NFL Week 18 Playoff Scenarios, NBA Latest, & Best Bets! | Coach and Company | December 30th, 2025 |

Full Podcast Summary / Notes (Timestamped) 00:00:00 – 00:06:30 Intro: The Coach sets the stage, highlighting the last days of 2025, a quick recap of the Falcons Monday Night win, and key NFL teams announcing starters for Week 18. 00:06:31 – 00:09:08 NFL Week 18 Lookahead: The Coach and Mikey P. zero in on key teams (Rams, Bears) playing starters. Rafael Esparza spotlights Bijan Robinson’s breakout Monday night, with detailed player performance discussion. 00:09:09 – 00:13:12 Fantasy Football Recap & College Picks: Peyton brings Tiger Woods’ 50th birthday news. Group shouts out fantasy football champions, emphasizing Bijan Robinson’s impact. Rafael Esparza cautions about future bets, advising separate accounts for futures. Best bets from Mikey P. (NBA: Celtics -7.5, Clippers o116.5) and Peyton (Tennessee/Illinois o61.5, TCU vs. USC analysis). 00:13:13 – 00:15:15 College Bowl Game Breakdowns: Peyton breaks down the USC vs. TCU quarterback situation and picks USC -6.5. Tennessee’s strengths and weaknesses previewed. 00:15:16 – 00:18:14 Best Bets Rapid-Fire: The Coach takes Lakers (+2.5) and Grizzlies ML, emphasizing travel fatigue for the Pistons. Rafael picks TCU team total o24.5 and Deandre Ayton o20.5 points+rebounds. 00:18:15 – 00:23:14 NFL & MVP Race Deep Dive: Rafael Esparza and panel discuss the AFC playoff picture, Drake May’s MVP candidacy (now -400 favorite), and Coach of the Year contenders (Liam Cohen, Mike Vull, Ben Johnson, Kyle Shanahan). 00:23:15 – 00:30:30 Sound Off & Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down: The crew reacts passionately to John Calipari’s fiery transfer portal/NIL comments—unanimous “thumbs up” for reform. Chip Kelly’s wild coaching journey and new Northwestern gig draws laughs and “thumbs down.” 00:30:31 – 00:36:03 NFL Coaching Carousel & Chiefs Outlook: Andy Reid’s future with Kansas City is debated, with Rafael Esparza noting Mahomes’ influence over coaching decisions. 00:36:04 – 00:43:16 NFL Week 18 Game Previews: Seattle vs. San Francisco for NFC #1 seed (panel split: Seattle’s defense vs. Niners’ offense) Panthers vs. Bucs/Playoff Math: Peyton untangles NFC South tiebreakers AFC West: Broncos vs. Chargers, and New England vs. Miami previewed, with playoff impact analyzed. 00:43:17 – 00:51:03 NBA Showcase & Player Spotlights: Paul Pierce’s hot take on Wemby’s bench role debated—panel agrees Spurs use Wemby perfectly Detroit Pistons’ fatigue, Lakers roster injuries, and LeBron’s birthday provide key context for picks. 00:51:04 – 01:00:03 Rapid Picks & Merch Challenge: Final picks roundtable (Celtics, Clippers, Lakers, Grizzlies, Tennessee/Illinois o61.5, TCU team total, Ayton props) Special Wheel of Doom/merch giveaway challenge: TCU/USC covers, Ken Seals passing yards prop, and Peyton vs. Big Cheesy showdown. 01:00:04 – 01:03:04 Closing Thoughts: The Coach wraps with marching orders for ticket cashers, big expectations for 2026, and a preview of tomorrow’s merch challenges. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.