think, yeah. Not so good for UConn. Yeah, not so good for UConn. Yeah, and that's Orlovsky's take. Maybe Orlovsky and Darius Butler need to go coach the team. They should. Maybe co-head coaches. Dan, you just coach the offense. D-butt, you just kind of get the defense. You guys come together for team meetings. Maybe shit talk each other in those meetings. You handle it however you want to handle it. You handle it however you want to handle it in this entire thing. UConn losing their coach Colorado State is crazy. Let's talk about maybe losing a coach to a team in your own league that you have to play a couple times next year while you're in the middle of maybe a playoff run.

1:26:49Pat McAfee:Go ahead, Ty. Yeah, Coach, I understand, you know, at this point in the year, if you have a team who is potentially going to make the playoffs, then it needs to be bunker mentality. Hey, don't listen to any of the noise outside. We have everything in front of us. Let's take care of business. But in a situation with Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss, is there any way that this is not a distraction for the players going into the Egg Bowl? Because this isn't just Twitter and newspapers, TV, radio, whatever. You can't go anywhere without hearing, hey, Lane's leaving or is he not leaving? He's going to make a decision on Saturday.

1:27:24If you're a player on that team, or I guess if you're Lane too, how do you try to handle this situation? because it feels like it's gotten so big. It's to the point where even if they can say it as much as they want, it's not a distraction. Let's go out there and win. Let's just play the game. It is a distraction because literally everyone who watches college football or is associated with the game is talking about this. Yeah, well, I think you have to be upfront and honest with your team about things like this. Anytime we had a disruption or a distraction, I brought it up to the team. And I challenged them to handle it in a mature way.

1:28:00An example, you know, when we got school shut down, we were in the first day of spring practice. They say, you got to go home. You can't practice. COVID is here. So we're shutting it down. I called the team in and said, hey, look, this is a great opportunity for us. Whoever handles this disruption the best is going to have the best chance to win the championship. Who won the championship? Oh, you guys. That was you. Yeah, I remember.

1:28:24Pat McAfee:Was that an indie? Yeah. Yeah, how you handle disruptions and distractions like this determines the maturity of your team and their ability to stay focused on the things that matter. That's what maturity is. Can you stay focused on the things that matter? And what people are saying on the internet doesn't really mean anything. So stay focused on the things that matter, which is how you play. You want to play in the NFL someday? You want to get drafted? You want to make more money next year as a college player? Go play good. That's what you need to do. So that's what you need to focus on, not where your coach is going to go, not what's happening, not what people are saying.

1:29:00And nobody knows the answer to that. But it isn't an easy thing to control outside noise. But that's the way I always try to do it.

1:29:08Pat McAfee:Yeah, but coach, you're doing the Pat McAfee show. You've got to be retiring soon. I need to know if you're going to be around. These are the questions that were coming up. I don't know if you even saw these, actually, because once again, the Internet, what a fairytale place in your mind of wherever it is, whatever it is. I know you love visiting the internet all the time. It doesn't even know, doesn't know about it. But that was a real thing that started coming up. You had to answer those questions, what? For like the last 10 years of your career, right? Oh, Saban's going to retire. He's going to be done.

1:29:35Pat McAfee:He's already got the resume. He's got everything. He's going to get out of there. Those are the types of distractions whenever you're at Bama and already built a culture, right? As opposed to, hey, he's going to leave and go to another job. Yeah, well, I had a couple of those. He's going to leave and go to another job. And never, I never talked to anybody about that. I mean, it came up on occasion, but the retirement thing was the big thing. You know, that was the big thing people used in recruiting. And I think, you know, once you get old, that's what you need to expect. So players used to ask me when I have them in my office recruiting them, they say, are you going to be here for my whole career?

1:30:11Are you going to be here for the next four years? And I would look at them and I would say, because of the transfer report on all that, I would look at them and say, well, hell, are you going to be here for the next four years?

1:30:22JJ Watt:It goes both ways.

1:30:24Pat McAfee:Yeah, it certainly does. It certainly does. You had a hell of a run, but anything to kind of weaponize against a recruit or your current players, because the transfer portal these days, people are going to do it, which is why the Ole Miss crowd is so loud and the LSU crowd is so loud and Florida's crowd is so loud. And I guess we'll be getting the answer on Saturday from Lane Kiffin, even though I feel like somebody already knows. You know, there's a couple people on the internet saying, I know, I know. I know one person who does know. if there is a decision made in what it is. And it's this West Virginia Hilljack who just happened to become the greatest college football coach of all time.

1:31:01Pat McAfee:Coach Saban, whenever it comes to this type of situation as being the OG and a man who's been there for everything, and obviously the story of college football is what Lane's going to do right now. And you're a mentor for him, like noted mentor. Do you feel pressure? Do you feel pressure in this for Lane? Like how do you kind of view it when you're giving answers to him? You're speaking strictly. from like your perspective or how how do you kind of i'm not going to tell you to tell me what he's saying or what your conversations are but how do you view your conversations with him whenever he's trying to figure out his life which is a huge decision this is a gigantic decision and he has his best team that he's ever had in the moment like are you speaking from your personal perspective if you were him like how do those conversations kind of go yeah well i i try to give him my perspective from my experience i've been in a few situations like this uh whether it was when i was a defensive coordinator at the Cleveland Browns and going to Michigan State, stayed there, finished the season, hired five guys to run the Michigan State program while we played the last four or five games of the year at the Cleveland Browns, went to the playoffs.

1:32:04So I think everybody has to manage their situation relative to where their heart is and what they feel. And I know that in Lane's situation, every coach wants to coach their team. I mean, it is really, really hard to up and leave your team. And every coach wants to coach their team. And, you know, I gave a big speech about this last week, you know, on game day about talent should be set up. So every coach can finish the season with his team. That's good for the players and it's good for the team. So, and the circumstances in college football right now, don't really allow that to happen because of when the transfer portal hits, when the early signing day hits, you know, you're still playing games you're trying to get in the playoffs and you got all these things to deal with so you know hopefully maybe we'll take some of these changes and put them on a calendar where it's a little more it's better for the players and you don't have all these guys getting fired five games

1:32:59Pat McAfee:into the season yeah and to your point the speech that you gave on saturday uh i know you don't really look at this type of stuff mega numbers dude mega numbers and everybody seemingly agreeing with you as well so the more of those that you have let's go ahead and let those fly let's go and let those fly you remember you don't want to be the commissioner you know everybody was saying whenever your final 10 years at alabama that you were going to retire because you want to retire now that you're retired everybody's saying they want you back into doing different jobs do this job do this job so what you need to do is sit that incredibly genius brain right on that set and start pontificating on what it should look like because then everybody else will have to do it because if it doesn't start happening guess who's gonna have to fucking do it buddy yeah but i need inspiration and you know you're my inspiration so if i'm gonna have good speeches you got to bring them out no do not do not do that we did try to every once in a while you'll see when we're talking about something and he's just sitting in the middle it's like oh yeah let's let's see if we can get this hey it's in there we know the right answer is in there so herbie does too herbie's supposed to talk about something it's like all kind of decided we are going to talk because we want to hit there's so many things that we're trying to hit up there it's like a team effort as it's kind of going and there'll be something that herbie's supposed to hit he'll hit it and then immediately his brain just goes i think there's more meat on this bone over here and he'll go coach i just kind of want to and then i'm like yes you see me turn my chair actually it's like yeah let's go ahead and start doing this and i want to let you know you're fantastic at it and everything that you say not only does the resume make it legit but also everybody's like yes that sounds like the right answer so we appreciate that you do it and the calendar setup I do think you're going to be able to initiate a little bit of change.

