Overview of Pardon My Take
This episode of Pardon My Take mixed NFL Week 2 previews, a breakdown of the Bills’ dominant Thursday night win over the Lions, a lively in-studio interview with rising PGA Tour star Chris Gotterup ahead of the Presidents Cup, and the usual “Fire Fest” close. The show centered on Josh Allen’s absurd level of play, whether certain teams are for real or frauds after Week 1, and how the guys were approaching their picks before a loaded weekend slate.
Bills-Lions Recap: Josh Allen Is Ridiculous
The crew spent a big chunk of the opening segment raving about the Bills’ 40-point outburst in their new stadium opener.
Main takeaways
- Josh Allen was the story: the hosts repeatedly marveled that he seems to be playing quarterback on “easy mode.”
- The Bills offense looks dangerous under Joe Brady, with chunk plays, deep shots, and Allen’s running ability all clicking.
- Detroit’s defense had excuses:
- short rest
- road game
- injuries on the offensive line
- The Lions offense was criticized for slow starts and questionable play-calling, especially a run-heavy approach on second-and-long.
- The Bills’ new stadium unveiling, including Bruce the baby bison, got the full Barstool treatment.
- A fun stat was cited: Allen now has 10 games with 2+ rushing TDs and 2+ passing TDs, a ridiculous number only Steve Young can even approach.
NFL Week 2 Picks, Trends, and Hot Takes
The bulk of the episode was a game-by-game Week 2 preview, with plenty of banter and some running bits around overreactions, weather, and quarterback body language.
League-wide themes
- Week 2 = correction week: the guys talked about how teams either prove Week 1 was real or expose themselves as frauds.
- They cited a strong trend: teams that failed to cover in Week 1 and enter Week 2 as underdogs have been excellent against the spread over the last decade.
- There was a long-running joke/fight over PFF grades, bad-luck interceptions, and Drake Maye’s tape, including a fake “NFL Tape Scout” account and the line: “He’s still running.”
- They also spent time on:
- Bill Belichick’s unexpected “tits” appearance
- Joe Buck’s massive contract
- whether football would be better without kickers
Notable game angles discussed
- Steelers vs. Patriots: weather, Drake Maye’s turnover luck, and whether the Pats can bounce back.
- Bengals vs. Texans: Joe Burrow’s back issue, Jamar Chase usage, and CJ Stroud’s body language.
- Saints vs. Ravens: Tyler Shough’s first-half struggles and the Ravens’ first home game of the year.
- Bears vs. Vikings: Ben Johnson’s offense vs. Brian Flores’ pressure-heavy defense, plus a very real Justin Jefferson worry.
- Packers vs. Jets: rainy MetLife conditions, Jet whiteout uniforms, and whether the weather helps New York.
- Eagles vs. Titans: Jalen Hurts as a quarterback, Tennessee’s bulletin-board quote, and a strong Jalen Hurts/Motion offense discussion.
- Browns vs. Bucs: Baker Mayfield revenge game, Deshaun Watson joke-critique, and a Todd Monken “smell the roses” rant.
- Panthers vs. Falcons: the absurd possibility of Jack Strand starting at QB, plus a hilarious deep dive on his D-II background and jump-rope-capital hometown.
- Jaguars vs. Broncos: Denver’s defensive tackling issues and the reminder that the Jags are quietly very good.
- Chargers vs. Raiders: debate over whether Herbert or the O-line is more to blame for sacks.
- Seahawks vs. Cardinals: Seattle’s defense got major praise.
- Dolphins vs. 49ers: Miami’s brutal travel schedule and the 49ers’ defensive star Fred Warner getting his flowers.
- Commanders vs. Cowboys: a true game-of-the-week focus, with Dak’s insane NFC East home-favorite record, Washington’s improved defense, and a lot of concern about Dallas.
Final picks recap
- Over Broncos-Jaguars
- Over Saints-Ravens
- Over Bengals-Texans
- Saints +8.5
- Commanders +4.5
- Panthers-Falcons Over
- 49ers -13.5
- Bears-Vikings Under
- Commanders-Cowboys Over
- Patriots -5.5
- Eagles -7
- Jets +3.5
Chris Gotterup in Studio: Presidents Cup, Match Play, and Golf Talk
Chris Gotterup was the in-studio guest and was a great fit for the show: relaxed, funny, and very open about his game and career.
What they covered
- Presidents Cup excitement: Gotterup is thrilled to be part of Team USA and feels good about earning the chance after missing out on the Ryder Cup.
- Match play vs. stroke play:
- He said match play is mostly about staying composed after bad holes.
- The emotional pressure is very different when you’re not playing only for yourself.
- Alternate shot is brutal:
- He described how stressful it is because you feel responsible for your partner.
- He and his caddie have a “no saying sorry” rule during team events.
- Oklahoma shaped his game:
- The wind in Norman helped make him a better player, especially for British Open-style conditions.
- His breakout came at the Scottish Open, where a huge week and a 61 changed the perception of him.
- Pace of play: he thinks it’s too slow, especially Thursday and Friday.
- Caddie and team chemistry:
- He’s close with fellow players and has a good relationship with his caddie.
- He likes the team event vibe because golf is usually so individual.
- Family and background:
- His dad speaks Danish.
- His sister is pursuing flight school and wants to fly fighter jets.
- He became a Colts fan after spending time with Jim Irsay, who invited him to play and later treated him to a wild experience, including a suitcase-of-cash match and an unforgettable tour of Irsay’s house.
Best Chris Gotterup moments
- He came off as chill, unassuming, and very funny.
- The guys repeatedly said he’s exactly the type of guest they’ll want back.
- He was fully embraced as an AWL and the future of Team USA’s golf fandom on the show.
Fire Fest / Closing Chaos
The ending segment was classic PMT: personal disasters, office drama, and listener-friendly nonsense.
Fire Fest highlights
- PFT: accidentally took Adderall at 1 a.m. after being half-asleep and misreading his dog Blake’s wake-up signals. He then spent a sleepless night reorganizing his phone home screen.
- Hank: had a false lice scare before a wedding.
- Zach: his laptop ads are now allegedly trying to convert him to Islam or sell him a Russian apartment/timeshare.
- Max: is about to enter a brutal six-day sports date with PFT because of overlapping Bears/Phillies/Cubs action.
- Dom: got roasted for being too performative with his Cleveland fandom, showing up in full Guardians gear and then pivoting between teams too dramatically.
The show ended on typical PMT chaos: birthday shoutouts, inside jokes, and a reminder that the guys are all in for another huge football weekend.