Overview of NFL Championship Sunday, Mark Schlereth Talking Patriots/Broncos and Rams/Seahawks, The Bills Weird Press Conference + Fyre Fest Of The Week
Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take previews Conference Championship Sunday (AFC: Patriots @ Broncos; NFC: Rams @ Seahawks), reacts to the Bills’ bizarre owner/GM press conference after Sean McDermott’s firing, digs into recent coaching hires, and finishes with a long interview with Mark Schlereth. The show mixes serious X’s-and-O’s breakdowns (injuries, coaching, run game, pass rush, altitude) with comedy bits (Jared Stidham “tail” rumors, mascot-buying, Derrick Rose nights) and host betting picks.
Key topics covered
- Bills press conference fallout
- Terry Pegula and Brandon Beane’s handling of Sean McDermott’s firing was criticized as knee-jerk and tone-deaf; Pagula’s comments (took action after emotional locker-room moment, anecdote about Josh Allen ignoring him) were viewed as projecting instability.
- Keon Coleman discussion: confusion about who really wanted/selected him; speculation about benching reasons.
- Coaching moves & hires
- Mike McDaniel joining the Chargers as OC (big splash; pairing with Justin Herbert and Harbaugh).
- Mike McCarthy interviewed by Steelers; broader chatter about who’d want to coach in Philly (eggings / fan pressure).
- Breaking mentions: Robert Saleh to the Titans (reported).
- Playoff previews: Patriots @ Broncos (AFC) and Rams @ Seahawks (NFC)
- Matchups, injury/in-season contexts, and which team advantages matter (altitude, line play, defensive schemes).
- Mark Schlereth interview
- Memories of Broncos’ playoff runs, takeaways on both weekend games, specifics about Jared Stidham, Drake May, Denver defense, Seahawks’ tackling and Sam Darnold story.
- Lighter segments
- Jared Stidham “tail” internet rumor (funny, absurd rabbit hole).
- Mascot obsession (hosts buying mascot suits), Derrick Rose nights, Piss Dogs nostalgia.
- Picks & office pool standings, DVOA references and stats tossed around.
Main takeaways and analysis
- Bills press conference harmed public perception
- Hosts felt the press conference failed to project a thoughtful, stable process; Pagula’s comments were too candid and appeared rushed/emo-driven, which undermined confidence in the front office’s plan.
- Brandon Beane’s presence and posture will likely draw suspicion (rightly or not) as the GM who stayed while McDermott was fired.
- Patriots vs Broncos (AFC)
- Patriots defense gets respect: DVOA and late-season metrics were cited as evidence the Pats’ defense is underrated.
- Broncos offense strengths vs Patriots defense: offensive line advantage, but backup Jared Stidham vs familiar offensive system is a key storyline.
- Concerns for Broncos: defensive attrition, communication issues in loud home crowd, turnover/ball security problems.
- Altitude: advantage for home team when game is a physical, extended-run affair — wear and conditioning matter.
- Rams vs Seahawks (NFC)
- Extremely even, coin-flip matchup. DVOA ranked them top vs #2; both teams elite in different ways.
- Seahawks defense: elite tackling and scheme discipline (Mike Macdonald’s impact), excels at preventing extra yards after catch.
- Rams: Sean McVay’s offense + Stafford experience; run game and situational coaching can swing results.
- Depth/injury questions (Kenneth Walker, Zach Charbonnet, Rams secondary) and special teams are potential swing factors.
- Jared Stidham vs Drake May narrative
- Stidham: praised as having upside, practiced in Payton system, odd internet lore (tail rumor), small sample but seen as capable.
- Drake May: has big-play ability but ball-security issues (fumbles) that must be managed by Broncos.
Notable quotes & insights
- “The goal of this type of press conference is always to give confidence… Terry Pagula did the exact opposite.” — critique of Bills owner press conference.