1:34:41Pat McAfee:You talk about guys getting fired in their first five weeks at a place. I mean, the first firing this year that was mega is obviously up in Penn State. Here's a Penn State alum, AQ, who has a question for you. Yeah, Coach, my alma mater is obviously in a tough situation. They're trying to find their next coach. With every time there's somebody mentioned of interest, that person signs an extension. What would your strategy be in today's game of trying to hire a new coach and also does not being a part of the NIL and transfer portal, for instance, a former NFL coach, does that have its challenges?

1:35:14Yeah, I think that, first of all, I think that these coaches are actually looking at not just, you know, it used to be what's in it for me, like what kind of contract are you going to give me, how much are you going to pay me? But that's not the case right now, in my opinion. I think people think that, but I think every coach is going to look at what is your financial situation relative to being able to put a roster together for next year and the year after that? And right now, because we don't have any rules governing this in college football, everybody can have their own deal. So if that's a good deal and you can build a roster, then people are going to be more interested in that.

1:35:56Now, what it does is give a coach that somebody has interest in to use that as leverage to get his current situation better or say this is a much better situation at Penn State or wherever it is, because people are going to look at that. If you don't have an opportunity to build a roster in this day and age based and it's financially based, and I hate to say that about college football and student athletes, but that's where it's at. then you're not going to have a chance to be successful. And the expectation is that you will be successful when they hire you. So I don't know about the Penn State job.

1:36:36I don't know enough about it. I know it's a great school and they've got great tradition, but I don't really know enough about their current situation from a financial standpoint, how they've used their revenue share this year relative to how they can move it forward to the next year. I don't know any of those details, So I don't know how interested people really are in that job.

1:36:54Pat McAfee:I think they have a lot of money. From my understanding is they have a lot of money, but I think the issue is like all the people that they thought they were going to get, like all the home run hires for them in their eyes. Cause whenever they move on from James Franklin, it's like, all right, who now gets a chance to come. And then all those schools are like, that's cute. Actually. We'll just, is this good? Yep. Is this good? Is this good? Is this good? And then all of a sudden the wall runs dry quickly for them. And I think that was a backfire that none of us, I mean, I guess somebody probably projected or predicted it would happen, but I don't think Penn State folks saw that happening.

1:37:26Pat McAfee:Now, there's a new name that has kind of popped in that I think you know pretty well. Yeah, Coach Brian Dayball obviously got fired from the New York Giants. I have been very loud thinking that his resume is very, very good and he should be the next guy. I know he coached under you. What are your thoughts on him? Oh, I love Brian. He did a great job here for us. Offensive coordinator, we won the championship with him calling the plays. He's been in the Super Bowl several times with Belichick and won. And I think he was in a tough situation at the Giants, but I do think that he's a very good coach.

1:37:59He's a bright guy. He's a good recruiter. He relates well to the players. He's a good teacher. He's got a good offensive mind. He'll be able to put a good staff together. I think that would be an outstanding hire.

1:38:09Pat McAfee:NFL guys going to college. Obviously, you were at Browns before you went to Michigan State. I think obviously Pete Carroll, I think, was in the NFL with the Patriots before he was at USC and had success and everything like that. Matt Rule, he was in the NFL before he got into college. Like there's a lot of NFL coaches that have made their way into college and had success, but there's also NFL guys that have come into college and not had success. Dayball, with you and what you saw, you think he could be a college football coach full-time? And is that something that I guess we don't even know if he would want to?

1:38:40Pat McAfee:I mean, we've been kind of pitching him for the – do you know? No, I don't. Yeah, we don't even know if he would want the job. But that's the conversation because everybody saw Belichick not too well early. And they're like, well, the NFL guys doesn't necessarily mean you're going to have success. It's a different world. What are your thoughts on that whole thing with Dayball potentially being a drawback is that he was an NFL guy? Yeah, well, I think the biggest thing here is if the guy has never coached in college, it is a little bit different. You know, recruiting is different than the draft.

1:39:10Developing players is a little bit different. numbers are different when you can practice are different how long you got with the players is different there's a lot of different things so if you've never been exposed to that then it takes you a while either way if you've never coached in the NFL and you're a college coach and you go in that direction it's a big change if you're a NFL coach who's never coached in college and you really don't understand you know how you got to operate in college that's a big change so I had two sets of notebooks you know I had all the stuff when I was in the NFL whether it was Houston, Oilers, Cleveland, Browns Miami Dolphins, whatever they were in these boxes over here and then I had all my college stuff over here so wherever I was I just pulled that drawer open and that's went to work I had been in both places so it was a little easier for me to adapt

1:40:01Pat McAfee:thinking about it you coach so much in both leagues get choked up football life thank you for your service coach we got emotional too there we got emotional too thinking about it all you're just having everything documented i think that's what we learned about bill belichick and i think you were referring to bill belichick there like bill never has done college so like your first time experiencing anything there's gonna be a whirlwind of information and he's a smart guy we think he'll figure it out like we think he will take it in and figure it all out but it happening immediately almost seemed like a pipe dream from the beginning because he had no experience at all but what we learned from working with him with the draft he types his notes he has diligent diligent notes for like every situation are you similar to him in that aspect yeah i keep notes i wrote up every player that we ever recruited you know strengths weaknesses critical factors um is this a guy that fits in our system from you know a character um intelligence attitude standpoint because I think those things are important, you know, especially when you're in, you got to know the situation that you're in and you got to know your team.

1:41:07And, you know, here, we needed guys that wanted to be really good because they wanted to be really good. Because the standard was we need to win every game. So you can't come here worrying about winning a game. You got to come here about being the best that you can be. And everybody doesn't think that way. And, you know, I used to tell recruits all the time, everybody can't play for the Yankees. There's a different kind of pressure, a different kind of expectation. So are you capable of that? Or are you looking for an easy way? Because there's not an easy way here. It takes what it takes. So are you willing to make that commitment?

1:41:42So that's the way we operated. I don't know if it was right or wrong, but that's what it was right.

1:41:47Pat McAfee:Look right below here. I don't know if you see them. It's just all the trophies. It ended up working out. It was the right way, but having the self-awareness of your situation and the type of players you need for that type of building is certainly a big one one guy that was in your building that's now in a situation that you need to find the type of guys that can handle it is the Dallas Cowboys go ahead con man yeah coach you mentioned Tyler Booker on the offensive line how about the defensive line and Quentin Quentin Williams they've kind of stepped up completely and all the clips coming out of Quentin Williams are hilarious uh what does he mean kind of to the Cowboys locker room do you think and what do you think he brings to the Cowboys that maybe they were missing before Yeah, well, first of all, Quentin is one of those guys that, you know, he wasn't a highly recruited guy in high school.

1:42:29I don't even know if he had any stars, but we liked him as a player. He came here. He worked his tail off to become what he is. He got bigger. He got stronger. Guy is a very good player, and he has got the right work ethic attitude because he developed and came up from nothing in terms of his athletic career. When I say that, I mean, it wasn't like he was some high-profile guy that, you know, just everything was kind of laid out for him. He worked his way into being something that people didn't think he could be. And I think that carries over in his competitive personality, how he gets along with people.

