Overview of NFL Divisional Round With Kyle Long, Electric Substations With Peter Cowan, Divisional Round Picks & Preview, Harbaugh To The Giants + Fyre Fest
Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take (Jan 16) — Episode previewing the NFL Divisional Round, featuring guest interviews with former NFL guard/analyst Kyle Long and circadian/photobiology researcher Peter Cowan. The show mixes game previews, betting angles, coaching/stadium talk, viral-substation reporting, and their regular “Fyre Fest” segments and picks. Sponsors and promo codes (GameTime PMT, DraftKings TAKE, JackPocket PMT2, Microsoft Copilot) are repeatedly integrated into the episode.
Main segments
- Quick news & reacts: John Harbaugh hired by the NY Giants, coaching stability vs. turnover, Mike Tomlin contract/legacy, Matt LaFleur/Sean McVay chatter.
- Divisional-round game-by-game previews, lines and betting angles (hosts’ picks included).
- Interview: Kyle Long — NFL Game Analyst — breakdown of matchups, trenches, weather effects, and beliefs about key players/coaches.
- Interview: Peter Cowan — photobiology researcher — viral thread on an electrical substation next to the 49ers’ practice facility, measurements and hypotheses.
- Fyre Fest / show culture: staff changes (Pug leaving on-site to NJ office/upstate), inside jokes, and the weekly “Lottery Ball” bit.
Game-by-game preview & key betting / tactical notes
(odds and O/Us are as discussed on show; read lines live before betting)
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Bills vs. Broncos (Sat)
- Market: Broncos ~ -1.5; O/U ~ 45.5
- Big-picture: Broncos are regarded as the better overall team; Bills are “Josh Allen-centric.” Mile-High altitude and Broncos’ OL (fewest sacks allowed, tied with Rams at 23) are important factors.
- Key stats/angles: Josh Allen experienced with altitude (played at Wyoming), Bills lack top WR depth (Gabe Davis out); Broncos path likely to lean on Bo Nix’s mobility / run game. Sean Payton noted as 4-0 coming off extended rest.
- Betting lens from the show: many liked Broncos or small-line edge; under/close-game expectations common.
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49ers vs. Seahawks (Sat night)
- Market: Seahawks -7; O/U ~ 44.5
- Injuries: 49ers banged up (George Kittle out, Fred Warner not activated this weekend). Seahawks have home crowd edge; Seahawks have long home-playoff streak with fans.
- Tactical notes: Shanahan’s creativity vs. Seattle’s defense; Sam Darnold “questionable” on report but expected to play; the hosts expect Seattle’s defensive toughness + home noise to be decisive.
- Betting lens: the hosts leaned Seahawks; unders popular.
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Texans vs. Patriots (Sun)
- Market: Patriots -3; O/U ~ 40.5
- Matchup focus: Texans defensive front (Will Anderson Jr., others) vs. Patriots offense; Drake Maye praised by hosts (“he’s winning football”), but Stat-focused caveat: Drake Maye was flagged in a niche situational stat — worst completion % on third-and-6 (5/18, ~27% sample on that down/distance) — used as a potential game plan weakness.
- Tactical notes: Expect a low-scoring defensive battle; weather (snow) could be a factor and favors run/power/short stuff.
- Betting lens: Under is a popular play here; small-line crossups (Patriots vs. Texans) debated.
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Rams vs. Bears (Sun night, Soldier Field)
- Market: Rams -3.5; O/U ~ 48.5
- Matchup focus: Caleb Williams / Bears offense vs. Rams’ talent (and weather). Storylines around Caleb’s cold-weather poise, the Bears’ run-game and ability to keep it close, and potential weather extremes (very cold, wind chill concerns).
- Tactical notes: Cold outdoors tends to advantage simplified offense (run/short passing) and can blunt explosive plays — hosts debated whether it favors Bears (home, QB rookie magic) or Rams (more consistent team).
- Betting lens: varied; some hosts took Bears, others Rams with the edge.
Notable stats & on-air nuggets
- Drake Maye: called “winning football” by hosts; but the show highlighted a curious stat — among QBs with ≥10 attempts on 3rd-and-6 over last two seasons, Drake Maye ranked last (5-for-18, ~27% completion). Hosts framed that as a situational exploitable weakness for defenses.
- Broncos & Rams tied for fewest sacks allowed (23) this season.
- Bill-of-Health / injuries to monitor: Fred Warner (Niners) not activated this weekend; Christian Gonzalez (Patriots) cleared; George Kittle out.
- Josh Allen: hosts emphasized he’s the “cheat code” who can overcome schematic disadvantages and is comfortable in altitude (Wyoming experience).
Interview highlight — Kyle Long (ex-OL / analyst)
- Calling games: Long discussed calling his first NFL game for CBS (unique pre-game prep, access to coaches, excitement of being on-field environment vs. studio routine).
- Game analysis insights:
- Pass rush traits that bother OLs: quickness off the snap (ability to “get off the ball”), and details on how tackles like Trent Williams create both front-side and backside run advantages (cut-offs, lateral movement).