- Mark Schlereth on playoff mindset: “The team that settles into just playing a game and executing is a team that’s probably going to win.”
- Schlereth on Denver’s attrition: “It’s harder to play defense… the exhaustion piles up.”
- On Seahawks defense (Schlereth): “If all you do is tackle well in the NFL, you’re gonna have a pretty good defense… I haven’t seen a team tackle better than Seattle all season.”
Mark Schlereth — guest highlights
- Favorite memory: Denver wild-card win in Pittsburgh that led to a Super Bowl run; described elation of final, small-play moments that sealed games.
- Tough memory: Broncos loss to Jacksonville (1997 playoff) — described as a “catalytic” loss that haunted the team and shaped their future approach.
- Tactical observations:
- Broncos defense declined late-season because of attrition, crowd noise affecting communication, and schematic lapses against Buffalo (big-play/turnover issues).
- On Stidham: knows the scheme (signed twice by Sean Payton), brings professionalism and leadership; more concern for Broncos is how well the defense holds up than which QB starts.
- Seahawks’ tackling discipline and scheme execution (attacking protections, using Leonard Williams) make them a matchup nightmare.
- On running games: entry, patience, and back’s ability to set up blocks and read front matter more than just raw talent.
Betting picks / show predictions (as stated by hosts)
(Transcript delivered picks in a conversational, overlapping way—these are the picks as presented)
- Patriots @ Broncos
- PFT / host pick: under 42.5 (low-scoring expectation).
- Hank: Patriots -4.5 (and at times said Patriots by 10 / Patriots by a field goal — confidence varied).
- Several hosts predicted Patriots win; consensus favored New England in multiple segments.
- Rams @ Seahawks
- One host: Seahawks @ Rams over 46.5 (expect points).
- Another lean: Rams (experience of McVay/Stafford being a tie-breaker).
- Betting note: hosts flagged key matchups/situations to monitor — Broncos turnovers, Patriots defensive DVOA trends, Seahawks defensive tackling, Rams offensive adjustments.
(If you plan to bet: check injury reports, late scratches, and weather/altitude updates, and use responsible betting practices.)
Fyre Fest of the Week (hot takes / items called out)
- Bills press conference = Fire Fest (major criticism).
- Mike McCarthy interview with Steelers — social media backlash if hired.
- Derrick Rose nights in Chicago: hosts mocked repeated promotional nights (bobbleheads, banners).
- Mascot obsession: host PFT buying mascot suits (Bucky the Badger, alligator, etc.) — comic subplot; talk of mascot basketball/football games.
- “Piss Dogs” reunion nostalgia — recurring in office lore and merch talk.
- Minor host health/annoyances: Zach’s “wet meal prep” delivery, talk of possible kidney stone, and various in-studio banter.
Action items / recommendations from the episode
- Watch the Bills’ handling of coaching/GM transitions — front office messaging matters.
- If betting: monitor Seahawks’ left-side O-line practice reports, Broncos injury updates (Bo Nix), and Patriots’ defensive health (Christian Gonzalez status).
- Listen to Mark Schlereth’s Stinkin’ Truth podcast/YouTube for deeper X’s-and-O’s breakdowns.
- For fans: expect a close Rams/Seahawks game and a Patriots-Broncos matchup decided by turnovers and situational football (altitude/special teams).
Quick episode snapshot / useful links
- Show date: Friday, January 23 — Conference Championship weekend preview.
- Guest: Mark Schlereth — Stinkin’ Truth podcast (YouTube).
- Sponsors mentioned (for reference in episode): DraftKings, Bumble, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Paramount+, Chevy Silverado, Jackpocket.
If you want a one-line TL;DR: Patriots favored to take a tight, low-scoring AFC game vs. Broncos (Stidham uncertainty + Denver defense attrition); Rams-Seahawks is an elite coin flip — Seahawks’ tackling vs. Rams’ experience, and the Bills’ owner press conference badly undercut the post-McDermott narrative.