1:43:06I mean, this guy is a joy to be around. I know his teammates will love him. And I think he's going to be a great addition for that team chemistry, not just as a player.

1:43:19Pat McAfee:And that's what Jerry Jones said. Jerry Jones said, I got guys that are coming in here that are going to be able to stop the run, but also going to be magnetic personalities. Feels like that is what Quinnen is. Quinnen is magnetic. He sneezed and then he blessed himself. That was the first time I saw him. Bless you. Thank you. And I was like, this guy is awesome and unique, but certainly has been there, done that through the Alabama world. And then now he went through New York. Now he's at Dallas. Feels like a perfect time. and his face mask is awesome. So sweet. You see that, AJ? His face mask?

1:43:52Pat McAfee:I don't know if he had that in New York or not. It is sweet over there. He's living the whole life. All right, Coach. Happy Thanksgiving to you and the family. We'll see you up in Michigan. Yeah, happy Thanksgiving, guys. Appreciate it. And, you know, I wouldn't give up, just so everybody knows, when you ask about all these coaching jobs and is there a perfect situation out there and all that, I would not give up being on this show for 20 minutes a week to go coach someplace. That's just how much I like it. So I appreciate you guys. How about that?

1:44:22Nick Saban:Oh, man. How about that?

1:44:24Pat McAfee:They pay you a lot of money over there. Coach, here's something you should reconsider. You know, the dude will be around. We'll be around if you need it. But on that note, we're very thankful that you take time out of your life to share wisdom and insight with us. You're the man. It's been an honor to work with you, alongside you, and also I think I could say become friends with you. And on that note, I want to learn a little bit more. What's the side of choice for Coach Saban here at Thanksgiving? What does the meal look like in your eyes? It's as traditional as you can get. You know, turkey, dressing, gravy, little mashed potatoes, green beans.

1:44:57I mean, just the most basic. That's what I love. Pumpkin pie?

1:45:02Pat McAfee:Apple pie? What do you do at the end? I'm not a big pumpkin pie guy, to be honest with you. But I like pie. I'm big on sweets. So we'll hit something. Whatever Miss Terry has, I'll be eating. And you're going to sit your ass up, too, when she brings that shit to you, okay? Let's sit. Ladies and gentlemen, the GOAT, Coach Saban. Yeah, Coach. Sit up. How about Miss Terry? How about Miss Terry GOAT? Do you think I carried this whole thing around here for you just to sit there? Please, have a little respect for this entire scene. Everybody's kind of circling you. She's a fantastic person, as is Coach Saban.

1:45:38Pat McAfee:And whatever I say, I feel like we've gotten to the point where we're friends. I do think that we are actual friends. like he will look over at me for something and like the way he talks to me is not as if I'm like a player on his team he talks to me as if it was like a friend like I'll say something he'll be like he'll talk shit about something to me and I'm like oh I think I'm friends with are we friends wait are we friends I didn't know we were like friends out there but he is deep down as hard he's just a football guy from

1:46:03Nick Saban:West Virginia man you know like that he's awesome what a legend like is anyone gonna start but is anybody gonna touch his seven national championship is any other coach gonna

1:46:11Pat McAfee:touch that maybe lane man if he stays at old miss gee i doubt that yeah he just uh you know coach saban did a lot about coaches staying with their team like he should be allowed to stay with his team and coach wasn't like saying he was gonna leave i think what coach saman was saying he should be a lot there shouldn't be the counterpoint about him not staying with his team especially with where this old miss team is at right now now last night obviously the brand new projected playoff from the CFP committee. This is the most important one. This is the one that matters at the end of the day. They slide Ole Miss.

1:46:46Pat McAfee:They move up Oregon. Now, is this because of the clause, you know, about maybe if you don't have your coach, we're allowed to judge you differently? Well, Hunter, your check said that that is not what we're talking about here. He actually did a little bit of a human thing when Reese asked him a question. But there was a change at 6-7 with Oregon and Ole Miss swapping spots. how much of an impact potentially could it be on Ole Miss if it's determined they don't have their head coach in the field? Six, seven. But seriously, Rich, we didn't have any discussion. Yeah. Oh, man.

1:47:27Nick Saban:Was Reese setting them up for that, you think? It feels like a work.

1:47:31Pat McAfee:Feels like a work.

1:47:32Nick Saban:It doesn't feel like a great time to use that one.

1:47:36Pat McAfee:Most important conversation. It was the most important conversation coming out of it. The week before, it was Miami-Notre Dame. Still a chatter point. This week, the most important conversation was the Ole Miss situation, strictly because of the claws. And then Oregon gets its first big win in some eyes. So this is the conversation coming out of it. Now, Joey Galloway has thrown himself right into it. Good luck out there, Joey G. Good luck out there, Joey. I love Joey. I love Joey. And Joey will stay in all business, by the way. And then he will go golf in 20-degree weather, and then he'll come back and stand on it again.

1:48:06Pat McAfee:I don't think he is worried about that. But he has his opinion, of course. But the 6-7 thing, this is our fault. This is our fault. Well, he officially killed it. It's dead. No, because not only the 6-7 thing potentially being dead, I would like to apologize to everybody that it happened because I do feel like we were a part of it whenever we were saying, Hunter, we need to get better.

1:48:22Nick Saban:Need some pizzazz. Is that what you meant? That's not what you meant.

1:48:25Pat McAfee:And then on game day, I looked at the camera a couple times where Reese was like, yes. Reese didn't know what I was about to say. Reese goes, Hunter, your check, athletic director for Marketson. Precisely, yes. that guy needs to be better at his job and it's like oh my god there's no way that that was supposed to be said about him but what i was trying to say is like hey you're a very pivotal piece of this college football season so we need you to be great at your job and it is 100 on us for saying i need you to be a human we need you to do this entire thing don't look like you're reading a script so i think he was trying to add a little pizzazz and be a human in there i don't think he was trying to disrespect the situation even though that's how everybody else said so i I would like to apologize for maybe being an influencer into that situation happening at that particular situation, the biggest one of the week.

1:49:07Pat McAfee:I would take accountability for that. For that, Hunter, I appreciate you trying to add a little pizzazz. I don't know if that was necessarily in the tool bag. I don't know if that was necessarily the toolbox, sorry. I don't know if that was necessarily your thing. But we appreciate you trying to be a human in there. Now, what did we hear from his actual answers, though, whenever he was talking about 7 or any of the other situations around the CFP? Yeah, so the only movement in the actual playoff bracket last night was Oregon jumping Ole Miss, and that was coming off the win against USC. So obviously the committee liked that win enough to put Oregon ahead of Ole Miss, and they're also looking at the eye test and stuff like that is what she said about why Oregon passed Ole Miss.

1:49:47Now some of the other talking points, Miami is still in there as the, what you would assume, ACC champion. Now they have a long, tough road to get to the ACC championship because SMU and Virginia, they hold their own cards in their hand. If they win, they are in the ACC championship. So Miami at this point most likely would have to be in an at-large. They are creeping up the rankings. There is a chance now when you look at them that Miami could potentially get in as at-large. And now that they're right next to each other, now Notre Dame and Miami comes into play in the head-to-head. Now there's a lot of people saying, does the head-to-head matter?

