S3 E 14 Super Bowl Preview and Predictions, AFC/NFC Title Game Observations

Taped on Jan. 27, 2026...

Segment 1: 3 Observations After the AFC and NFC Championship Games (Starts at 1:02)

• Surprise that Sam Darnold will be the first QB to make the Super Bowl from the 2018 NFL Draft class that included Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson 
• Has Rams QB Matthew Stafford played his last NFL game after throwing for 4,700 yards and a career-best 46 TDs? Concerns about his previous back issues at 38 years old
• What are the Jets doing? Head Coach Aaron Glenn has fired 8 assistant coaches including both offensive and defensive coordinators...(Note: since taping, the Jets have hired Steve Duker as DC, not Wink Martindale, as Aaron Glenn reportedly wants to call the defensive plays in 2026)

Segment 2: AFC and NFC Championship Game Highlights and Observations (10:40)

Patriots 10, Broncos 7

• Broncos likely win with QB Bo Nix on the field
• Denver Coach Sean Payton will have nightmares for years on his decision to go for it on 4th down and not kick a field go to up 10-0 with a backup QB that hadn't played in two seasons
  • Nigel talks about how locally in Colorado fans disagreed with not kicking the FG in that situation...4 missed FGs in the game by both teams
• Weather a massive factor; Patriots HC Mike Vrabel outcoached Payton down the stretch in the blustery blizzard; we talk through the factors the coaches were pondering in real-time 
• Drake Maye made a big difference with his legs and had the longest run of the game (28 yards)
• Hard to repeat as AFC Champs, and the road likely does not get easier: Massive number of comeback wins by Denver is not sustainable, Chargers have a new OC, should get their O Line healthy and the Chiefs should reload with higher draft picks in each round than in the past several seasons; Mahomes return from surgery TBD
• Discussion around when to take running backs in the NFL draft

Seahawks 31, Rams 27 (27:40)

• Darnold played well: 3 TDs and no turnovers, Stafford 3 TDs and close to 400 yards passing
• Rams NC Sean McVay's decision to go for it on 4th down and not get it late in the 4th quarter was not game changing
• Seattle did a great job keeping the ball away from Stafford and the Rams offense after that decision

Segment 3: Super Bowl Preview and Predictions (30:01)

• Rematch of Super Bowl 50: Pats 28, Seahawks 24 (last time Seattle made the big game); Pats CB Malcolm Butler jumped a route and intercepted Russell Wilson as Seattle was about to score and likely win the game with a TD late in the fourth quarter
• Both head coaches (Mike Macdonald and Mike Vrabel) are in their first year with their teams, rare to get to the Super Bowl, even more so that both coaches do it the same year
• First SB appearance for both Sam Darnold and Drake Maye
• Maye could become the youngest winning QB in NFL SB history
• Darnold led NFL with the most turnovers; last QB to lead league in INTs and make it to the Super Bowl: Eli Manning in 2007
• 3 keys to the game
  • Turnovers
  • Will Patriots' offense be abled to keep pace with Seattle's?
    • Patriots averaging 18 PPG in postseason, Seahawks 36 PPG
  • Patriot OL vs Seahawks D Line I(keep Maye upright and with time to throw), and covering Seahawks star WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba
• Prediction: Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak will be a head coach sooner than later (very good play caller)
• Prediction: Seahawks will win

Segment 4: Coaching Carousel (41:00)

• Two NFL teams are still looking for their next head coach: Raiders and Cardinals
• After we taped this, the Browns announced the hiring of Todd Monken, former Ravens offensive coordinator
• Recent success of first year head coaches: Seahawks Mike Macdonald, Bears Ben Johnson, Jaguars Liam Coen to name a few...does this give long-suffering Jets fans hope???
• Will the Bills and Ravens be better with their new HCs? Are they upgrades? 
• Stefanski an upgrade in Atlanta
• Will there be a salary cap in Major League Baseball?
• Reminiscing about last NY Rangers last Stanley Cup in 1994