- On key matchups: Josh Allen’s ability to make plays vs. Denver’s pass rush; Broncos’ wide alignments and how that affects offense/OL reps.
- Hot takes: Long expressed belief in offenses that handle cold weather well (and how the footing/conditions favor offense over defense in some scenarios because defenders must react/cut more).
- Picks & predictions: Long’s declared weekend winners included Bears, Broncos, Seahawks, Patriots (full bracket-level opinions discussed).
Interview highlight — Peter Cowan (circadian scientist / photobiology)
- Core claim: Peter measured elevated AC magnetic-field (Gauss) readings near a substation adjacent to the 49ers practice facility and suggested the substation’s non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and dense wireless environment could contribute to cellular-level stress (he focused on “cellular dehydration” and circadian disruption hypotheses).
- He stressed: this is controversial, not proven to be causal; he’s drawing from photobiology/circadian literature and electromagnetic exposure studies. He used a Gauss meter to take readings and reported elevated levels at the back of the Niners’ field area.
- Recommendations he offered (practical, low-tech, mainstream-friendly):
- Prioritize morning sunlight exposure (3 minutes at sunrise, or 30 minutes before 10 a.m. if skipping sunrise).
- Use blue-light-blocking glasses in evening (an hour or two before bedtime).
- Consider red-light therapy / hydration-supportive practices (molecular hydrogen etc.) if concerned about chronic exposure — but he was clear these are mitigation ideas, not blanket cures.
- Host reaction: They probed for ways teams could mitigate exposure (e.g., shielding, clothing, or distancing), and Cowan emphasized lifestyle/circadian steps as feasible mitigations. The segment was curious, skeptical, and exploratory — not a scientific verdict.
Notable quotes & moments
- “John Harbaugh, you’re a New York Giant” — reaction to Harbaugh hiring and stability he brings.
- On Drake Maye: “He is winning football” — repeated praise of Maye’s season.
- On Josh Allen: “Josh Allen is the cheat code.”
- On the new D.C. stadium renderings: “That stadium is worth three wins a year.”
- “Third-and-six mafia” — the hosts’ running joke after the Drake Maye situational stat.
- Viral bit: the thread/photoshops of John Harbaugh with the Giants & mock photoshopped Jackson Dart → Jameis Winston on Jackson Dart, early social media jokes around Harbaugh hiring.
Picks summary (hosts’ lean)
- Common themes: unders in multiple games (Bills-Broncos under, Niners-Seahawks under), small favorites (Broncos, Seahawks, Patriots) were popular depending on the host. Expect low-scoring, defensive tilt in Pats/Texans and weather-sensitive matchups at Soldier Field and Mile High.
- Specific situational take to watch: Patriot/Texans weather & Drake Maye 3rd-and-6 vulnerability — a tangible in-game moment to exploit if you’re betting or watching live props.
Key takeaways — what to watch this weekend
- Injury/inactive list close to kickoff: Fred Warner (Niners) out; monitor George Kittle updates and Sam Darnold’s questionable tag for Seahawks (but expected to play).
- Weather: Patriots-Texans snow and Soldier Field very cold — these affect play-calling, ball security, special teams and field footing.
- Altitude & pace: Broncos at home is a different animal — Josh Allen has experience at altitude.
- Situational down/distance: Look for third-and-6 opportunities and how Patriots/Texans exploit Drake Maye’s weak sample there.
- Betting: unders and live-betting props (DraftKings live entries) were emphasized — many hosts planned live-bets or prop focus rather than big pregame parlays.
Action items / short checklist for listeners
- Check injury reports and official travel-day weather before finalizing wagers.
- If betting props: watch third-and-6 sequences (Patriots/Texans), QB rushing TD props (Bo Nix), and live-in-game plays (DraftKings live-betting encouraged by the show).
- If curious about the substation angle: Cowan suggested easy steps to support circadian health — morning sunlight exposure, reduce evening blue light, and explore red-light therapy if you’re scientifically inclined.
- Sponsors/promos: GameTime (use code PMT), DraftKings (code TAKE), JackPocket (code PMT2) — check terms and responsible gambling notices.
Resources & sponsors mentioned (promo quick list)
- GameTime: app promo code PMT for ticket discounts.
- DraftKings Sportsbook: promo code TAKE (new-user offer and live-betting promos).
- JackPocket: promo PMT2 for $5 lottery credit (new users).
- Microsoft 365 Copilot (product mention).
- Campbell Chunky, Chevy Silverado, Rowback apparel — all read as episode sponsors.
If you want a single-line TL;DR:
- Strong episode mixing playoff game breakdowns (Broncos & Seahawks favored at home, Patriots/Texans weather drama, Rams/Bears cold-weather QB drama), a situational “Drake Maye third-and-6” stat nugget, an eye-opening (but exploratory) interview about potential EMF exposure near the 49ers facility, and guest Kyle Long providing trenches-first analysis and picks.