1:50:21Does it not? There is an incorrect thing on that graphic right there. The best win for Notre Dame is not at 22, Pitt. It's probably against USC. Yeah, so that's a talking point. A lot of people are really, really pissed that BYU isn't higher. Their only loss on the season is at Texas Tech, and they have a lot of not only ranked wins, but also wins against teams that are bowl eligible.

1:50:40Pat McAfee:Who was the new AD that was brought in the CFP committee? I think it was from Utah. Oh. I knew it. I think Utah actually – I don't know if they – yeah. Miami jumped Utah last night too. So that was something as well. But there's a lot that's going to happen this weekend. A lot of rivalry games. A lot of those teams are playing in tough games. So nothing is obviously set yet. There's a lot to be done. What about the hum of the Dukes JMU? How come I'm not seeing them? I don't get to follow along every single game that they play, but I've been told by their people that they should be in a conversation here.

1:51:13It's because the conference that they play in, the strength of schedule is absolute shite. The one team that they play. Is that their fault? No, it's not. The one team that they've played was a – I believe they lost by 14 to Louisville, and Louisville just keeps continuing to lose, which is not helping their case at all. But it's a lot of – I don't know if it's against JMU. It's just against the – people don't think they've played anyone good at all.

1:51:34Pat McAfee:Okay, got it. Okay, well, thanks to the College Football Playoff Committee. Coming to an agreement here. What, Ty? I mean, I never thought – like, it's just setting up – like, let's go to 16 teams or whatever so then we can stop doing this. and I know that we like having the Tulane's in. We like having the JMU's in. There's a lot of people saying, well, exactly. I think they put out the hypothetical spreads of the first-round mashups. Tulane would be a 21.5-point underdog at Texas. Do we really want that in the first round? Do we want another thing that we had last year? I understand we need some of these smaller schools who don't really get a shot to shine to get in there, but do we?

1:52:14I mean, do we? let's get the 16 best teams of the nation in.

1:52:20Pat McAfee:Okay, so we're talking about Tulane maybe going in there. I guess PFT, James Madison grad, was tweeting about this. I guess they just lost to Texas San Antonio. That was a few weeks ago. That team shouldn't make the playoffs. But on that note, this is what college football is all about. I know, more teams get a shot to shine. Tulane does have to play in a conference championship game, so it's not necessarily going to be Tulane. Starting 16, counting down to one. That's not that much different. You know what I mean? National champion. I think we can add a little bit with 16. I agree. 12, well, Mel, you know, 16.

1:52:59Pat McAfee:You got a lot of things that are mean green. Yeah, exactly. 12 is in bad. Which is Tulane, by the way. Mean green. Isn't that what they are? Yeah, not against UTSA, though, were they? They're the green wave. They're the green wave. Mean green is actually North Texas. We might get in. Yeah, North Texas, Eric, he got a job. Yeah, Oklahoma State. They're not putting that team in without a head coach. They could win whatever. He's coaching through the playoffs or whatever. Okay. I'm sure that'll be okay. I'm sure that'll end up working out well. I'm excited to see how it all kind of plays out. Have the greatest Thanksgiving of all time.

1:53:32Pat McAfee:It's an incredible football weekend. I hope you guys get a chance to enjoy it with your family and friends. We'll be back on Overreaction Monday. College game day is on Saturday from Ann Arbor on ESPN. and on X. And in this time of thanks and gratitude, we would like to say thank you to all of you for allowing us to do this for a living. It is outrageous that this is what we do for a living. And yeah, thank you so much. We'll try to enjoy it every day, as long as you'll have us. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice. It might change their life. Goodbye. That felt like a good one there. Oh, yeah.

1:54:04Pat McAfee:A good Thanksgiving one. Did you hear the gratitude mentioned in there, AJ? Because that's the other word for Thanksgiving.

1:54:09Nick Saban:It was perfect, yeah. I did hear it.

1:54:12Pat McAfee:anytime I'm trying to say thanks to people, there's thanks, appreciate, and gratitude. You know, you can kind of mix those ups. You're not hitting the same ones. But there needs to be more words that are saying that. Because we should be very thankful for everything. You know, it could be dead.

1:54:23Nick Saban:Exactly. Any day. You have no idea.

1:54:27Pat McAfee:Oh. So I'm thinking about that.

1:54:30Nick Saban:There's animals tones about to get this weekend, right? Well, the winners. They're about to be dead.

1:54:34Pat McAfee:The winners. The book is about, the sports book's about to be dead. The winners are about to be alive and well, brother. And we're on them, aren't we? Yes.

1:54:45Pat McAfee:Let's get to a break. On the other side, we're going to be making our picks against the spread. Hopefully, we'll be in open hunting season and making the right picks. As we continue here on YouTube, ESPN +, Disney +, TikTok Live, anywhere else? X. Okay, on X. Did you say that? We appreciate it. No, I didn't. Oh, okay. I was going to say that one. We appreciate you all so much. We'll make our picks, and then we'll go into the greatest Thanksgiving of all time. Maybe the greatest Thanksgiving Day slate in the history of the NFL. Yes, I agree.

1:55:15Nick Saban:I think it definitely looks like it before. Now I think it will live up to the hype as well.

1:55:23Nick Saban:Are all batteries the same? That's like asking if all soccer players are the same. Take Messi, the most decorated player ever. Is there any other player who has achieved that? No, just him. Now take Duracell. Is there any other battery with power-boost ingredients inside? No, just Duracell. Remember, goats only trust goats because they're built different. And Messi only trusts Duracell.

1:55:53JJ Watt:So good, so good, so good. New markdowns up to 70 % off are at Nordstrom Rack stores now. Stock up and stay big on shoes, tops, dresses, accessories, and more must-haves for summer. Join the Nordiclub to unlock exclusive discounts, shop new arrivals first, and more. Plus, buy online and pick up at your favorite rack store for free. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack.

1:56:25Pat McAfee:Hey Jay, did you see how cool this looked out here? I don't know if you got good eyes on it during the open, but we had a projector up on top there, obviously screen, boys found their own seats from around the Thunderdome. We had popcorn, we had snacks, and we had an early screener of, is this thing on? Which obviously Bradley Cooper auteured, I do believe is the title or the descriptor. He wrote it, he directed it. I think I saw pictures of him shooting it. He actually had the camera. It's with Will Arnett. It's a, we watched it this morning. I think it has a 90. Yeah, like 92 % score on Rotten Tomatoes.

1:57:01It is Certified Fresh.

1:57:02Pat McAfee:Yeah, it is Certified Fresh. It was nice to dive in there. You can like, it's an intimate, it's a very intimate movie. And Will Arnett, obviously, I think we would all say, Will Arnett, yeah, we like him. But I don't think we know a lot about, very lovable.

1:57:16Nick Saban:He's good. Very relatable in this movie.

