#553: 2025 NFL Wild Card Weekend Preview (with Hal Bent)

What this episode covers

1. Week 18 Takeaways-DKrom: NFL parity continues its decades-long pattern when it comes to the playoffs-Hal: Tie-breakers factor in massively with two non-playoff teams (Falcons, Raiders) determining playoff seeds2. Week 18 Honors-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Aaron Rodgers, Hal: Seahawks D)-Dunce of the Week (DKrom: Mike Brown, Hal: Owners of teams with fired HC's and retained GM's [except Baltimore])3. FINAL 2025 NFL Awards-MVP (DKrom: Drake Maye, Hal: Drake Maye)-Offensive POY (DKrom: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Hal: Puka Nacua)-Defensive POY (DKrom: Myles Garrett, Hal: Myles Garrett)-Offensive ROY (DKrom: Tetairoa McMillan, Hal: Tetairoa McMillan)-Defensive ROY (DKrom: Carson Schwesinger, Hal: James Pearce, Jr.)-Protector of the Year (DKrom: Trent Williams, Hal: Joe Thuney)-Comeback POY (DKrom: Aidan Hutchinson Hal: Chris Olave)-Coach of the Year (DKrom: Liam Coen, Hal: Kyle Shanahan)-Assistant COY (DKrom: Josh McDaniels, Hal: Anthony Campanile)4. Coaching Carousel-Rank the seven HC openings (Browns, Cardinals, Falcons, Giants, Ravens, Raiders, Titans) from least attractive to most attractive -Putting those rankings aside, if you were John Harbaugh, which one of the other six vacancies would be most appealing to you and why? -With Mike Borgonzi now fully in control of the football operation in Tennessee, would it be quite a surprise if the new head coach of the Titans isn't Matt Nagy or Mike Kafka?-As Pro Football Talk first reported, many around the league believe that when it comes to the Raiders, Tom Brady is eyeing a Patriots reunion with Brian Flores as head coach, Brian Daboll as OC, and Patrick Graham remaining as DC. Would that be the most ideal outcome for the Raiders this hiring cycle?-Are the Falcons making a mistake by giving Matt Ryan final say over all football decisions? -This year is described as a "down year" to be in the market for a new head coach. If you were the owner or GM of a team with a HC vacancy, which current HC candidate (aside from John Harbaugh) would be your top target and why?5. Bills/Jaguars Preview 6. Super Wild Card Weekend Game Picks-Rams at Panthers-Packers at Bears-49ers at Eagles-Chargers at Patriots-Texans at Steelers7. Super Wild Card Weekend Bold Predictions-DKrom: Drake Maye and the Patriots are in the Red Zone with less than a minute left in the game and they're down 27-24. But on 3rd-and-4 from the 18, Drake Maye tries to hit former Charger Hunter Henry down the seam for a TD, but Derwin James swoops in at the last second to deflect the pass and the grizzled vet Tony Jefferson picks it off, sealing the win for the Chargers-Hal: Christian McCaffrey totals 250 yards of offense (150 on the ground, 100 through the air) and 3 TD leading the Niners to the upset over the Eagles8. Challenge Flags-DKrom: Sean McDermott...coach as if your job could be on the line. It just might be-Hal: Panthers, Bears and Jaguars...EMBRACE THE DISRESPECT!!!

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