1:57:18Pat McAfee:and they're saying this could potentially win some shit. Oh, yeah. I guess this could really win some shit. So we're incredibly pumped for Bradley Cooper and thank you for the opportunity. We loved it, buddy. We went, hey, we didn't. Now, we started a little later this morning than we thought we were going to. So have we seen the final 25 minutes of the movie? We have not. But we will say getting to that point was awesome. Coop, you killed it. Hey, Coop, Coop. We're going to watch it afterwards. Thank you for the opportunity to do that. That was wild. That was a crazy situation. like hey here's a movie that is 90 what 92 percent from bradley cooper okay uh he was like would love the boys just to watch it and uh let me know what you think it's like it's good it's awesome we'll cook popcorn at 8 30 a.m in the morning and uh it's incredible so it was a cool morning here at the thunderdome as we launch into an incredible thanksgiving weekend with great ball in store the toxic tables here at boston connor at ty schmidt one half of the hammer down cowboys A.P.

1:58:15Pat McAfee:Tonus here and 12-year NFL vet, Super Bowl champion. A.Q. Shipply, sir. A.Q. Shipply, sir. A.Q. Shipply, sir. Last holiday, obviously, we had a little situation where Skelly got stolen from your front yard, then returned. That was a beautiful thing. That was a beautiful thing. Now we're at the Thanksgiving time of the year, and it feels like we know more about teams now than maybe ever. We know that the offensive line is going to be the determiner on whether or not they're going to be able to win a Super Bowl, and we know that you deliver every single week the tough performing lines around the NFL just for that week that just happened.

1:58:44Pat McAfee:Coming out of week 12, who's the number five performer? Whoa! The Chicago Bears. They're doing everything right up there in Chicago. They really are. I love this team, and I love this unit. Obviously, it starts with Darnell Wright, the right tackle. But watch the scheme. Motion Cole Komet into the backfield because they don't want him one-on-one with T.J. Watt on the line. So create the angle, create the downhill, and now you just cut him, make it easy. Look at the double teams finishing in the end zone. That's Chicago Bears football right now. TJ Watt got a strip sack for a touchdown. Chicago Bears offensive line gets in there.

1:59:17Pat McAfee:Is that because that was on Caleb, not on the offensive line? Did you hear what JJ said? What did he say? He said that he would have liked to have seen Caleb get rid of that ball because he had plenty of time to get rid of that ball. Should a team rush for 100 yards to be eligible for the list? No. Okay. Don't have to. It's a passing game sometimes. Okay. And they pass it. And they pass protect it. You don't really talk about the passing game much. Well, because, I mean, we're getting four teams a week basically running for 100 yards. It used to be 10. He took a team off his list because they couldn't pass block this week.

1:59:47Bingo.

1:59:48JJ Watt:And it made me upset. Let's just put it that way.

1:59:50Pat McAfee:You think it's a big deal? You got to be able to do both? I agree. That's why you're doing it. You want to know the – But you've never done this before in your life, but I do understand you're saying it's the state of the game. Well, we have to because that's what the game is today and that's what it is right now. And I told Foxy this. The way I go about this is every Monday I watch every run and then I come back on Tuesday I watch every pass. Okay. And so Tuesday morning I turn on the Detroit Lions. They can't pass block to save their lives right now. So you had them on Monday. They were number one through the runs.

2:00:16Pat McAfee:They were unbelievable. Rush for how much? 219. Yep. 219-yard rusher.

2:00:21Nick Saban:Hey, Q, what is that? How come you can run block and you can't pass block? I know Penny Sewell is incredible in the run game, obviously the pass game too, but as a unit, why can they not pass block but they can run block? It is two completely different worlds, run game and pass game. If you have these monsters and these guys can get hip-to-hip on the double teams, you can run it. And if you've got a good back, they can make you look even better because Gibbs does as good as anybody in the league. It's setting up blocks for his guys. Lean this way to set up the block, get off on the double team, cut back to the left, and boom, he's gone 70 yards, right?

2:00:50Pass game, they're not doing nearly as much play action as they did a year ago, and obviously you're seeing that uptick happen with Ben Johnson in Chicago. But now Dan Campbell's calling the plays, and they're going drop back pass, and they're just not very good at pass blocking right now.

2:01:04Pat McAfee:Okay, so you had to take them out of the top five. Guy rushes for 219. This offensive line not good enough to crack the top five in the entire NFL. Number five, Chicago Bears. Seems like they're getting it all right. They are. Congratulations, Chicago Bears. And to Zito. Feels like victory stakes around the corner. And also, Zito, great work on setting all this up, brother. Great work on all of it. Let's go to the number four performing offensive line of week 12 of the NFL season. Kansas City Chiefs, of course. Kansas City Chiefs. Of course. Of course. Not of course. First time on this year. I think first time maybe in the last two years.

2:01:34Yeah, which makes sense.

2:01:34Pat McAfee:It's against Colts. That's right. The biggest issue with the Chiefs is whenever they don't have an offensive line, now they have a top-five performance offensive line out of nowhere because they're playing the Colts. Tell me how. Well, because they got back to doing what they like to do whenever they win games in the playoffs, and that is run the ball. They ran it 41 times for almost 150 yards in this game. Pass protection was great. Oh, and guess what? Let's get back into this stuff, the creativity, motion, Kelsey into the backfield, send Mahomes left, fake the sweep right, pull the guard. How good is that?

2:02:02Face mask. How good is that? Bring it back.

2:02:04Pat McAfee:I understand that they're treating the Colts like a playoff game because they're the number one team in the NFL, and they're having their fun, and they're doing the entire thing. But to, I guess, kind of echo your point even more, Patrick Mahomes is able to throw it, too, whenever he needs. They ran it 40-some times. He was able to throw it a bunch of times, and it was all because of the protection. Now, they lose Trey Smith. Your thoughts? Yeah, I think that hurts them definitely, but I think Josh Simmons, you see him right there, number 71, the left tackle, being back has made them such a better unit.

2:02:30With Trey Smith, it's a really good unit. Trey Smith out. Caliendo's got to step up, period.

2:02:35Pat McAfee:I love that the motion move is Travis Kelsey telling the crowd, let's make some noise here. Let's make some noise here. Come on. Yep, you know what's about to happen. Give me the ball, and you know what I'm going to do with it. It's going to be a touchdown. This is kind of what Chiefs football is, though. It's fun. It's a good time, and their speedsters are crossing all over the place, and Patrick Mahomes has time to do his thing. Congrats to Chiefs playing like it's a playoff game. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, it was good stuff. Did that touchdown count? Yeah. No, there's a face mask. It didn't count.

2:03:00Pat McAfee:No, it didn't. Maybe you were just talking about them being creative. Let's go to the number three performing offense. Anything to make the Colts look bad, I guess. I'm just watching film. I didn't see the flash. I mean, what are we going off of now? Let me also say this. They ran that formation four times in that game. One of them was in overtime, which was the big run that got them down. Yeah, you get it. It's coming. There's going to be 50 plays off of that now. You think Chiefs going on a run? Chiefs is now the Chiefs again? I think they might be. Oh, is that right? Are you sure? Because who's this?

2:03:25Pat McAfee:Because this is who they've got to play this week. It's going to be a hell of a game. Number three. The Dallas Cowboys, number three this week. 5-5-1. People say they're too deep in a hole to make a playoff run, but is there a chance with how good their offensive line is, I guess? Let's take a look. Let's take a look at the right tackle, Terrence Steele. First of all, their guards are phenomenal. BB's back at center, phenomenal. Terrence Steele got to cut off Jalen Carter. Watch this vet move. Get underneath, pull his hair down. Yep, do all the things. No holding call. And then we get the 20-yard run ripped right up the middle.

2:03:51But you're allowed to grab the hair. Well, you can do whatever you want as long as it doesn't get called. That's part of the helmet.

2:03:56Nick Saban:You can tackle him by their hair. That's right. That's Jalen Carter, though. That's a fierce, fierce three technique. He gets underneath him. That's big-time stuff right there.

2:04:06Pat McAfee:So they're playing defense and they're good at offensive line all of a sudden? And look at CeeDee Lamb getting involved. Look at him getting a nice little block that springs it right there. Boom. He locks it off. Yeah, look at that. It's pretty good stuff. And also keeping his feet clean. Don't roll up on me, please, God. Fun fact about the Chiefs and Cowboys. They're both currently the 10 seed in their respected conference. So big one. They both need one. All right, who's the number two performing offensive line out of Week 12? Welcome back, San Francisco 49ers. Welcome back. Certainly a good thing they had the run game going because Purdy was off early.

2:04:39I mean, just a tick off, but he was off. Let's take a look at Trent Williams. It obviously always starts with him. Look at this little underneath move. Make it look real easy. Climb, easy kick out. Use checks the other key. Kick out. I mean, just walk in the end zone. How good is that?

2:04:52Pat McAfee:He made that look very easy. 71 is who we're talking about here. He just grabs the guy, turns the guy. Look how fast he gets up there.

2:04:57Nick Saban:Look how fast he gets out to him. Like, come on, you have no chance if you're a defender. AJ, you don't want to get in close.

2:05:02Pat McAfee:He's got him in a hug. He's in his body. And then he can literally just do whatever he wants. And then he just shoves him as if it's a casual day at the park or maybe in a turkey bowl somewhere around America. That's the best tackle in this era right there.

2:05:13Nick Saban:Really? AQ, if you're eight yards, seven, eight yards deep as a DB or linebacker, and you see Trent Williams sprinting at you, and you realize the ball's coming right behind him, like, good luck. What are you supposed to do there? Chop them down and try to create a pile and get a penalty, I guess? Yeah, it's an absolute nightmare. And, Fox, if you can run it back to the beginning, AJ, you know this. You've seen this play a billion times. This is the old-school crack toss. You see the receiver on the left right there. That's the crack. You normally pull the tackle. They use his athleticism to run through and get the angle.

2:05:42There's a handful of teams. Miami Dolphins do this, which obviously came from this system. But San Fran has been doing this, and they use Trent Williams' advantage of his speed and athleticism to get up on that backer.

2:05:52Pat McAfee:Best tackle of this generation, you said about Trent? Yeah, but I thought he was tipping plays. Remember that? Yeah, he was. Remember when the internet said he was tipping? Oh, yeah, because his foot was bad. How about him just not even celebrating? Just looking right, seeing him score a touchdown. Well, he's definitely letting that guy. He turned immediately back to the guy. And I don't know if he said anything, but he certainly let the president's 71 go ahead. And Jawan Jennings, he will crack back, by the way. I think people do get mad at that. I think he turns, looks, touchdowns. Yeah, that's what I thought.

2:06:17Pat McAfee:Let me walk by this guy. Just what a legend. Been there so many times before. Imagine you have a Trent Williams on your team. I do. have we heard any updates uh yeah will campbell starting left tackle to the ir for four weeks okay but not but not season ending okay that's huge that's a bullet there it's ncl right not acl it's good it's huge that is big and i didn't like that about him on this i didn't like him in that cart with that thing and i was like man so prominent like this year was supposed to especially this is a special year this is not cool that this is how this goes especially with how misfortune can kind of be a big part of those injuries especially on the trenches side so for you guys to lose both your left side of your young offensive line is a bummer hearing that they could be back or he could be back great news that is a very positive positive situation yeah and starting left guard who got hurt uh you're ever seeing he's not even in a boot today with the ankle that he had a problem with but i am worried about the matt stafford mvpers like myself because drake may go out there that was starting left tackle and left guard and throws for 300 yards uh it's gonna be hard to keep it's gonna be hard not to start screaming that it's gonna be hard not to give him the mvp this guy doesn't even have an offensive line all right Let's go to the number one offensive line coming out of week 12 of the NFL season.

2:07:26Pat McAfee:Seattle Seahawks, congratulations. Congratulations to the Seahawks. They're just doing it all, aren't they? They really are. And it starts with play-action pass. It starts with running the football. And they do all of that extremely well, which only makes them better pass blockers. Let's watch this single combination between the center and the right guard. Bradford and Olu. Olu with Timmy. Boom. Look at that shoulder. Pop him back on the center. Open up the hole. Climb. Look at Cooper Cup. Body the DB. Damn. Wow. Let me say one thing, too, about the offensive line. Their job is to get you to the second level.

2:07:56The chunk runs happen when receivers buy in and get the blocks downfield, and you see it between all the good teams in the league. It's Cooper Cup. It's Jawan Jennings. It's all of the receivers getting downfield. You even saw with CeeDee Lamb. That is what creates the chunks and the explosives in the run game.

2:08:12Pat McAfee:The guy up there, number 11, double sticks up there. He's leading the league and everything. He might be the guy. He was downfield blocking right there. You know, so let alone Cooper Cup, who was quadruple crown winner in the past in the NFL. You also got the number one wide receiver in the NFL running down the field, chasing down a corner or safety. Now, granted, he's scared to death that he's running a route, so he has to kind of. It's much easier. But who cares? He's bought into the entire process. And let's talk about Jackson Smith and Jigba a little bit. You pair an offensive line with Jackson Smith and Jigba.

2:08:43Pat McAfee:You were saying that with wings, wide open. You think this team can Flap those wings to a Super Bowl with this Combination? I really do you just mentioned It is leading the league in receiving yards But let's talk about him as a technical Wide receiver doing all the things right All the fundamentals right here send them in Motion third and six the route is Designed to go to Kenneth Walker on the out route nope Got man-to-man coverage on the safety Safety has no ball skills yep we're throwing It up look at the body at the end Stacks him Pushes off a little bit you can always get away with that makes the play.

2:09:18Incredible job by him. Now this one right here. Take the inside release. As he takes the inside release, watch him bend back out to get the safety then go back over. It's all of the little things. That little bend back out gets him wide open on the over route. And then we got one more here. This one's incredible. If those top of the numbers extended into the end zone, this ball with a single high safety should be thrown one yard inside the top of the numbers. Bend back out. Get him out. Yep. Open it back up right and come inside.

2:09:44Pat McAfee:Oh, he's just controlling these guys, basically, and selling everything. It's his third year, right? Is that accurate? Third year? So he's obviously developed through it all. Age, did we know that he was going to be this dude? He's a technician. Obviously, he's incredibly talented and athletic and gifted and all that shit. He's also a technician, it seems like, this guy.

2:10:03Nick Saban:Yeah, he's lightning fast, too. You watch him get on top of DBs and he gets right in there, all up and step on their toes, as they'll say. Makes him worry. But, yeah, I think of people in Ohio, they've been talking about this dude forever, for a long time. He kind of went under the radar a little bit at times at Ohio State because they have so much talent. But, yeah, the guy's an absolute monster. You see, like, he's not a big intimidating guy either when you look at him. He's just so fast and he's so good at running these routes. Also, his ball skills are off the charts, man. Some of the balls he catches and converts to touchdowns should not be touchdowns.

2:10:32Yeah, to AJ's point, like the legendary Ohio State wide receiver receiving room, you know, Marvin Harrison Jr., Olave, J.S. N. Garrett Wilson, they all kind of unanimously said, hey, J.S. N.'s the best one. It's just he didn't play his senior year at Ohio State or whatever his last year was. Then he had Shane Waldron, which is kind of the wide receiver killer, it seems like, at this point. And now he has Clint Kubiak, and he's absolutely destroying guys.

2:10:52Pat McAfee:Oh, yeah, he said that. And then he said sorry or something? Yeah, he said that about the Bears last year. Then he was there with the Bears. Bears goes how it goes. Roman Dunze was terrible, and now he's really good because Waldo's out of there. Well, Ben Johnson's in there, but yes, certainly. Ben Johnson as well. But, yeah, it seems as though JSN has found his bag, bro. Yes, and he's found his quarterback, too. And his quarterback has said, thank fucking God. Yeah. This guy. So there's the top five performing offensive lines out of week 12 of the NFL season. We appreciate the hell out of you, AQ, doing that.

2:11:22Pat McAfee:Appreciate you, girls. Let's go ahead and pick the Thanksgiving slate in the Black Friday game, and then we'll pick two games from the Sunday slate. We're way too far removed on who's playing, especially at this stage of the season, so it'd be hard to pick all the games that are going to happen on Sunday, especially with all the news that's going to roll out. So we'll pick the Thanksgiving slates, and then we'll pick the Black Friday game, and then we'll pick two from Sunday that we have to select. Now, AJ, Green Bay Packers take on Detroit. Jack White at halftime. Detroit favored by three, 52 % of the money.

2:11:49Pat McAfee:Who do you like? How do you like it?

2:11:51Nick Saban:I mean, I would assume Green Bay is a little bit offended that they are dogs heading into this game. I understand it's only three and it's on the road, so they give it to the home team, but I'm taking Green Bay here. I think their defense stands up once again, and hopefully Jordan Love gets that ball in the end zone two, three times.

2:12:05Pat McAfee:I'll tell you what, man. I don't like that you're doing that, but I see it the same way. Give me Green Bay plus three. Maybe it's me just celebrating with Micah, watching the highlights of him just taking over games, but it feels like he can do that. He feels like he can take over games, and it's not just him. I think the defense is very good over there. Yeah, I agree, and for a long time ago, obviously both these teams are in different spots, but he was very dominant in that week one game at home against Detroit, too. I know Panay Sewell is obviously one of, if not the best right tackle in the NFL, but Micah fared pretty well against him.

2:12:42We'll see if they can heat up Jared Goff a little bit. Obviously, the big concern is there's a chance that they give up 400 rushing yards because Jameer Gibbs could have 10 carries and rush 400 yards. But, yeah, exactly. Jeff, give him hell. Halfley will be ready to go. Foxy, how do you feel?

2:12:57Nick Saban:Yeah, I mean, if you look at all of our losses so far this year, it's against teams that have really good defensive lines. The Packers have a great defensive line, so that worries me. And to Ty's point, our only chance is if Gibbs runs for 400 yards. We've got to pound the rock. We've got to control the clock. That's our only hope. So if we can do that, we can win this thing. Because it's at home, I feel better about it. That's all I'll say there.

2:13:16Pat McAfee:Going to be going up to Michigan this weekend. Would like the vibes to be high off a Detroit win. Jameer Gibbs is fun. Kelton Shepard is a D coordinator. Give me the Detroit Lions favored by three. You can take a minus two and a half. I'll do that for sure. Go ahead and give me that. Also, Jake Bates, the super-duper UXF, super-duper FL guy. He's going to do well. I like the Detroit Lions favored by three. Kansas City, Dallas Cowboys. Kansas City favored by three and a half. Post Malone will be performing at halftime. The Dallas Cowboys are getting 69 % of the bets. Do you think they continue the run that they had at the end of the last game, or do the Kansas City Chiefs have the end of the three now is what the spread could be?

2:13:55Pat McAfee:Both are out there, yeah. If you want the Chiefs, you get them at three. If you like the Cowboys, you get them at three and a half. AJ, who do you like? How do you like it?

2:14:01Nick Saban:This is a tough one for me. I'm very high on the Dallas Cowboys and what they are doing offensively and defensively, but I'm going to have to go trust my instincts. I'm taking the Kansas City Chiefs here at minus three.

2:14:11Pat McAfee:I'll be taking the Chiefs as well because I just saw them do what they did to the Colts, and I like the Colts still. So I kind of need this one, actually, to be the Kansas City Chiefs. Although I do like what Dallas is doing. I appreciate and respect them, and I love that Post Malone's going to be performing at halftime. Will there be a collab in there or two in any of these? We shall see. Cincinnati-Baltimore, nightcap on NBC. Baltimore favored by a touchdown at home in the bank. Little John at halftime. Joey Burrow back for Cincinnati. Same with Jamar Chase. AJ, who do you like? How do you like it?

2:14:43Pat McAfee:At this time, we're going to be struggling for energy, and then these two teams are going to light it up for us.

2:14:48Nick Saban:Yeah, I don't know if you guys saw. I watched Joey Burrow, I believe it was Presser yesterday, talk about growing up watching the Lions. He did mention a little thing saying the Lions would lose usually when he was watching them growing up with Calvin Johnson and Matt Stafford, but he said he wanted to be that guy on Thanksgiving. So I think Joe gives this team a jolt, and I think seven is a lot of points, so give me Cincinnati.

2:15:08Pat McAfee:That's a lot of points, man, especially a division game on Thanksgiving, man. Joe Burrow's back. Give me Cincinnati plus seven as well. Let's go to Black Friday, shall we? Bears at Eagles. Eagles favored by seven, getting 56 % of the public bet. Who do you like? How do you like it, AJ?

2:15:25Nick Saban:Oh, man. I like the Eagles on this one. I think the Eagles' D-line comes to play. I know the Bears' offensive line is very good, but I think the Eagles find a way to get it done in all the chaos. And if they don't get it done, they might get beat by 21. But give me the E.

2:15:36Pat McAfee:And on that note, maybe I'll take the Bears plus seven. That's a lot of points, man, especially for Black Friday. You know what?

2:15:42Nick Saban:Give me the Bears. I'm flipping. Give me the Bears.

2:15:44Pat McAfee:Okay, I like that. Hey, all right. Hey, I like what you're doing right there. I do that move all the time. You very rarely are a flipper-flopper. That is not really your thing. But that's a lot of points for a Black Friday special super football game. on prime. And let's pick two games here from week 13. I'm going to pick Texans Colts. Give me the Colts minus four and a half in the Loud House. J.J. Watt on the call. Cannot wait to see this Colts team bounce back after a loss. And then Steelers Bills. Bills favored by three and a half in Pittsburgh. Go ahead and give me the Buffalo Bills favored going into Akershire to get a huge win.

2:16:24Pat McAfee:Tone, do you hate that or love that? No, I love that. I mean, Josh Allen off potentially his worst game in five years, 10 days rest. Yeah. He'll probably get it out at 0.5 seconds. It'll be his quickest of the season. So that'll be funny. Yeah, but also Pittsburgh. I mean, is Aaron Rodgers coming back? Yeah. I thought he was going to play last week. Which is why I had so much faith in them to beat the Bears. He doesn't play. So then all of a sudden, I don't think that was his decision. It sounds like that was a doctor's decision. All of a sudden that changes everything, including the aura and the moxie.

2:16:52Pat McAfee:Aaron Rodgers return. Him and Josh love each other? Josh was squirming on the field. I think he might be hurt. It doesn't matter. Really? Oh, yeah, twice. And usually, like, I'd be joking, but he looked like he was in genuine pain on Thursday. And they're coming off bye week or Thursday? Yeah. So we haven't seen him since then. So 10 days, haven't seen him since. I don't know if there's been an injury report, but it looked like he was in a lot of pain. Anytime you see a guy, like a big, tough guy like that. Handsome. Handsome guy, thank you. Smart, funny. kicking his legs down on the turf like that after he gets hit.

2:17:26It's like guys in the NFL don't usually do that unless they're like something really, really hurts.

2:17:30Pat McAfee:Especially Josh. Yeah, exactly. Once again, incredibly charming and tough and handsome. He is funny. So much moxie. So much talent just radiating in that arm and body. Great hair. Perfect amount of scruff. What a dream this guy is. Couldn't imagine anything better. Must be cool to have hair. It is, man. Yeah. I know all you guys you got hair I've seen you grow that thing out too how'd it look I didn't know why that decision was made I thought we already had your look forever

2:18:02Nick Saban:you ever go with just mustache AQ no you want me to do it yes

2:18:09Nick Saban:handlebar looks sweet handlebar for a little bit but then you gotta shave it off just into a straight old man stash for at least a day

2:18:14Pat McAfee:agreed agreed Paul Tuttle senior

2:18:19JJ Watt:can you still grow the sides AQ like classic horseshoe powder.

2:18:23Pat McAfee:Yes, that's what I did. It was blonde too. You could roll Amish as well. Just cut that fucking mustache off. Just look like a goat.

2:18:31Nick Saban:I could do that.

2:18:32Pat McAfee:You think about just here? Yeah. Chin strap. Definitely need the title.

2:18:38Nick Saban:John Fetterman look.

2:18:39Pat McAfee:You should do all these. You should explore the space because it looks like it's pretty strong here, not so much here. You were gifted on the face, not so much here. And also your body, this guy's got wool. He's like a sheep. yeah you know and what's that little song about the amount of wool and the sheep do you have the kids singing i guess this man had all he had two balls or rolls or whatever the fuck yeah i do i do my best to shave that as often you got laser remember you were getting laser yeah that didn't work either this guy was going and didn't work so pain where'd you get like your back lasered or

2:19:08Nick Saban:what cubes everything man everything oh what do they what do they do with your dong they just sit there your dongs right well see it's great you know you just sit there you open it up you cover up and you just... Hey, listen, you're not enjoying this as much as I am.

2:19:24Pat McAfee:He was doing this. It was like a long time. It was taking a long time. Feet are over your head? Doing his whole body.

2:19:31Nick Saban:Feet are over your head. No way. Your feet aren't over your head, are they?

2:19:34Pat McAfee:Well, you've got to get in there. We don't know what all he decided to do.

2:19:37Nick Saban:What if he walked in, AQ's on a table in an exam room on all fours? Like a turkey? Like a turkey tied up? He's doing him like cat and camel so they can get to his areas. Normally he's laying flat with a hole in the table.

2:19:49Pat McAfee:I'm telling you, with how hairy he is, I would say that is possible. That is kind of feasible. Alright, let's get the hell out of here. Let's have an incredible Thanksgiving. AJ, which two games are you going to pick? I'm picking the Bills minus 3.5 and the Colts minus 4.5.

2:20:02Nick Saban:Okay, I am taking the Jacksonville Jaguars minus 6.5 at Tennessee and then I will take the Kirk Cousins led Atlanta Falcons minus 2.5 against the Jets.

2:20:12Pat McAfee:Get me off of the Bills, the Steelers. I'll take the Niners minus four. I'll take the Browns plus four. Give me back to the Bills minus three and a half. I'll stay on the Bills. All right, let's get out of here. You all are the greatest people on earth. We are so incredibly thankful. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice. It might change your life, especially at this Thanksgiving stuff. Let's remember that. You can disagree with people and still get along. That's what life's all about. That's what ball is all about. And once again, you can go about your life doing your thing. Just don't be fucking Dookie, dude.

2:20:42Hell yeah. That's right. Dookie.

2:20:45Pat McAfee:Dookie. Might have heard the boys on that, actually. No, Dookie dropping the boys. You guys were in stew on microphone. Yeah, that is you guys. That is you guys on the Dookie in the background there. So thank you for just such a good fucking delivery of Dookie. Yeah, I mean, you guys absolutely crushed it. AQ, great show today, brother. Any wise words as we head out of here? Hey, let's just be thankful and have all the gratitude for everybody as you sit around the table tomorrow. I am extremely grateful and thankful of all you guys. Happy Thanksgiving, boys. Yeah, we love you, man. And good time to buy some gifts for some people.

2:21:23Pat McAfee:Get them a ticket to a live event. Our friends at SeatGeek right now, code PATMACAFEE, P-A-T-M-C-A-F-E-E. Get$30 off tickets to anything. Playoff football is right around the corner. You know, there's going to be shows coming up. obviously concerts, you name it. If there's anything with tickets involved, SeatGeek is the place to get them. Doesn't matter if you're a new or repeat purchaser. $30 off with code PATMAGPIE. There are some restrictions apply. It's a great gift, though. Tickets are a great gift because you're not just giving them something that's fungible and tangible. You're giving them a story that they'll talk about for the rest of their life.

2:21:55Pat McAfee:You're giving them memory. You're giving them a moment. And that's one of our friends at SeatGeek. The greatest ticket-buying platform on planet Earth. And The Boon! Be a friend, tell a friend, something nice might change your life. We're listening together. Team on me. Team on three. Have the greatest Thanksgiving weekend of all time.

2:22:12Nick Saban:I love you guys.

2:22:13Pat McAfee:Love you too.

2:22:16Nick Saban:AJ, fuck you. Love you guys as well. You guys, come on now. You don't want me to... I'm serious. I tell you all the time. These are the good old days. You know that. Enjoy it. We should enjoy it.

2:22:26Pat McAfee:Behind the Glass, we love you guys. Graphic Design Boys, we love you guys. Zito, we love you guys. Bill, we love you guys. Love everybody. Love you guys. E-O-E. I have a ring on. It says E-O-E. That's what this is all about. Thank you for allowing us to do this. Ann Arbor on Saturday. Let's enjoy it. Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three. Team.

2:22:47Nick Saban:Goodbye. That's the sound of zero sugar, 200 milligrams of caffeine, and the power to burn body fat. Storm, energy for life. Storm Energy Blend helps boost metabolism, which in combination with exercise and a healthy diet helps burn fat. This product alone does not produce weight loss. Individual results may vary. MLB.tv on ESPN is your home for every out-of-market game, live or on demand. Catch your favorite teams and players, plus MLB Network and ESPN app features like Multiview, syncing your stats, key plays, bets, and fantasy, all in one place. Sign up now for MLB.tv in the ESPN app. Separate subscriptions required, blackouts, and other terms apply.

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